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UNITED STATES |
OMB APPROVAL |
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
OMB Number: 3235-00595 |
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Washington, D.C. 20549 |
Expires: February 28, 2006 |
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SCHEDULE 14A |
Estimated average burden hours per response......... 12.75 |
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
| Filed by the Registrant x | |
| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o | |
| Check the appropriate box: | |
| o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| o | Definitive Additional Materials |
| o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule §240.14a-12 |
Fox Entertainment Group, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| x | No fee required. | |
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| 3. | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): | |
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| o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |
| o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. | |
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| 4. | Date Filed: | |
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To the Stockholders of Fox Entertainment Group,
Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Fox
Entertainment Group, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the Citigroup Auditorium, 399 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York, at 10:00
a.m., local time, on November 16, 2004, for the following purposes:
1. |
To elect the Board of Directors for the ensuing year. |
2. |
To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. |
3. |
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
All stockholders are invited to attend the meeting.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on September 24, 2004, the record date fixed by the Board of Directors, are entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the meeting. A complete list of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting will be open to examination by the
stockholders beginning ten days prior to the meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting during normal business hours at the office of the Secretary
of the Company at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036.
Whether or not you intend to be present at the
meeting, please sign and date the enclosed proxy and return it in the enclosed envelope. Returning a proxy will not deprive you of your right to attend
the annual meeting and vote your shares in person.
By Order of the Board of Directors
LAURA A. O’LEARY
Secretary
LAURA A. O’LEARY
Secretary
New York, New York
October 18, 2004
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York,
New York 10036
(212) 852-7111
PROXY STATEMENT
The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on November 16, 2004, at the Citigroup Auditorium, 399 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York, and any adjournment thereof.
This proxy statement and accompanying proxy card are
being mailed commencing on or about October 19, 2004 to stockholders of record of the Company at the close of business on September 24,
2004.
VOTING SECURITIES; PROXIES
The Company has two classes of common stock, Class A
common stock (“Class A Common Stock”) and Class B common stock (“Class B Common Stock”, and together with the Class A Common Stock,
the “Common Stock”). Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share, and holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to
ten votes per share, on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. A majority of all of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present
in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. A plurality of the votes cast, present in person or represented by
proxy at the Annual Meeting, is required for election of the nominees as directors. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock
are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. In all matters other than the election of directors, a majority of the votes
cast by holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, and
entitled to vote, is required. An inspector of election appointed for the meeting shall determine the number of votes cast by holders of Common Stock
for all matters.
The form of proxy solicited by the Board of
Directors affords stockholders the choice among approval of, disapproval of, or abstention with respect to each matter to be acted upon at the Annual
Meeting. Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, represented by the proxy, will be voted, except as to matters with respect to which
authority to vote is specifically withheld. Where the solicited stockholder indicates a choice on the form of proxy with respect to any matter to be
acted upon, the shares will be voted as specified. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of the election of directors or the
ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent public accountants”). With respect to
all other matters to be voted on by stockholders at the Annual Meeting, abstentions will have the same effect as “no” votes, and broker
non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
All shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock, represented by properly executed proxies, which are returned and not revoked, will be voted in accordance with the instructions, if any,
given therein. If no instructions are provided in a proxy, the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock represented by such proxy will
be voted FOR the Board’s nominees for director, and FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP and in accordance with the
proxy-holder’s best judgment as to any other matters raised at the Annual Meeting.
A stockholder who has given a proxy may revoke it at
any time prior to its exercise by giving written notice of such revocation to the Secretary of the Company, executing and delivering to the Company a
later dated proxy reflecting contrary instructions or appearing at the Annual Meeting and taking appropriate steps to vote in person.
At the close of business on September 24, 2004,
426,959,080 shares of Class A Common Stock and 547,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding and eligible for voting at the meeting. Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on September 24, 2004 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.
As of September 24, 2004, FEG Holdings, Inc., an
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The News Corporation Limited (“News Corporation”), owned 252,159,080 shares of Class A Common Stock and
all 547,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company, representing in the aggregate 82.06% of the equity and 97.04% of the voting power of the
Company.
FEG Holdings, Inc. has advised the Company that it
intends to vote all of its shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock in favor of the election of the nominated directors and the
ratification of the appointment
Proxy Statement
2004 1
of the independent public accountants. Such action
by FEG Holdings, Inc. will be sufficient to elect such directors and ratify the appointment of the independent public accountants without any action on
the part of any other holder of Common Stock.
The Company will bear the cost of solicitation of
proxies. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, certain officers and employees of the Company, without additional remuneration, may also
solicit proxies personally, by facsimile and by telephone. In addition to mailing copies of this material to stockholders, the Company may request
persons, and reimburse them for their expenses in connection therewith, who hold stock in their names or custody or in the names of nominees for
others, to forward such material to those persons for whom they hold stock of the Company and to request their authority for execution of the
proxies.
Stockholders Sharing the Same Address; Householding
The Company has adopted the process called
“householding” for mailing the annual report and proxy statement in order to reduce printing costs and postage fees. Householding means that
stockholders who share the same last name and address will receive only one copy of the annual report and proxy statement, unless we receive contrary
instructions from any stockholder at that address. The Company will continue to mail a proxy card to each stockholder of record.
If you prefer to receive multiple copies of the
proxy statement and annual report at the same address, additional copies will be provided to you promptly upon request. If you are a stockholder of
record, you may contact us by writing to Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 or by calling
212-852-7017. Eligible stockholders of record receiving multiple copies of the annual report and proxy statement can request householding by contacting
the Company in the same manner.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The bylaws of the Company provide that each director
serves from the date of election until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified. The specific number of
directors is set by a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The number of directors is currently fixed at eight. Thomas W.
Jones, a current member of the Board of Directors, will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number
of persons than the number of nominees named.
The persons named in the accompanying proxy intend
to vote for the election of the nominees listed herein as directors. Each nominee has consented to serve if elected. The Board of Directors has no
reason to believe that any nominee will not serve if elected, but if any of them should become unavailable to serve as a director, and if the Board of
Directors designates a substitute nominee or nominees, the persons named as proxies will vote for the substitute nominee or nominees designated by the
Board of Directors.
The following table sets forth certain information
with respect to the individuals nominated and recommended to be elected by the Board of Directors of the Company and is based on the records of the
Company and information furnished to it by such persons. Reference is made to “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management” for information pertaining to stock ownership by the nominees.
| NAME OF NOMINEE
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AGE |
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POSITION
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K. Rupert
Murdoch |
73 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
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Peter
Chernin |
53 | President, Chief Operating Officer |
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David F.
DeVoe |
57 | Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
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Arthur M.
Siskind |
65 | Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel |
||||||||
Lachlan K.
Murdoch |
33 | Chairman of Fox Television Stations |
||||||||
Christos M.
Cotsakos |
56 | Director |
||||||||
Peter
Powers |
60 | Director |
||||||||
2 Fox
Entertainment Group
Biographical Information
K. Rupert Murdoch has been a Director of the
Company since 1985, Chairman since 1992 and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1995. Mr. Murdoch has been Chairman of the Board of Directors
of News Corporation since 1991, and Director and Chief Executive of News Corporation since its formation in 1979. Mr. Murdoch has served as a Director
of News Limited, News Corporation’s principal subsidiary in Australia, since 1953, a Director of News International Limited, News
Corporation’s principal subsidiary in the United Kingdom, since 1969, and a Director of News America Incorporated, News Corporation’s
principal subsidiary in the United States (“NAI”), since 1973. Mr. Murdoch has served as a Director of STAR Group Limited (“STAR”)
since 1993 and Chairman from 1993 to 1998 and as a Director of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (“BSkyB”) since 1990 and Chairman since
1999. Mr. Murdoch has been a member of the Board of Directors of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (“Gemstar”) since 2001, Chairman of
DIRECTV Group, Inc. (“DIRECTV”) since December 2003 and a director of China Netcom Group Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited since October 2004.
Mr. Murdoch is Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
Peter Chernin has been a Director and
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 1998. Mr. Chernin has been a Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of News
Corporation and a Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAI, since 1996. Mr. Chernin was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed
Entertainment (“FFE”) from 1994 until 1996, Chairman of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation from 1992 until 1994 and President of Fox
Broadcasting Company (“FOX”) from 1989 until 1992. Mr. Chernin served as a Director of TV Guide, Inc. from 1999 until 2000 and has served as
a director of Gemstar since 2002. Mr. Chernin has served as a Director of DIRECTV since December 2003. Mr. Chernin is a member of the Remuneration
Committee.
David F. DeVoe has been a Director of the
Company since 1991 and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 1998. Mr. DeVoe has been a Director, Chief
Financial Officer and Finance Director of News Corporation since 1990 and Senior Executive Vice President of News Corporation since 1996. Mr. DeVoe was
an Executive Vice President of News Corporation from 1990 until 1996. Mr. DeVoe has been a Director of NAI since 1991 and a Senior Executive Vice
President since 1998. Mr. DeVoe served as Executive Vice President of NAI from 1991 to 1998. Mr. DeVoe has been a Director of DIRECTV since December
2003, Gemstar since 2001, NDS Group plc since 1996, BSkyB since 1994 and STAR since 1993.
Arthur M. Siskind has been a Director and
Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company since 1998. Mr. Siskind has been a Director and Group General Counsel of News
Corporation since 1991 and a Senior Executive Vice President of News Corporation since 1996. Mr. Siskind served as Executive Vice President of News
Corporation from 1991 until 1996. Mr. Siskind has been a Director of NAI since 1991 and a Senior Executive Vice President since 1998. Mr. Siskind
served as an Executive Vice President of NAI from 1991 to 1998. Mr. Siskind has been a Director of NDS Group plc since 1996, STAR since 1993 and BSkyB
since 1992. Mr. Siskind has been a member of the Bar of the State of New York since 1962.
Lachlan K. Murdoch has been a Director of the
Company since 2002. Mr. Murdoch has been a Director and President of Fox Television Stations since 2002 and Chairman since January 2004. Mr. Murdoch
served as President of Fox Television Stations from 2002 until January 2004. Mr. Murdoch has been an Executive Director of News Corporation since 1996
and Deputy Chief Operating Officer since 2000. Mr. Murdoch served as a Senior Executive Vice President of News Corporation from 1999 until 2000. Mr.
Murdoch has been a Director of News Limited since 1995, Chairman since 1997 and served as Chief Executive from 1997 to 2000, Managing Director from
1996 until 1997 and Deputy Chief Executive from 1995 to 1996. Mr. Murdoch has served as Chairman of Queensland Press Limited since 1996 and a Director
since 1994. Mr. Murdoch has been Deputy Chairman of STAR since 1995. Mr. Murdoch has been a Director of NDS Group plc since 2002, a Director of Gemstar
since 2001 and a Director of FOXTEL Management since 1995.
Christos M. Cotsakos, Ph.D., has been a
Director of the Company since 1999. Dr. Cotsakos has been a Managing Partner of Pennington Ventures, LLC since 1999. Dr. Cotsakos served as President,
Chief Executive Officer and a Director of E*TRADE Group, Inc. from 1996 until 2003 and Chairman of its Board of Directors from 1998 until 2003. Prior
to joining E*TRADE Group, Inc., he served as President, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and a director of A.C. Nielsen, Inc. from
1995 to 1996, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nielsen International from 1993 to 1995, and as President and Chief Operating Officer of
Nielsen Europe, Middle East and Africa from 1992 to 1993. Dr. Cotsakos serves as Co-Chair of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Dr. Cotsakos is
Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Peter Powers has served as a Director of the
Company since 2003. Mr. Powers has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Powers Global Strategies LLC, a strategic consulting firm based in New
York and Washington, D.C. since 1998 and served as First Deputy Mayor of the City of New York from 1994 until 1996. Mr. Powers currently serves on the
Board of Directors of NDS Group plc, as Chairman of that company’s Remuneration Committee and as a member of its Audit Committee. In addition, he
is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Partnership for New York City,
Proxy Statement
2004 3
the Association for a Better New York, the Central
Park Conservancy, Safe Horizon, NYC & Co. and International Steel Group Inc. Mr. Powers is a member of the Audit Committee.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote in
favor of the election of each of the nominees named above for election to the Board of Directors.
COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board Meetings
The Company’s Board of Directors held four
meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. All of the directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the meetings of the
committees on which they served with the exception of Lachlan Murdoch. The Directors are encouraged to attend the annual meetings of the Company’s
stockholders. All of the then-serving directors, except Dr. Cotsakos and Messrs. DeVoe and L. K. Murdoch, attended the 2003 Annual Meeting. Directors
who are employees of the Company or of News Corporation do not receive any compensation for their services as Directors or as members of committees of
the Board of Directors. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, Directors who were not employees of the Company or News Corporation were compensated
for their services as Directors by an annual retainer of $90,000, with Audit Committee members receiving an additional $15,000 per annum and the Audit
Committee Chairman receiving an additional $10,000 per annum. Remuneration Committee members receive an additional $2,500 per annum with the
Remuneration Committee Chairman receiving an additional $2,500 per annum. Currently there are no Directors who are not employees at the Company that
serve on the Remuneration Committee. All Directors are reimbursed for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of
Directors.
Committees of the Board
The Board of Directors has established an audit and
a remuneration committee to assist it in the discharge of its responsibilities. The principal responsibilities of each committee and the members of
each committee are described in the succeeding paragraphs. Actions taken by any committee of the Board are reported to the Board of Directors, usually
at its next meeting or by written report.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
currently consists of Christos M. Cotsakos, Thomas W. Jones and Peter Powers. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is
“independent” under New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listing standards. The Board has also determined that each of the members of
the Audit Committee is financially literate in accordance with the NYSE listing standards. In addition, the Board has determined that all three members
of the Audit Committee are “audit committee financial experts” as defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). The Audit Committee held seven meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. Dr. Cotsakos and Mr. Powers participated in all
seven meetings, while Mr. Jones participated in six of the meetings. Mr. Jones is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citigroup Global Investment
Management and Citigroup Asset Management. Although the Company and News Corporation have engaged subsidiaries of Citigroup for various depositary and
commercial and investment banking services, Mr. Jones does not have significant responsibilities or duties regarding the services provided by Citigroup
to the Company. Management believes that the terms of any banking and depositary fees paid to Citigroup and its subsidiaries are in line with those
paid by both the Company and other corporations to other banking institutions for similar services. After determining all relevant facts and
circumstances, the Board concluded that Mr. Jones’ relationship with the Company was not material and that Mr. Jones qualified as an
“independent” director as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, SEC rules and the NYSE listing standards. Mr. Jones will not stand for
re-election to the Board of Directors. It is intended to appoint an additional independent director to the Board who will become a member of the Audit
Committee.
The Audit Committee Charter specifies that the
purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight of (i) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and
the Company’s financial reporting processes and systems of internal control, (ii) the qualifications, independence and performance of the
Company’s independent accountants and the performance of the Company’s corporate auditors and corporate audit function, and (iii) the
Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and shall provide an open avenue of communication among management, the independent
accountants, the corporate auditors, and the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee Charter is reviewed annually. The full text of the Audit Committee
Charter, which was most recently approved by the Board in September 2004, is available on the Company’s website at www.fox.com.
Report of the Audit
Committee
In accordance with its written charter, the Audit
Committee of the Board assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and
the Company’s financial reporting processes. As part of the Audit Committee’s meetings, the Audit Committee discussed the interim financial
information
4 Fox
Entertainment Group
contained in each quarterly earnings announcement
with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and independent accountants prior to the filing of the respective Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q.
In discharging its oversight responsibility as to
the audit process, the Audit Committee (i) obtained from the independent accountants a formal written statement describing all relationships between
the accountants and the Company that might bear on the accountants’ independence consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
“Independence Discussions with Audit Committees,” (ii) discussed with the accountants any relationships that may impact their objectivity and
independence, and (iii) considered whether the non-audit fees billed to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP are compatible with maintaining the
accountants’ independence. The Audit Committee reviewed with both the independent accountants and the corporate auditors their identification of
audit risks, audit plans and audit scope. The Audit Committee discussed with management, the independent accountants and the corporate auditors the
corporate audit function’s organization, responsibilities, budget and staffing.
The Audit Committee also discussed and reviewed with
the independent accountants all communications required by generally accepted accounting standards, including those described in Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, as amended, “Communication with Audit Committees.” The Audit Committee met with each of the independent accountants and the
corporate auditors, both with management present and in private sessions without management present, to discuss and review the results of the
independent accountants’ audit of the financial statements, including the independent accountants’ evaluation of the accounting principles,
practices and judgments applied by management, the results of the corporate audit activities and the quality and adequacy of the Company’s
internal controls.
The Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial
statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 with management and the independent accountants. Management has the
responsibility for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and the independent accountants have the responsibility for the audit of
those statements.
At three of its meetings during fiscal 2004 and one
of its meetings during fiscal 2005, the Audit Committee met with members of senior management, the independent accountants and the corporate auditors
to review the fiscal 2004 quarterly certifications provided by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, the respective rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the overall certification process. At these meetings,
Company officers reviewed each of the Sarbanes-Oxley certification requirements concerning internal controls and any fraud, whether or not material,
involving management or other employees with a significant role in internal controls.
Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions
with management, the independent accountants and the corporate auditors, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited
financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Audit Committee also recommended the reappointment, subject to shareholder approval, of the independent accountants, and the Board
concurred in such recommendation.
The Audit Committee:
Dr. Christos M. Cotsakos (Chairman)
Thomas W. Jones
Peter Powers
Thomas W. Jones
Peter Powers
Remuneration
Committee
The Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors
currently consists of K. Rupert Murdoch and Peter Chernin. The Remuneration Committee did not hold any formal meetings during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2004. The Committee is to review and make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer on the remuneration of the senior executive officers
and such other duties as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time.
Additional Information Concerning the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors does not have a nominating
committee. This function is performed by the Board of Directors as a whole. As a “controlled company” as defined by the NYSE Rules (a company
of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, a group or another company), the Company considers that it is appropriate for the
controlling stockholder to have input in the director nomination process and not to have a separate nominating committee. The Company has chosen to
take advantage of the exemptions to the NYSE Rules provided for controlled companies. Because of this exemption, and because the Board believes that it
is more appropriate for all of our directors to be involved in the process of nominating persons for election as directors, the Board does not have a
nominating committee. Accordingly, the Board as a whole performs the functions of a nominating committee and is responsible for reviewing the requisite
skills and characteristics of our directors.
Proxy Statement
2004 5
The Board will consider candidates for nomination as
a director recommended by stockholders, current directors, officers, third-party search firms and other sources. The Board considers stockholder
recommendations for candidates in the same manner as those received from others.
For new candidates, the Board generally polls the
directors and members of management for their recommendations. The Board may engage a third-party search firm to identify candidates in those
situations where particular qualifications are required or where existing contacts are not sufficient to identify an appropriate candidate. The Board
reviews the qualifications, experience and background of all candidates. Final candidates are typically interviewed by both Board members and executive
management.
The Board will consider stockholder suggestions for
nominees for directorship. In order for the Board to consider a stockholder nominee, the stockholder must submit information to the Board of Directors
in accordance with the Company’s bylaws. (See “Stockholder Proposals” below.)
Members of the Audit Committee constitute all of the
non-employee directors of the Company and their meetings therefore constitute executive sessions of non-management directors.
There is no family relationship between any of the
directors or executive officers of the Company and any other director or executive officer of the Company except that Lachlan K. Murdoch is a son of K.
Rupert Murdoch. The Company’s executive officers serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
The Company has adopted a “Standards of
Business Conduct” which confirms the Company’s policy to conduct its affairs in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and
observe the highest standards of business ethics. The Company intends that the spirit, as well as the letter of those standards, is followed by all
Directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company has also established a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive
Officer and senior financial officers that is included in the Company’s Standards of Business Conduct. The full text of the Standards may be found
on the Company’s website at www.fox.com. You may also request a copy of the Standards by writing to the Company at 1211 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, New York 10036, Attn. Investor Relations.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES OF THE COMPANY
The names and ages of the executive officers of the
Company as of October 1, 2004 and their positions with the Company are as follows:
| EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
|
AGE |
|
POSITION
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K. Rupert
Murdoch |
73 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
||||||||
Peter
Chernin |
53 | President, Chief Operating Officer |
||||||||
Lachlan K.
Murdoch |
33 | President of Fox Television Stations |
||||||||
David F.
DeVoe |
57 | Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
||||||||
Arthur M.
Siskind |
65 | Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel |
||||||||
All of the Executive Officers of the Company are
also executive officers of News Corporation. As executive officers of News Corporation, the Executive Officers of the Company continue to render
services to News Corporation.
The biographical description of each Executive
Officer is set forth under “Election of Directors” above.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, no amount
of compensation was paid or accrued by the Company for the account of the Executive Officers of the Company, and no amount of compensation was paid or
accrued to News Corporation with respect to the services of the Executive Officers. Information regarding the compensation received by the Executive
Officers for their services to News Corporation and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 are included in the Annual Report of News
Corporation.
The Senior Executives of the Company (in addition to
persons identified as Executive Officers above) are as follows:
| SENIOR EXECUTIVES
|
|
AGE |
|
POSITION
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roger
Ailes |
64 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox News Channel |
||||||||
James N.
Gianopulos |
52 | Chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment |
||||||||
David
Hill |
58 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Sports Television Group |
||||||||
Thomas E.
Rothman |
49 | Chairman of Fox Filmed Entertainment |
||||||||
Anthony J.
Vinciquerra |
50 | President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fox Networks Group |
||||||||
6 Fox
Entertainment Group
Set forth below is a brief biographical description
of the Senior Executives who are not Executive Officers of the Company:
Roger Ailes has served as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of FOX News Channel since 1996. Prior to joining FOX in 1996, Mr. Ailes was President of CNBC since 1993 and also served as President
of America’s Talking, an information talk channel that later became MSNBC.
James N. Gianopulos has been Chairman of FFE
since 2000. He shares the position with Thomas E. Rothman. Mr. Gianopulos was President of Twentieth Century Fox International from 1994 until 2000
overseeing both the Theatrical and the Home Entertainment units. Mr. Gianopulos was President of International and Pay Television for Twentieth Century
Fox from 1992 to 1994. Mr. Gianopulos serves on the USC Entertainment Technology Committee and on the Boards of the Motion Picture & Television
Fund Foundation and various charitable organizations.
David Hill has served as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Fox Sports Television Group since 1999. Mr. Hill served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FOX from 1997 until 1999 and
served as President of Fox Sports, a division of Fox Television, from 1993 to 1999. From 1996 until 1997, Mr. Hill served as Chief Operating Officer of
Fox Television. In addition, Mr. Hill has served as Chairman of Fox Sports Networks since 1996. From 1996 through 1997, Mr. Hill also served as Fox
Sports Networks’ Chief Executive Officer.
Thomas E. Rothman has been Chairman of FFE
since 2000. He shares the position with James N. Gianopulos. Mr. Rothman previously served as President of Twentieth Century Fox Film Group from
January to August 2000, and was President of Twentieth Century Fox Production from 1995 to 2000. In 1994, he was the founder and first President of Fox
Searchlight Pictures. Mr. Rothman also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Sundance Institute.
Anthony J. Vinciquerra has served as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fox Networks Group since 2002. Mr. Vinciquerra joined the Company in 2001 as President of the FOX
Television Network. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Vinciquerra served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hearst-Argyle
Television from 1999 until 2001. Mr. Vinciquerra joined Hearst Corporation’s broadcasting group as Group Executive in 1997 and became Executive
Vice President of Hearst-Argyle later that year.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Set forth below is stock ownership information as of
October 1, 2004 as to each person who owns, or is known by the Company to own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934), more than five percent of the Common Stock of the Company, and the number of shares of Common Stock owned by its Directors and
by all Executive Officers and Directors as a group. Other than News Corporation, the persons named below own only Class A Common
Stock.
| NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER |
|
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP |
|
PERCENT OF CLASS |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
News
Corporation1 |
799,659,080 | 2 | 82.06 | % | ||||||
K. Rupert
Murdoch3 |
5,000 | * | ||||||||
Peter
Chernin |
4,444 | * | ||||||||
David F.
DeVoe |
4,000 | * | ||||||||
Lachlan K.
Murdoch |
— | — | ||||||||
Arthur M.
Siskind |
4,000 | * | ||||||||
Christos M.
Cotsakos |
1,000 | * | ||||||||
Thomas W.
Jones4 |
5,000 | * | ||||||||
Peter
Powers |
— | — | ||||||||
All Directors
and Executive Officers as a group (8 persons) |
23,444 | * | ||||||||
| 1 | Such shares are held by FEG Holdings, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corporation. The principal executive offices of News Corporation are located at 2 Holt Street, New South Wales, Australia 2010. |
| 2 | Consists of 252,159,080 shares of Class A Common Stock and 547,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. The shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible on a 1:1 basis at the option of the holder into shares of Class A Common Stock. |
| 3 | Mr. Murdoch owns voting preferred stock representing 76% of the voting power of the Company’s subsidiary, Fox Television Holdings, Inc. See “Ownership of Fox Television Holdings, Inc.” under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.” |
| 4 | Mr. Jones will not stand for re-election to the Board of Directors. |
| * | Less than one percent. |
Proxy Statement
2004 7
Set forth below is information as of October 1, 2004
as to the beneficial ownership of the outstanding Ordinary Shares of News Corporation (the only class of shares of News Corporation generally entitled
to voting rights) by each person who at such time owned more than five percent thereof, by the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers and by
all of the Directors and Executive Officers of the Company as a group. The following table does not include beneficial ownership of Preferred Limited
Voting Ordinary Shares of News Corporation (“Preferred Ordinary Shares”), which do not carry a right to vote for directors
generally.
| NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER |
|
AMOUNT AND NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP |
|
PERCENT OF CLASS |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cruden
Investments Pty. Limited |
626,966,242 | 1 | 30 | % | ||||||
K. Rupert
Murdoch |
31,994 | 1,2 | 30 | % | ||||||
Liberty Media
Corporation |
188,432,000 | 9 | % | |||||||
FMR
Corporation |
139,230,500 | 7 | % | |||||||
Peter
Chernin |
— | 3 | — | |||||||
David F.
DeVoe |
— | 4 | — | |||||||
Lachlan K.
Murdoch |
14,111 | 5 | * | |||||||
Arthur M.
Siskind |
21,868 | 6 | * | |||||||
Christos M.
Cotsakos |
— | — | ||||||||
Thomas W.
Jones7 |
— | — | ||||||||
Peter
Powers |
— | — | ||||||||
All Directors
and Executive Officers of the Company as a group (8 persons) |
627,034,215 | 1 | 30 | % | ||||||
| 1 | Includes Ordinary Shares owned by (i) Telegraph Investment Co.
Pty. Ltd., (ii) Cruden Investments Pty. Limited, a private Australian investment company owned by Mr. Murdoch, members of his family and various
corporations and trusts, the beneficiaries of which include Mr. Murdoch, members of his family and certain charities and (iii) corporations which are
controlled by trustees of settlements and trusts set up for the benefit of the Murdoch family, certain charities and other persons. By virtue of shares
of News Corporation owned by such persons and entities and Mr. Murdoch’s positions as Chairman and Chief Executive of News Corporation and
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Murdoch may be deemed to control the operations of News Corporation and the Company. In
addition, Mr. Murdoch, Cruden Investments Pty. Limited and such other entities beneficially own 217,187,778 Preferred Ordinary Shares. The address of
Cruden Investments Pty. Limited is Level 2, 306 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. News Corporation has proposed to its shareholders a reorganization transaction that would change the place of incorporation of News Corporation to the United States. In connection with this reorganization, News Corporation would acquire from Murdoch family interests certain companies holding approximately 58% of Queensland Press Pty Ltd not already owned by News Corporation. This transaction is subject to shareholder and court approval and, if approved, is expected to be completed in November 2004. As a result of the proposed transaction, the Murdoch family interests will own approximately 29.47% of the voting shares of News Corporation, which is slightly less than the 29.86% of the voting shares of News Corporation that the Murdoch family interests currently control. |
| 2 | Mr. Murdoch has been granted options to purchase 24,000,000 Preferred Ordinary Shares, of which 24,000,000 are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
| 3 | Mr. Chernin has been granted options to purchase 18,275,000 Preferred Ordinary Shares, of which 17,525,000 are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
| 4 | Mr. DeVoe has been granted options to purchase 3,670,000 Preferred Ordinary Shares, of which 3,365,000 are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
| 5 | In addition, Mr. L. K. Murdoch beneficially owns 903 Preferred Ordinary Shares and has been granted options to purchase 3,640,000 Preferred Ordinary Shares, of which 3,405,000 are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
| 6 | In addition, Mr. Siskind beneficially owns 50,132 Preferred Ordinary Shares and has been granted options to purchase 3,680,000 Preferred Ordinary Shares, of which 3,375,000 are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days. |
| 7 | Mr. Jones will not stand for re-election to the Board of Directors. |
| * | Less than one percent. |
8 Fox
Entertainment Group
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Relationships Between the Company and News Corporation
Business Relationships
News Corporation and its subsidiaries have, in the
past, engaged in a broad range of relationships with the Company and its subsidiaries. These relationships have included the purchase by programming
platforms owned, in whole or in part, by News Corporation of programming created or owned by the Company; the purchase by the Company of television and
movie rights related to books published by HarperCollins Publishers Inc. or other News Corporation publications; the purchase of advertising in
free-standing inserts or other publications of News Corporation; and the purchase of certain television broadcasting equipment services from News
Corporation. The Company believes that the terms and conditions of all such arrangements are fair and reasonable.
Master Intercompany and Other
Agreements
For purposes of governing certain on-going
relationships between the Company and News Corporation, the Company and News Corporation have entered into various agreements and relationships,
including those described below. The agreements described below were negotiated in the context of a parent-subsidiary relationship and therefore are
not the result of arm’s-length negotiations between independent parties. There can be no assurance, therefore, that each of such agreements, or
the transactions provided for therein, or any amendments thereof will be effected on terms at least as favorable to the Company as could have been
obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
The following descriptions summarize all material
terms of such agreements.
Master Intercompany
Agreement
The Company and News Corporation have entered into a
Master Intercompany Agreement which provides, among other things, for certain agreements governing the relationship between the Company and News
Corporation. The consideration for each of the services and other arrangements set forth in the Master Intercompany Agreement have been mutually agreed
upon between News Corporation and the Company based upon allocated costs, provided that all such consideration and any material arrangements are
subject to the approval of the respective Audit Committees of the Company’s and News Corporation’s Boards of Directors. For the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2004, no amount was paid or accrued by the Company to or for the account of News Corporation for services under the Master Intercompany
Agreement other than the amounts set forth under “Cash Management and Financing.”
Cash Management and
Financing
Pursuant to the Master Intercompany Agreement, the
Company may utilize the worldwide treasury and cash management function, including the use of bank overdraft facilities, of News Corporation and its
subsidiaries, subject to certain limitations. In addition, the Company’s cash balances are available to News Corporation and its subsidiaries.
From November 11, 1998, interest on outstanding intercompany balances (see “Intercompany Debt”) has been charged at commercial market rates
not exceeding News Corporation’s average cost of borrowings as set forth in the Master Intercompany Agreement. At June 30, 2004, the intercompany
interest rate approximated 8%. The Company and News Corporation further agreed that intercompany cash balances shall be payable on June 30, 2008, or
such later date as the Company and News Corporation agree.
Executive Officer
Services
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News
Corporation or its subsidiaries will make available to the Company the services of Messrs. K. Rupert Murdoch, the Company’s Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer; Peter Chernin, the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer; David F. DeVoe, the Company’s Senior Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer; Lachlan K. Murdoch, Chairman of Fox Television Stations; and Arthur M. Siskind, the Company’s Senior
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and such other employees of News Corporation as the Company and News Corporation may from time to time
designate.
Although it is contemplated that such executives
will spend a considerable portion of their business time in connection with the business of the Company, they will also be engaged in activities for
News Corporation not related directly to the business of the Company. In addition, pursuant to the Master Intercompany Agreement, News Corporation may
terminate the availability of the services of such executives upon notice to the Company.
Services of Company
Employees
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News
Corporation and its subsidiaries may from time to time request certain employees of the Company to devote time to the business activities of News
Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliated and associated companies.
Proxy Statement
2004 9
Facility Arrangements
Certain of the Company’s facilities are or may
in the future be located on premises owned or leased by News Corporation, or entities in which News Corporation has an interest. Furthermore, certain
facilities of News Corporation, or entities in which News Corporation has an interest, are or may in the future be located on premises owned or leased
by the Company. The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News Corporation and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other
hand, will permit each other to use all or a portion of their respective premises.
Employee Matters
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that
certain employees of the Company may from time to time continue to be eligible to participate in stock option and other employee benefit plans
maintained by News Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Company will assume and be solely responsible for all liabilities and obligations whatsoever
with respect to current officers and employees of the businesses owned and operated by the Company and former officers and employees of such businesses
who, immediately prior to the termination of their employment, were employed in such businesses.
Insurance
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News
Corporation or its subsidiaries will provide insurance coverage on behalf of the Company against certain risks and in amounts of coverage consistent
with current coverages or as otherwise may be agreed between them. The Master Intercompany Agreement further provides that News Corporation will not be
obligated to maintain any type or amount of coverage.
Services
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News
Corporation and its subsidiaries will continue to provide various services to each other, including material procurement, transportation and financial
and administrative services.
Trademarks
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News
Corporation and its subsidiaries and the Company will be granted a royalty-free license to use certain trademarks and service marks of the Company and
that the Company will be granted a royalty-free license to use certain trademarks and service marks of News Corporation and its subsidiaries. The
Master Intercompany Agreement also provides that the license granted by News Corporation to the Company may be terminated at any time by News
Corporation.
Indemnities by the
Company
News Corporation or its subsidiaries have, in the
past, given certain guarantees or made commitments relating to the businesses that are conducted by the Company. These include commitments made in
connection with film rights agreements and funding and other obligations. The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that the Company will assume all
such obligations and commitments, and will indemnify and hold News Corporation and its subsidiaries harmless from and against all liabilities arising
from any default thereunder.
Indemnities by News
Corporation
The Master Intercompany Agreement provides that News
Corporation will indemnify and hold the Company and its subsidiaries harmless from and against any and all liabilities arising from any default under
the debt instruments or obligations of News Corporation or its subsidiaries (other than the Company) which have been guaranteed by the Company or its
subsidiaries or will be guaranteed by the Company in the future.
Tax Sharing Agreement
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are
included in the consolidated group of News Publishing Australia Limited, the principal U.S. subsidiary of News Corporation, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes (the “Consolidated Group”) as well as in certain consolidated, combined or unitary groups which include News Publishing Australia
Limited and/or certain of its subsidiaries (the “Combined Group”) for state and local income tax purposes. The Company and News Publishing
Australia Limited have entered into a tax sharing agreement (the “Tax Sharing Agreement”). Pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Company
and News Publishing Australia Limited generally will make payments between them in order to allocate the tax liabilities and tax attributes of the
Consolidated Group or any Combined Group. Losses and other future tax benefits of the Company and its subsidiaries actually availed of to reduce the
tax liabilities of the Consolidated Group or Combined Group and any taxes actually paid by the Company and its subsidiaries included in such Groups
will be taken into account for this purpose. The Company and News Publishing Australia Limited will cooperate in preparing any tax return filed with
respect to the Consolidated Group or any Combined Group.
News Publishing Australia Limited is primarily
responsible for preparing and filing any tax return with respect to the Consolidated Group or any Combined Group, as well as for controlling and
contesting any audit or other tax pro-
10 Fox
Entertainment Group
ceeding with respect to the Consolidated Group or
any Combined Group. The Company is responsible for preparing and filing any tax returns that include only the Company and its subsidiaries and for any
taxes with respect to such tax returns.
In general, the Company and its included
subsidiaries will be included in the Consolidated Group for so long as News Publishing Australia Limited beneficially owns at least 80% of the total
voting power and value of the outstanding stock of the Company. Each member of a consolidated group for federal income tax purposes is jointly and
severally liable for the federal income tax liability of each other member of the consolidated group. Accordingly, although the Tax Sharing Agreement
allocates tax liabilities between the Company and News Publishing Australia Limited, during the period in which the Company is included in the
Consolidated Group, the Company could be liable in the event that any federal tax liability is incurred, but not discharged, by any other member of the
Consolidated Group.
Intercompany Debt
The Company had approximately $4.2 billion of
indebtedness to affiliates of News Corporation as of June 30, 2004 (approximately $5.4 billion was the largest aggregate amount of such indebtedness in
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004). This indebtedness constitutes unsecured, general obligations of the Company. Indebtedness incurred under the
Master Intercompany Agreement bears interest at a rate equal to the average cost of long-term debt of News Corporation (currently 8% per annum),
adjusted annually, and matures on June 30, 2008. Two promissory notes totaling $4.5 billion were issued to News Corporation in connection with the
acquisition of DIRECTV. One promissory note is in the amount of $2 billion, bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1% per annum at June 20, 2004 and
matures on June 30, 2009. The other promissory note is in the amount of $2.5 billion, bears interest at 8% per annum and has a maturity date of June
30, 2009 that may be extended at the option of the Company for not more than two consecutive one year periods.
Credit Arrangements
News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries,
including the Company, are guarantors of various debt obligations of News Corporation and subsidiaries under various guaranteed debt instruments (the
“Guaranteed Debt Instruments”). Such guarantees, including those of the Company, represent contingent and not current obligations of the
Company. The principal amount of indebtedness outstanding under such Guaranteed Debt Instruments at June 30, 2004 was approximately $10 billion. The
Guaranteed Debt Instruments mature at various times between 2004 and 2096, with a weighted average maturity of over 20 years, and are generally not
redeemable prior to maturity. The indentures governing the Guaranteed Debt Instruments limit the ability of News Corporation and its subsidiaries
(including the Company) to subject their properties to liens. Certain Guaranteed Debt Instruments issued prior to March 1993 also may impose
limitations on the ability of News Corporation and its subsidiaries, including the Company, to incur indebtedness in certain circumstances. The
Guaranteed Debt Instruments also contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and events of default. Under the terms of the Guaranteed Debt
Instruments, the holders thereof have the right to require News Corporation to make an offer to repurchase the outstanding debt instruments in the
event of a “Change of Control Triggering Event.” A Change of Control Triggering Event occurs when the Guaranteed Debt Instrument is
downgraded below investment grade following a “Change of Control” of News Corporation or an announcement of an intended Change of Control (or
in the event the Guaranteed Debt Instrument is not investment grade at such time, a reduction in the rating by one or more gradations). A Change of
Control occurs when a person other than News Corporation, subsidiaries and certain affiliates of News Corporation and the Murdoch Family (as defined in
the Guaranteed Debt Instruments) owns (i) 30% or more of the voting power of News Corporation’s common shares or (ii) if the Murdoch Family is the
beneficial owner of more than 30% of such voting power of News Corporation, a percentage greater than that owned by the Murdoch Family. Certain
Guaranteed Debt Instruments require any subsidiary of News Corporation which issues any guarantee for money borrowed in excess of $50 million to
guarantee all outstanding and future senior indebtedness issued by News Corporation or its affiliates pursuant to the indentures governing the
Guaranteed Debt Instruments.
The Company, News Corporation and certain of News
Corporation’s other subsidiaries have also guaranteed the obligations of News Corporation’s subsidiary under a Five Year Credit Agreement
(the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). The Revolving Credit Agreement provides for borrowings of up to approximately $1.75 billion, with a
sub-limit of $600 million available for the issuance of letters of credit and expires on June 30, 2008. As of October 1, 2004, letters of credit
representing $173 million were issued under the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Agreement contains certain covenants which, among
other things, limit the ability of News Corporation and the Company to subject their properties to liens, to incur indebtedness at any time that a
default under the Revolving Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing, and to enter into transactions with affiliates. News Corporation is also
required to maintain certain financial covenants, calculated on a consolidated basis, including a leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio. The
Revolving Credit Agreement also contains representations, warranties, covenants and events of default customary to senior unsecured credit facilities
of similar size and nature.
Proxy Statement
2004 11
In addition to the foregoing, the Company and its
subsidiaries may from time to time in the future guarantee additional obligations of News Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Pursuant to the Master Intercompany Agreement, News
Corporation has agreed to indemnify and hold the Company and its subsidiaries harmless from and against all liabilities arising from any default under
the debt instruments or obligations of News Corporation or its subsidiaries (other than the Company), which have been guaranteed by the Company or its
subsidiaries.
Acquisition of Hughes Electronics Corporation and
Related Transactions
On December 22 2003, News Corporation acquired a 34%
interest in Hughes Electronics Corporation (“Hughes”) for total consideration of approximately $6.8 billion. General Motors Corporation
(“GM”) sold its 19.8% interest in Hughes to News Corporation in exchange for approximately $3.1 billion in cash, and 28.6 million News
Corporation Preferred ADSs, valued at approximately $800 million. News Corporation acquired 14.2% of Hughes from the former GM Class H common
stockholders in exchange for approximately 102.1 million News Corporation Preferred ADSs valued at $2.9 billion. Immediately following the acquisition,
News Corporation transferred its entire 34% interest in Hughes to the Company in exchange for two promissory notes totaling $4.5 billion and
approximately 74.5 million shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock valued at $2.3 billion. The issuance of approximately 74.5 million shares
of Class A Common Stock to News Corporation increased its equity interest in the Company from approximately 80.6% to approximately 82.0% while its
voting power remained at approximately 97.0%.
Reorganization of News
Corporation
News Corporation has proposed to its shareholders a
reorganization transaction that would change the place of incorporation of News Corporation to the United States. In connection with this
reorganization, News Corporation would acquire from Murdoch family interests certain companies holding the approximately 58% of Queensland Press Pty
Ltd not already owned by News Corporation. This transaction is subject to shareholder and court approval and, if approved, is expected to be completed
in November 2004. If this transaction is approved, the Murdoch family interests will own approximately 29.47% of the voting shares of News Corporation,
which is slightly less than the 29.86% of the voting shares of News Corporation that the Murdoch family interests currently control.
Ownership of Fox Television Holdings,
Inc.
Mr. K. Rupert Murdoch, the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and the Chairman and Chief Executive of News Corporation, owns all of the 7,600 outstanding shares of voting preferred
stock of Fox Television Holdings, Inc. (“FTH”), a subsidiary of the Company, representing 76% of the voting power of such company. Through
such ownership, Mr. Murdoch has voting control over subsidiaries, which hold interests in the Fox Television Stations Group. The voting preferred stock
of FTH has a par value of $760,000 and cumulative dividends at the rate of 12% per annum. The voting preferred stock is subject to redemption by the
affirmative vote of the holder or holders of 66-2/3% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of FTH. All of the common stock of FTH,
representing substantially all of the equity thereof, is owned by the Company.
PROPOSAL 2
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Public Accountants
The Board of Directors has selected the firm of
Ernst & Young LLP to audit the books and accounts of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. The firm of Ernst & Young LLP,
independent public accountants, has audited the books and records of the Company since the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002.
Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP are
expected to be available at the meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do
so.
12 Fox
Entertainment Group
Disclosure of Auditor Fees
A description of the fees billed to the Company by
Ernst & Young LLP during the years ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 are set forth below.
| |
2004 |
|
2003 |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit
Feesa |
$ | 3,836,000 | $ | 3,035,000 | ||||||
Audit-Related
Feesb |
$ | 355,000 | $ | 189,000 | ||||||
Tax
Feesc |
$ | 763,000 | $ | 1,388,000 | ||||||
All Other
Feesd |
$ | 109,000 | — | |||||||
Total
Fees |
$ | 5,063,000 | $ | 4,612,000 | ||||||
| a | Audit fees include fees for professional services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP in connection with the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2003; statutory audits required internationally; reviews of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; and other services normally provided by the independent accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. |
| b | Audit-related fees include fees for employee benefit plan audits, due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedures reports and other services related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements. |
| c | Tax fees include fees for tax compliance and tax consulting services. |
| d | All other fees principally related to compliance reviews of certain customer contracts and related revenue sharing arrangements, and such fees represent the Company’s share for work performed by Ernst & Young LLP on behalf of various film studios. |
The Audit Committee has established policies and
procedures under which all audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s principal accountants must be approved in advance by the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee’s policy provides for pre-approval of audit, audit-related, tax and certain other services specifically described
by the Audit Committee on an annual basis. In addition, individual engagements anticipated to exceed pre-established thresholds, as well as certain
other services, must be separately approved. The policy also requires specific approval by the Audit Committee if total fees for tax services would
exceed total fees for audit and audit-related services in any given fiscal year. The policy also provides that the Audit Committee can delegate
pre-approval authority to the Audit Committee Chairman provided that the decision to pre-approve is communicated to the full Audit Committee at the
next meeting. As provided in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all audit and non-audit services provided after May 6, 2003 have been pre-approved by the
Audit Committee in accordance with these policies and procedures. The Audit Committee reviewed the non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young LLP
during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, and determined that the provision of such non-audit services was compatible with maintaining the
accountants’ independence.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote
in favor of the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent public accountants of the Company.
Proxy Statement
2004 13
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers, and persons who beneficially own more
than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and the other equity securities of the Company.
Officers, Directors, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities are required
by the regulations of the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on
review of copies of reports furnished to the Company and upon representations made, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended June 30,
2004, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its Officers, Directors, and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied
with.
ANNUAL REPORT
The Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2004, including a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, is being mailed to stockholders with this proxy
statement.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals intended to be considered for
inclusion in the proxy statement for presentation at the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the office of the
Secretary of the Company at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 no later than June 22, 2005, for inclusion in the Company’s
proxy statement and form of proxy relating to such meeting. All proposals must comply with applicable SEC rules and regulations. In addition, in order
for nominations or other business to be properly brought before the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholders must give timely
notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s offices not less than 45 or more than 75 days prior to the anniversary
date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s Annual Meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the
Annual Meeting is advanced by more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual
Meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to the
Annual Meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The bylaws of the Company
define “public announcement” for these purposes, as disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or
a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director
all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and such person’s written consent to serve as a director if elected; (b) as to any other
business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at
the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c)
as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address
of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Company that
are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; and (iii) whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner
intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Company’s voting
shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the
Company’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees.
Communications with Directors
Stockholders and other parties interested in
contacting the Company’s non-management directors may send an email to investor@newscorp.com or write to Fox Entertainment Group, Inc., 1211
Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, Attn: Investor Relations. Stockholders should also use the email and mailing addresses for the
non-management directors to send communications to the Board.
14 Fox
Entertainment Group
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors is not aware of any other
matter other than those set forth in this proxy statement that will be presented for action at the meeting. If other matters properly come before the
meeting, the persons named as proxies intend to vote the shares they represent in accordance with their best judgment in the interest of the
Company.
THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE ITS
STOCKHOLDERS WITHOUT CHARGE A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES FILED THEREWITH.
WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR SUCH REPORT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC., 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW
YORK, NY 10036.
Proxy Statement
2004 15
This Page Intentionally Left Blank.
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‚ DETACH PROXY CARD HERE ‚ |
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Please sign exactly as your name appears |
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Votes must be indicated |
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THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1 |
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1. |
Election of Directors |
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FOR all nominees |
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WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote |
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*EXCEPTIONS |
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To change your address, please mark this box. |
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To include any comments, please mark this box. |
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Nominees: K. Rupert
Murdoch, Peter Chernin, David F. DeVoe, Arthur M. Siskind, Lachlan K. |
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*(INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark the |
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THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 2 |
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Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent accountants. |
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S C A N L I N E |
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The above named proxies are granted the authority, in their discretion, to act upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
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Date |
Share Owner sign here |
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Co-Owner sign here |
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4683
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FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. |
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS – NOVEMBER 16, 2004 |
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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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The undersigned stockholder in Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (“Corporation”) hereby constitutes and appoints K. Rupert Murdoch, David F. DeVoe and Arthur M. Siskind, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys and proxies, with full power of substitution in and for each of them, to vote all shares of the Corporation which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 16, 2004 at the Citigroup Auditorium, 399 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m., local time, or at any postponement or adjournment thereof, on any and all of the proposals contained in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with all the powers the undersigned would possess if present personally at said meeting, or at any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE. |
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(Continued and to be signed and dated on the other side) |
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FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. |
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P.O. BOX 11131 |
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NEW YORK, N.Y. 10203-0131 |
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