AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY  23, 1996
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 33-
________________________________________________________________________________
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                                TIME WARNER INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 

                                                                          
               DELAWARE                                  7812                                 13-1388520
   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF           (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL                  (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
    INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)           CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER)                IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

 
                            ------------------------
 
                              75 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                                 (212) 484-8000
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
                            ------------------------
 
                              PETER R. HAJE, ESQ.
                              75 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                                 (212) 484-7580
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                            ------------------------
 
                                WITH A COPY TO:
                            ROBERT B. SCHUMER, ESQ.
                    PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON
                          1285 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019
                                 (212) 373-3097
                            ------------------------
 
     APPROXIMATE  DATE  OF  COMMENCEMENT  OF  SALE TO  THE  PUBLIC:  As  soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
     If the Securities registered on this  Form are to be offered in  connection
with  the formation of  a holding company  and there is  compliance with General
Instruction G, check the following box. [ ]
 
     If any of the Securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act  of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [X]

                            ------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


                                                                                     PROPOSED MAXIMUM   PROPOSED MAXIMUM
             TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES                     AMOUNT TO          OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE
                     TO BE REGISTERED                            BE REGISTERED          PER UNIT(1)     OFFERING PRICE(1)
                                                                                               
10 1/4% Series M Exchangeable Preferred Stock..............  1.6 million shares(2)        $1,000          $1.6 billion
10 1/4% Series L Exchangeable Preferred Stock..............           (3)                   (4)                (4)
10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2011............           (5)                   (4)                (4)
 

                                                               AMOUNT OF
             TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES               REGISTRATION
                     TO BE REGISTERED                             FEE
                                                          
10 1/4% Series M Exchangeable Preferred Stock..............    $551,724
10 1/4% Series L Exchangeable Preferred Stock..............       (4)
10 1/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2011............       (4)

 
(1) Estimated  solely  for  the  purpose  of  calculating  the  registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457.
(2) The maximum number of shares of  Series M Exchangeable Preferred Stock  that
    may  be issued  pursuant to  this Registration  Statement. This Registration
    Statement also relates  to an  indeterminate number  of shares  of Series  M
    Exchangeable  Preferred Stock  that may  be issued  as dividends  payable on
    shares of  Series  M Exchangeable  Preferred  Stock pursuant  to  the  terms
    thereof.
(3) The  Series M Exchangeable Preferred Stock  is exchangeable for the Series L
    Exchangeable Preferred  Stock in  certain circumstances.  This  Registration
    Statement  relates  to  an  indeterminate  number  of  shares  of  Series  L
    Exchangeable Preferred Stock that may be issued (i) in exchange for Series M
    Exchangeable Preferred  Stock and  (ii) as  dividends payable  on shares  of
    Series L Exchangeable Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof.
(4) Pursuant  to  Rule 457(i)  of the  Securities  Act of  1933, as  amended, no
    additional registration fee is payable in respect thereof.
(5) The Series L  Exchangeable Preferred  Stock is exchangeable  for the  Senior
    Subordinated Debentures due 2011 in certain circumstances. This Registration
    Statement   relates  to   an  indeterminate   principal  amount   of  Senior
    Subordinated Debentures that  may be  issued (i)  in exchange  for Series  L
    Exchangeable Preferred Stock and (ii) as interest payable on such debentures
    pursuant to the terms thereof.
                            ------------------------
 
     THE  REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS  THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT  ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT  SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL  BECOME
EFFECTIVE  ON  SUCH  DATE  AS THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
________________________________________________________________________________



 

                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
               LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS OF INFORMATION REQUIRED BY
                               PART I OF FORM S-4
 


ITEM NO.                                CAPTION                                       LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
- --------   ------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------
 
                                                                         
    1.     Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside Front Cover
             Page of Prospectus..............................................  Facing Page of Registration
                                                                                 Statement; Cross-Reference Sheet;
                                                                                 Outside Front and Inside Front
                                                                                 Cover Page of Prospectus
    2.     Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of Prospectus...........  Inside Front Cover Pages of
                                                                                 Prospectus; Available Information
    3.     Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges, and Other
             Information.....................................................  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors;
                                                                                 The Company; Selected Historical
                                                                                 and Pro Forma Financial
                                                                                 Information; Consolidated
                                                                                 Capitalization
    4.     Terms of the Transaction..........................................  Prospectus Summary; The Exchange
                                                                                 Offer; The Company; Description of
                                                                                 Series M Preferred Stock; Certain
                                                                                 Federal Income Tax Considerations
    5.     Pro Forma Financial Information...................................  Not Applicable
    6.     Material Contracts with the Company being Acquired................  Not Applicable
    7.     Additional Information Required for Reoffering by Persons and
             Parties Deemed to be Underwriters...............................  Plan of Distribution
    8.     Interests of Named Experts and Counsel............................  Legal Opinion; Experts
    9.     Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification for
             Securities Act Liabilities......................................  Not Applicable
   10.     Information with Respect to S-3 Registrants.......................  Incorporation of Certain Documents
                                                                                 by Reference; Recent Developments
   11.     Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.................  Incorporation of Certain Documents
                                                                                 by Reference
   12.     Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3 Registrants................  Not Applicable
   13.     Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.................  Not Applicable
   14.     Information with Respect to Registrants Other than S-3 or S-2
             Registrants.....................................................  Not Applicable
   15.     Information with Respect to S-3 Companies.........................  Not Applicable
   16.     Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3 Companies..................  Not Applicable
   17.     Information with Respect to Companies Other than S-2 or S-3
             Companies.......................................................  Not Applicable
   18.     Information if Proxies, Consents or Authorizations are to Be
             Solicited.......................................................  Not Applicable
   19.     Information if Proxies, Consents or Authorizations are Not to Be
             Solicited, or in an Exchange Offer..............................  Summary; The Exchange Offer;
                                                                                 Description of Series M Preferred
                                                                                 Stock; Certain Federal Income Tax
                                                                                 Considerations; Incorporation of
                                                                                 Certain Documents by Reference



 

             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED                    , 1996
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                  OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
                 10 1/4% SERIES K EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK
                                 FOR SHARES OF
                10 1/4% SERIES M EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK OF
                                TIME WARNER INC.
                            ------------------------
 
                  THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
       NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                    , 1996, UNLESS EXTENDED
                            ------------------------
 
     Time  Warner Inc., a  Delaware corporation (the  'Company'), hereby offers,
upon the terms and subject  to the conditions set  forth in this Prospectus  and
the  accompanying  letter  of  transmittal  (the  'Letter  of  Transmittal,' and
together with this Prospectus, the 'Exchange Offer'), to exchange shares of  its
10  1/4% Series M Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, par value  $1.00 per share (the
'Series M  Preferred Stock'),  for any  and  all of  the outstanding  shares  of
10  1/4% Series K Exchangeable  Preferred Stock, par value  $1.00 per share (the
'Series K Preferred Stock'), of the Company. The terms of the Series M Preferred
Stock are substantially identical to the terms of the Series K Preferred  Stock,
except  that the shares  of Series M  Preferred Stock will  have been registered
under the Securities Act  of 1933, as amended  (the 'Securities Act'), and  will
not contain terms restricting the transfer of such shares.
 
     The  Company  will accept  for  exchange any  and  all shares  of  Series K
Preferred Stock that are  validly tendered on  or prior to  5:00 p.m., New  York
City time, on the date the Exchange Offer expires, which will be               ,
1996,  unless the Exchange Offer is extended (the 'Expiration Date'). Tenders of
shares of Series K Preferred  Stock may be withdrawn at  any time prior to  5:00
p.m.,  New York City time, on the business day prior to the Expiration Date. The
Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum number of shares of Series  K
Preferred  Stock being  tendered for  exchange. However,  the Exchange  Offer is
subject to certain  conditions which may  be waived  by the Company  and to  the
terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. See 'Exchange Offer.'
The Company has agreed to pay the expenses of the Exchange Offer.
 
     Holders  of shares  of Series  K Preferred Stock  whose shares  of Series K
Preferred Stock  are  not tendered  and  accepted  in the  Exchange  Offer  will
continue to hold such shares of Series K Preferred Stock. Following consummation
of  the Exchange Offer, the  holders of shares of  Series K Preferred Stock will
continue to be subject to the  existing restrictions upon transfer thereof  and,
except  as provided herein, the Company will  have no further obligation to such
holders to provide for the registration  under the Securities Act of the  shares
of Series K Preferred Stock held by them.
 
                                                  (cover continued on next page)
 
- ----------------------------------------------------------
 
SEE  'RISK  FACTORS'  FOR  A  DISCUSSION OF  CERTAIN  RISKS  ASSOCIATED  WITH AN
INVESTMENT IN THE SERIES M PREFERRED STOCK.
 
     The Company will not receive any  proceeds from this Exchange Offer and  no
underwriter is being utilized in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
THE  SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR
     HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES
       COMMISSION   PASSED  UPON  THE  ACCURACY   OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS
        PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO  THE CONTRARY IS A  CRIMINAL
                                    OFFENSE.
                            ------------------------
 
              The date of this Prospectus is               , 1996.
 
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR
AMENDMENT.  A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD
NOR  MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED  PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR  THE
SOLICITATION  OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR SHALL  THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL  PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 

 

(cover continued from previous page)
 
     The  Series K Preferred  Stock was issued and  sold on April  11, 1996 in a
transaction not  registered  under the  Securities  Act, in  reliance  upon  the
exemption  provided  in Section  4(2) of  the  Securities Act.  Accordingly, the
Series K Preferred  Stock may  not be  reoffered, resold  or otherwise  pledged,
hypothecated  or transferred in the United States unless so registered or unless
an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
is available. Shares  of Series M  Preferred Stock are  being offered hereby  in
order  to satisfy the  obligations of the Company  under the registration rights
agreement relating to  the Series  K Preferred Stock  (the 'Registration  Rights
Agreement'). See 'The Exchange Offer -- Purpose of the Exchange Offer.' Based on
no-action  letters issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the 'Commission') to  third parties, the  Company believes shares  of Series  M
Preferred  Stock to be issued in exchange for shares of Series K Preferred Stock
pursuant to the Exchange Offer may  be offered for resale, resold and  otherwise
transferred  by holders  thereof (other than  (i) a  broker-dealer who purchases
such shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock directly  from the  Company to  resell
pursuant  to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act
or (ii) a person  that is an  'affiliate' of the Company  within the meaning  of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and
prospectus  delivery provisions of the Securities  Act provided that such shares
of Series M Preferred Stock are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders'
business and such holders have no arrangements with any person to participate in
the distribution of such  shares of Series M  Preferred Stock. Eligible  holders
wishing  to accept the  Exchange Offer must  represent to the  Company that such
conditions have been met.  Each broker-dealer that receives  shares of Series  M
Preferred Stock for its own account in exchange for shares of Series K Preferred
Stock  acquired as  a result of  market-making or other  trading activities must
acknowledge that it will deliver a  prospectus in connection with any resale  of
such  shares of Series M Preferred Stock.  The Letter of Transmittal states that
by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not  be
deemed to admit that it is an 'underwriter' within the meaning of the Securities
Act.  This Prospectus, as it  may be amended or  supplemented from time to time,
may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of shares of Series  M
Preferred  Stock received  in exchange  for shares  of Series  K Preferred Stock
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or  other
trading  activities. For a period  of 90 days following  the consummation of the
Exchange Offer, the  Company has agreed  to use  its best efforts  to make  this
Prospectus  available to broker-dealers  who have identified  themselves as such
for use in connection with such resales. See 'Plan of Distribution.'
 
     Dividends on the  Series M  Preferred Stock,  at the  rate of  10 1/4%  per
annum,  are cumulative and  payable quarterly in  arrears on March  30, June 30,
September 30 and December 30 of each year, commencing on
(the  'First Dividend Payment Date'). Holders  of Series K Preferred Stock whose
shares of Series K Preferred Stock are  accepted for exchange will be deemed  to
have  waived the right to receive any payment in respect of any unpaid dividends
on the Series K Preferred Stock that have accumulated or accrued to the date  of
the  issuance  of  the Series  M  Preferred  Stock. Consequently,  on  the First
Dividend Payment Date holders  who exchange their shares  of Series K  Preferred
Stock for Series M Preferred Stock will receive the same dividends on the Series
M Preferred Stock that holders of the Series K Preferred Stock who do not accept
the  Exchange Offer will receive  on the Series K  Preferred Stock. Dividends on
the Series M Preferred Stock  may be paid in cash  or by issuing fully paid  and
nonassessable shares of Series M Preferred Stock as described herein.
 
     THE  EXCHANGE  OFFER IS  NOT BEING  MADE  TO, NOR  WILL THE  COMPANY ACCEPT
SURRENDERS FOR  EXCHANGE  FROM, HOLDERS  OF  SERIES  K PREFERRED  STOCK  IN  ANY
JURISDICTION  IN WHICH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OR THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
 
     There can be no assurance that an  active public or private market for  the
Series  M Preferred Stock will develop. Whether or not a market for the Series M
Preferred Stock should  develop, the shares  of Series M  Preferred Stock  could
trade  at a  discount from their  aggregate liquidation  preference. The Company
does not intend to list  the Series M Preferred  Stock on a national  securities
exchange  or to apply for quotation of  the Series M Preferred Stock through the
National Association of  Securities Dealers Automated  Quotation System. To  the
extent  shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock  are tendered  and accepted  in the
Exchange Offer, the trading  market for untendered  and tendered but  unaccepted
shares of Series K Preferred Stock could be adversely affected.
 
     The  Company has been advised by the Initial Purchasers (as defined herein)
that they intend to make a market in the Series M Preferred Stock; however, such
entities are under no obligation to do so and any market making activities  with
respect to the Series M Preferred Stock may be discontinued at any time.
 
                                       2



 

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement relating
to the Series M Preferred Stock offered hereby (together with all amendments and
exhibits, referred to as the 'Registration Statement') under the Securities Act.
This  Prospectus  does not  contain  all of  the  information set  forth  in the
Registration Statement, certain parts  of which are  omitted in accordance  with
the  rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information, reference
is hereby made to the Registration Statement. Statements made in this Prospectus
as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to  are
not necessarily complete. With respect to each such contract, agreement or other
document  filed or incorporated  by reference as an  exhibit to the Registration
Statement, reference is  made to such  exhibit for a  more complete  description
thereof,  and each such statement  shall be deemed qualified  in its entirety by
such reference.  The  Registration  Statement and  the  exhibits  and  schedules
thereto  may be inspected without  charge and copied at  prescribed rates at the
Public Reference Section maintained  by the Commission at  Room 1024, 450  Fifth
Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and  at the Commission's regional offices
located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th  Floor, New York, New York 10048;  and
Northwestern  Atrium  Center, 500  West  Madison Street  (Suite  1400), Chicago,
Illinois 60661-2511.
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934, as  amended  (the  'Exchange Act'),  and  in accordance
therewith, files  reports,  proxy  statements and  other  information  with  the
Commission. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company
with  the Commission pursuant to the  informational requirements of the Exchange
Act may be inspected without charge and copied at prescribed rates at the public
reference facilities  maintained  by the  Commission  at Room  1024,  450  Fifth
Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and  at the Commission's regional offices
located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th  Floor, New York, New York 10048;  and
Northwestern  Atrium  Center, 500  West  Madison Street  (Suite  1400), Chicago,
Illinois 60661; and copies of such material may be obtained upon written request
addressed to  the Public  Reference  Section of  the  Commission, at  450  Fifth
Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at  prescribed rates. Such reports, proxy
statements and other information may also be inspected at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc. ('NYSE'), 20 Broad Street, New York, New York, and the
Pacific Stock  Exchange  Incorporated ('PSE'),  233  South Beaudry  Avenue,  Los
Angeles,  California 90012  and 301 Pine  Street, San  Francisco, California, on
which one or more of the Company's securities are listed.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The Company  hereby  incorporates  by  reference  in  this  Prospectus  the
following documents or information filed with the Commission:
 
          (a)  the Company's Current Report on Form  8-K dated May 15, 1996 (the
     'May 15, 1996 8-K');
 
          (b) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
     ended March 31, 1996 (the 'First Quarter 10-Q');
 
          (c) the Company's Current  Reports on Form 8-K  dated April 11,  1996,
     April 4, 1996, April 2, 1996, March 25, 1996, March 22, 1996 and January 4,
     1996;
 
          (d) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1995 (the '10-K');
 
          (e)  the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in Item 4
     of the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  8-B  filed  with  the
     Commission  on December 8, 1983, pursuant  to Section 12(b) of the Exchange
     Act, as amended from time to time;
 
          (f) the  description  of the  rights  issued to  stockholders  of  the
     Company  pursuant to  the Rights Agreement,  dated as of  January 20, 1994,
     between the Company and Chemical Bank, as Rights Agent, contained in Item 1
     of the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  8-A  filed  with  the
     Commission on January 24, 1994;
 
          (g)  the  TWE Partnership  Agreement included  as  Exhibit (A)  to the
     Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 29, 1991, Exhibit  10(b)
     and Exhibit 10(c) to the Company's
 
                                       3
 

 

     Current  Report on  Form 8-K  dated July  14, 1992  and Exhibit  3.2 to the
     Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
     1993; and
 
          (h) all documents and reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section
     13(a), 13(c), 14 or  15(d) of the  Exchange Act subsequent  to the date  of
     this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering made hereby.
 
     Any  statement contained herein or in  a document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained  herein
or in any other document subsequently filed with the Commission which also is or
is  deemed to  be incorporated by  reference herein modifies  or supersedes such
statement. Any such  statement so modified  or superseded shall  not be  deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
     THE  COMPANY  WILL  PROVIDE WITHOUT  CHARGE  TO  EACH PERSON  TO  WHOM THIS
PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON, A COPY
OF ANY  OR  ALL  OF THE  DOCUMENTS  INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE  HEREIN  BUT  NOT
DELIVERED  HEREWITH (NOT INCLUDING  THE EXHIBITS TO  SUCH DOCUMENTS, UNLESS SUCH
EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN SUCH DOCUMENTS). REQUESTS
FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO: SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS, TIME WARNER  INC.,
75  ROCKEFELLER  PLAZA,  NEW  YORK,  NEW  YORK  10019  (TELEPHONE  NUMBER: (212)
484-6971).
 
     NO PERSON  HAS  BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION  OR  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS  OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND THE  ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL AND, IF  GIVEN OR  MADE,
SUCH  INFORMATION  OR REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT  BE RELIED  UPON AS  HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY  OR THE EXCHANGE AGENT.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF  THIS
PROSPECTUS  OR THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, OR BOTH TOGETHER, NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER  SHALL UNDER  ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE  AN IMPLICATION  THAT
THERE  HAS BEEN NO CHANGE  IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE  COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS  NOR THE  ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL, NOR  BOTH
TOGETHER,  CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A  SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY
OF THE SECURITIES  OFFERED HEREBY BY  ANYONE IN ANY  JURISDICTION IN WHICH  SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER
OR  SOLICITATION  IS NOT  QUALIFIED TO  DO SO  OR TO  ANY PERSON  TO WHOM  IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
 
                                       4



 

                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     The following summary information is qualified in its entirety by reference
to  the more detailed information and  financial statements (including the notes
thereto)  appearing  elsewhere   in  this  Prospectus   and  in  the   documents
incorporated  by reference  in this Prospectus.  Capitalized terms  used in this
Prospectus and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in
the Glossary of Significant Terms beginning on page G-1.
 
THE COMPANY
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company is  the world's  leading media  company, and  has interests  in
three  fundamental areas  of business: Entertainment,  consisting principally of
interests  in  recorded  music  and  music  publishing,  filmed   entertainment,
broadcasting,   theme  parks   and  cable   television  programming;   News  and
Information, consisting principally  of interests in  magazine publishing,  book
publishing  and direct marketing; and Telecommunications, consisting principally
of interests in cable television systems.  The Company is a holding company  and
its   assets  consist   primarily  of   investments  in   its  consolidated  and
unconsolidated subsidiaries, including Time Warner Entertainment Company,  L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership ('TWE').
 
TWE
 
     Substantially  all  of  the Company's  interests  in  filmed entertainment,
broadcasting, theme parks and cable television programming and a majority of its
interests in cable television systems are held through TWE. TWE was formed as  a
Delaware  limited  partnership  in February  1992  pursuant to  an  Agreement of
Limited Partnership, dated as of October 29, 1991, as amended from time to  time
(the 'TWE Partnership Agreement').
 
     The   Company  and  certain  wholly   owned  subsidiaries  of  the  Company
collectively own 74.49% of the pro  rata priority capital interests in TWE  (the
'TWE  Series A  Capital') and the  residual equity partnership  interests in TWE
(the 'TWE Residual Capital').  The 25.51% of  the TWE Series  A Capital and  TWE
Residual  Capital not owned  by the Company  and its subsidiaries  are held by a
wholly owned subsidiary of U S WEST, Inc., a Delaware corporation ('U S  WEST').
Certain  wholly  owned subsidiaries  of the  Company  (the 'Time  Warner General
Partners') also own  100% of the  priority capital interests  senior to the  TWE
Series  A Capital (the 'TWE Senior  Capital') and the priority capital interests
that are junior to the  TWE Series A Capital (the  'TWE Series B Capital').  The
TWE  Residual  Capital, together  with the  TWE  Contingent Capital  (as defined
herein) and any other  interests which may  be issued in  the future, which  are
junior  to the TWE  Series B Capital,  are sometimes referred  to as 'TWE Junior
Capital.' See 'TWE Partnership Interests.'
 
TBS TRANSACTION
 
     In September 1995, the Company announced  that it had agreed to merge  with
Turner   Broadcasting  System,  Inc.  ('TBS'),  a  diversified  information  and
entertainment company, by acquiring the approximate 80% interest in TBS that the
Company does  not already  own. The  Company  has entered  into an  Amended  and
Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 22, 1995 (as amended
from time to time, the 'Merger Agreement'), to provide for the merger of each of
the  Company and TBS with separate subsidiaries  of a holding company ('New Time
Warner') to be named Time Warner  Inc. (the 'TBS Transaction'). Pursuant to  the
TBS  Transaction, the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the capital
stock of the Company, including  the Series K Preferred  Stock and the Series  M
Preferred  Stock, are to  be converted into shares  of a substantially identical
class of capital stock of New Time  Warner. The TBS Transaction and the  related
transactions  are subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of
the shareholders of TBS and the Company, all necessary approvals of the  Federal
Communications    Commission    (the    'FCC')    and    appropriate   antitrust
 
                                       5
 

 

approvals. There can be no assurance  that all these approvals can be  obtained,
or  in the case of governmental approvals,  if obtained, will not be conditioned
upon changes to the terms of the  Merger Agreement. The holders of the Series  M
Preferred  Stock will  not be  entitled to  vote on  the TBS  Transaction. For a
further discussion of the TBS Transaction and related transactions, and  certain
litigation  relating thereto (including litigation with U  S WEST (the 'U S WEST
Litigation')), reference is made to the  10-K and First Quarter 10-Q, which  are
incorporated herein by reference.
 
TWE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
 
     Each partner's interest in TWE consists of the initial priority capital and
residual  equity amounts that  were assigned to that  partner or its predecessor
based on the estimated fair value of the net assets each contributed to TWE,  as
adjusted  for the fair  value of certain  assets distributed by  TWE to the Time
Warner General Partners in 1993 which were not subsequently reacquired by TWE in
1995 ('Contributed  Capital'),  plus,  with  respect  to  the  priority  capital
interests  only, any undistributed priority capital return. The priority capital
return consists of net partnership income  allocated to date in accordance  with
the  provisions of the TWE  Partnership Agreement and the  right to be allocated
additional partnership income which, together with any previously allocated  net
partnership  income, provide  for the various  priority capital  rates of return
specified  in  the  table  below.  The  sum  of  Contributed  Capital  and   the
undistributed  priority capital  return is  referred to  as 'Cumulative Priority
Capital.' The  ultimate  realization of  Cumulative  Priority Capital  could  be
affected  by the fair value  of TWE, which is  subject to fluctuation. See 'Risk
Factors.'
 
     A summary of the priority  of Contributed Capital, the Company's  ownership
of  Contributed Capital  and Cumulative Priority  Capital at March  31, 1996 and
priority capital rates of return thereon is as set forth below.
 


                                                         CUMULATIVE
                                                          PRIORITY          PRIORITY
                                                         CAPITAL AT         CAPITAL          % OWNED BY
                                       CONTRIBUTED       MARCH 31,           RATES              THE
 PRIORITY OF CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL       CAPITAL(a)           1996          OF RETURN(b)        COMPANY
- ---------------------------------      -----------       ----------       ------------       ----------
                                                (BILLIONS)                (% PER ANNUM
                                                                           COMPOUNDED
                                                                           QUARTERLY)
 
                                                                                 
TWE Senior Capital...............          $1.4             $1.5(c)            8.00%           100.00%
TWE Series A Capital.............           5.6              9.0              13.00(d)          74.49
TWE Series B Capital.............           2.9(g)           4.7              13.25(e)         100.00
TWE Residual Capital.............           3.3(g)           3.3(f)          --    (f)          74.49%

 
- ------------
 
 (a) Excludes partnership income or loss allocated thereto and is subject to any
     special income allocations for tax purposes.
 
 (b) Income allocations related to priority capital rates of return are based on
     partnership income after any special income allocations for tax purposes.
 
 (c) Net of $366 million of partnership income distributed in 1995  representing
     the priority capital return thereon through June 30, 1995.
 
 (d) 11.00% to the extent concurrently distributed.
 
 (e) 11.25% to the extent concurrently distributed.
 
 (f) TWE  Residual Capital  is not entitled  to stated priority  rates of return
     and, as such, the Cumulative Priority Capital relating thereto is equal  to
     the  Contributed Capital relating thereto. However,  in the case of certain
     events such as  the liquidation  or dissolution  of TWE,  the TWE  Residual
     Capital  is entitled to any excess of the then fair value of the net assets
     of TWE over the aggregate amount of Cumulative Priority Capital and special
     tax allocations.
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       6
 

 

(footnotes continued from previous page)
 
 (g) The Contributed Capital relating to the  TWE Series B Capital has  priority
     over  the priority  returns on  the TWE  Series A  Capital. The Contributed
     Capital relating to the TWE Residual Capital has priority over the priority
     returns on the TWE Series B Capital and the TWE Series A Capital.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     For a  further  discussion  of the  TWE  Partnership  Interests,  including
allocations   of  partnership  income  and  loss  and  distributions,  see  'TWE
Partnership Interests.'
 
                            ------------------------
 
     As used in this Prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the term
'Company' refers to  Time Warner  Inc. and its  consolidated and  unconsolidated
subsidiaries,  including TWE. Following the  TBS Transaction, unless the context
otherwise requires, references to the Company  in its capacity as issuer of  the
Securities  (as defined  herein) will  be deemed  to be  references to  New Time
Warner. For financial reporting purposes,  the Company does not consolidate  the
results of operations of the Entertainment Group, consisting principally of TWE,
with  the Company's  results of operations.  TWE holds substantially  all of the
Company's interests in filmed entertainment, broadcasting, theme parks and cable
television programming  and  a majority  of  the Company's  interests  in  cable
television  systems. Although  TWE manages  substantially all  the cable systems
owned  by  the   Company,  TWE  and   a  joint  venture   ('TWE-Advance/Newhouse
Partnership') between TWE and Advance/Newhouse Partnership ('Advance/Newhouse'),
the  results  of  operations  of  the  cable  systems  owned  by  the  Company's
consolidated subsidiaries are  included in the  Company's consolidated  results,
while  the  results of  operations of  the cable  systems owned  by TWE  and the
TWE-Advance/Newhouse Partnership are included in the consolidated results of the
Entertainment  Group.  See   'Selected  Historical  and   Pro  Forma   Financial
Information.'
 
     The  Company's principal  executive offices  are located  at 75 Rockefeller
Plaza, New York, New York 10019, and its telephone number is (212) 484-8000.
 
                                       7
 

 

 

THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 

                                      
Securities Offered.....................  1.6 million shares of 10 1/4% Series M Exchangeable Preferred Stock. The
                                           terms of the Series M  Preferred Stock are substantially identical  to
                                           the  terms of the  Series K Preferred  Stock except that  the Series M
                                           Preferred Stock will have been registered under the Securities Act and
                                           will not contain  terms restricting  the transfer of  such stock.  See
                                           'Description of Series M Preferred Stock.'
The Exchange Offer.....................  Shares of Series M Preferred Stock are being offered in exchange for any
                                           and  all of the outstanding  shares of Series K  Preferred Stock (on a
                                           share for share basis). As of  the date hereof, 1.6 million shares  of
                                           Series  K Preferred Stock with  an aggregate liquidation preference of
                                           $1.6 billion are  issued and  outstanding. The Company  is making  the
                                           Exchange   Offer  in  order  to  satisfy  its  obligations  under  the
                                           Registration Rights Agreement. For a description of the procedures for
                                           tendering, see 'Exchange  Offer -- Procedures  for Tendering Series  K
                                           Preferred Stock.'
Expiration Date; Withdrawal............  The  Exchange Offer  will expire  at 5:00 p.m.,  New York  City time, on
                                                     , 1996,  or such  later date  and time  to which  it may  be
                                           extended  in  the  sole  discretion of  the  Company  (the 'Expiration
                                           Date'). Shares of Series  K Preferred Stock  tendered pursuant to  the
                                           Exchange  Offer may be  withdrawn at any time  prior to the Expiration
                                           Date. Any shares of Series K Preferred Stock not accepted for exchange
                                           for any  reason will  be  returned without  expense to  the  tendering
                                           holders  thereof as  promptly as  practicable after  the expiration or
                                           termination of the Exchange Offer.  See 'Exchange Offer --  Expiration
                                           Date;   Extensions;  Termination;  Amendments'   and  'Exchange  Offer
                                           Withdrawal Rights.'
Conditions to Exchange Offer...........  The Exchange  Offer  is subject  to  certain conditions.  See  'Exchange
                                           Offer -- Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer.' The Exchange Offer
                                           is  not  conditioned upon  any minimum  number of  shares of  Series K
                                           Preferred Stock being tendered for exchange.
Certain Federal Income Tax
  Considerations.......................  The exchange of the Series K Preferred Stock for the Series M  Preferred
                                           Stock  should not be a taxable event  to the holder for federal income
                                           tax purposes, and the holder should not recognize any taxable gain  or
                                           loss  as a  result of such  exchange. See 'Certain  Federal Income Tax
                                           Considerations.'
Untendered Series K Preferred Stock....  Upon consummation  of  the  Exchange  Offer, the  holders  of  Series  K
                                           Preferred  Stock, if any,  will have no  further registration or other
                                           rights under  the Registration  Rights Agreement,  except as  provided
                                           herein.  Holders  of shares  of Series  K Preferred  Stock who  do not
                                           tender their shares of Series K Preferred Stock in the Exchange  Offer
                                           or  whose  shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock  are not  accepted for
                                           exchange will continue to hold such shares of Series K Preferred Stock
                                           and will be  entitled to all  the rights and  preferences thereof  and
                                           will  be subject to all the limitations applicable thereto, except for
                                           any such rights  or limitations  which, by their  terms, terminate  or
                                           cease  to  be  effective  as  a result  of  this  Exchange  Offer. All
                                           untendered and tendered  but unaccepted shares  of Series K  Preferred
                                           Stock  will continue  to be  subject to  the restrictions  on transfer
                                           provided therein.  To the  extent that  shares of  Series K  Preferred
                                           Stock  are tendered  and accepted in  the Exchange  Offer, the trading
                                           market for untendered and tendered  but unaccepted shares of Series  K
                                           Preferred Stock could be adversely affected.

 
                                       8
 

 

 
TERMS OF THE SERIES M PREFERRED STOCK
 
The  terms of the  Series M Preferred Stock  are substantially identical  to the
terms of the Series K Preferred Stock.
 

                                      
Dividends..............................  Holders of the Series  M Preferred Stock are  entitled, when, as and  if
                                           declared by the Board of Directors of the Company out of funds legally
                                           available  therefor, to receive dividends on each outstanding share of
                                           Series M Preferred Stock, at the rate of 10 1/4% per annum.  Dividends
                                           on  the Series M  Preferred Stock are payable  quarterly in arrears on
                                           March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each year (each,  a
                                           'Dividend  Payment Date'),  commencing on  the First  Dividend Payment
                                           Date to holders of record on the immediately preceding March 10,  June
                                           10,  September  10  and  December 10,  respectively  (each,  a 'Record
                                           Date'). Dividends on the Series  M Preferred Stock will be  cumulative
                                           (whether  or not earned or declared) from  the date of issuance of the
                                           Series M Preferred Stock.  Dividends which are  not declared and  paid
                                           when due will compound quarterly at the dividend rate.
                                         Dividends  may, at the  option of the  Company, be paid  on any Dividend
                                           Payment Date in cash or by issuing fully paid and nonassessable shares
                                           of Series M Preferred Stock  with an aggregate liquidation  preference
                                           equal  to  the  amount  of  such  dividends;  provided,  however, that
                                           dividends shall be paid (i) in cash, to the extent of an amount  equal
                                           to the Pro Rata Percentage as of the Preceding Record Date, multiplied
                                           by   the  amount   of  cash   distributions,  excluding   certain  Tax
                                           Distributions, if any, received by the Company (and its  subsidiaries)
                                           on  or  after the  Preceding Record  Date to,  but not  including, the
                                           current Record Date with respect to  its TWE Series B Capital and  any
                                           TWE  Junior Capital, and (ii) in Series  M Preferred Stock or cash, at
                                           the Company's option, to the extent of any balance.
                                         At March 31, 1996, if 1.6 million shares of Series M Preferred Stock had
                                           been outstanding at such date, the Pro Rata Percentage would have been
                                           34.0%.  See  'TWE  Partnership  Interests.'  TWE's  ability  to   make
                                           distributions  is subject to certain restrictions. See 'Description of
                                           Series  M   Preferred  Stock  --  Dividends'  and  'Risk   Factors  --
                                           Limitations on Dividends and Other Payments.'
                                         Holders of Series K Preferred Stock  whose shares of Series K  Preferred
                                           Stock  are accepted  for exchange  will be  deemed to  have waived the
                                           right to receive any payment in respect of any unpaid dividends on the
                                           Series K Preferred Stock that have accumulated or accrued to the  date
                                           of  issuance of  the Series  M Preferred  Stock. Consequently,  on the
                                           First Dividend  Payment  Date holders  who  exchange their  shares  of
                                           Series K Preferred Stock for Series M Preferred Stock will receive the
                                           same  dividends on  the Series M  Preferred Stock that  holders of the
                                           Series K Preferred  Stock who do  not accept the  Exchange Offer  will
                                           receive on the Series K Preferred Stock.
Liquidation Preference.................  $1,000 per share.
Voting Rights..........................  Holders  of the Series  M Preferred Stock have  no general voting rights
                                           except as  provided by  law  and as  provided  in the  Certificate  of
                                           Designation  therefor.  Upon the  failure of  the  Company to  (i) pay
                                           dividends on the Series  M Preferred Stock in  cash or, to the  extent
                                           permitted by its terms, by the issuance of additional shares of Series
                                           M  Preferred Stock, for  more than six  consecutive quarterly dividend
                                           periods or (ii) discharge any  redemption or exchange obligation  with
                                           respect  to the  Series M Preferred  Stock, the size  of the Company's
                                           Board of Directors will be increased by two directors, and holders  of
                                           the  outstanding  shares  of  Series  M  Preferred  Stock,  voting  or

 
                                       9
 

 

 

                                      
                                           consenting, as the case may be,  together as a class with the  holders
                                           of  any shares of Parity Stock as  to which dividends are similarly in
                                           arrears or unpaid or the Company has failed to satisfy its  redemption
                                           or exchange obligation, and to which similar voting rights apply, will
                                           be  entitled  to  elect  two  directors  to  fill  the  newly  created
                                           directorships. The  Company may  not issue  any new  class of  capital
                                           stock  senior to the Series M  Preferred Stock without the approval of
                                           the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Series M Preferred
                                           Stock then  outstanding, voting  or consenting,  as the  case may  be,
                                           separately  as  a  class.  See  'Description  of  Series  M  Preferred
                                           Stock -- Voting Rights.'
Optional Redemption....................  The Series M Preferred Stock  may not be redeemed  at the option of  the
                                           Company  prior to  July 1,  2006. Thereafter,  the Series  M Preferred
                                           Stock will be  redeemable at any  time, in  whole or in  part, at  the
                                           option  of  the  Company,  initially at  105.125%  of  the liquidation
                                           preference, declining  to 100%  of the  liquidation preference  on  or
                                           after  July 1,  2010, in  each case  plus accumulated  and accrued and
                                           unpaid dividends; provided, however, that no optional redemption shall
                                           be made unless the Company  shall have obtained a Rating  Confirmation
                                           with  respect to such  redemption. The Company's  ability to effect an
                                           optional redemption  is  subject  to the  legal  availability  at  the
                                           Company  of  funds therefor.  See 'Description  of Series  M Preferred
                                           Stock -- Optional Redemption' and  'Description of Series M  Preferred
                                           Stock -- General.'
Mandatory Redemption...................  On  July 1 of 2012,  2013, 2014 and 2015  (each, a 'Mandatory Redemption
                                           Date'), the Company  is required  to redeem the  Redeemable Number  of
                                           shares of Series M Preferred Stock at the Mandatory Redemption Price.
                                         On  July 1, 2016 (the 'Final  Redemption Date'), the Company is required
                                           to redeem all of  the then out standing  shares of Series M  Preferred
                                           Stock  at  the  lesser  of the  Mandatory  Redemption  Amount  and the
                                           Mandatory Redemption  Price; provided  that if  the Company  does  not
                                           obtain  a TWE Valuation  within 150 days following  the final Series B
                                           Redemption Date or if the TWE Series B Capital has been fully redeemed
                                           in accordance with  the TWE Partnership  Agreement, the Company  shall
                                           redeem  the  outstanding Series  M  Preferred Stock  at  the Mandatory
                                           Redemption Price.
                                         Upon redemption of the Series M Preferred Stock on the Final  Redemption
                                           Date,   the  Company's  obligations  with   respect  thereto  will  be
                                           discharged, and  if  such  redemption is  effected  at  the  Mandatory
                                           Redemption  Amount, holders of shares of  Series M Preferred Stock may
                                           have received  less  than  the  liquidation  preference  thereof  plus
                                           accumulated  and  accrued  and  unpaid  dividends  thereon.  See 'Risk
                                           Factors.' The Company's  obligation to redeem  the Series M  Preferred
                                           Stock  is subject  to the legal  availability at the  Company of funds
                                           therefor. See 'Description  of Series M  Preferred Stock --  Mandatory
                                           Redemption.'
Redemption Upon
  Insolvency of TWE....................  In  the event of the liquidation, winding  up or dissolution of TWE as a
                                           result of the Insolvency of TWE, the Series M Preferred Stock will  be
                                           mandatorily  redeemable  on  the  Insolvency  Redemption  Date  at the
                                           Insolvency Redemption  Amount.  Upon such  a  redemption of  Series  M
                                           Preferred  Stock, the Company's obligations  with respect thereto will
                                           be discharged  and  holders  of  Series M  Preferred  Stock  may  have
                                           received less than the liquidation preference thereof plus accumulated
                                           and accrued and unpaid dividends thereon. The Company's obligations to
                                           redeem  the  Series M  Preferred Stock  upon an  Insolvency of  TWE is
                                           subject to the legal availability at the

 
                                       10
 

 

 

                                      
                                           Company of  funds therefor.  See 'Description  of Series  M  Preferred
                                           Stock -- Redemption Upon Insolvency of TWE' and 'Risk Factors.'
Reorganization of TWE..................  Upon  a Reorganization of TWE, the Company shall, within 90 days, make a
                                           public announcement  that, on  the Reorganization  Redemption/Exchange
                                           Date,  it intends  to either  (i) exchange  each outstanding  share of
                                           Series M Preferred Stock for shares of Series L Preferred Stock having
                                           an  aggregate  liquidation   preference  equal   to  the   liquidation
                                           preference  of  such  share  of  Series  M  Preferred  Stock  plus the
                                           accumulated and accrued and  unpaid dividends thereon  at the date  of
                                           exchange (a 'Reorganization Exchange'), or (ii) redeem the outstanding
                                           shares  of Series M  Preferred Stock at  the Reorganization Redemption
                                           Price (a  'Reorganization Redemption');  provided, however,  that  the
                                           Company  may not effect  a Reorganization Redemption  prior to July 1,
                                           2011 unless the Company shall have obtained a Rating Confirmation with
                                           respect thereto; and provided further that the Company may not  effect
                                           a  Reorganization Exchange  on or  after July  1, 2011.  The Company's
                                           ability to effect a Reorganization Redemption is subject to the  legal
                                           availability  at the  Company of  funds therefor.  See 'Description of
                                           Series M Preferred Stock -- Reorganization of TWE.'
Change of Control......................  Upon a Change  of Control  of the Company,  the Company  shall offer  to
                                           purchase  all or any part of  the outstanding Series M Preferred Stock
                                           at 101% of  the liquidation preference  thereof, plus accumulated  and
                                           accrued  and  unpaid dividends  thereon.  The Company's  obligation to
                                           offer to purchase the Series M Preferred Stock is subject to the legal
                                           availability at the  Company of  funds therefor.  See 'Description  of
                                           Series M Preferred Stock -- Change of Control.'
Ranking................................  The  Series M  Preferred Stock  will rank pari  passu with  the Series K
                                           Preferred Stock and all  other classes of Parity  Stock and will  rank
                                           senior  to all classes  of Junior Stock. See  'Description of Series M
                                           Preferred Stock -- Ranking.'
Insolvency of the Company..............  In the event of a liquidation, winding-up, dissolution or bankruptcy  of
                                           the  Company,  the holders  of the  Series M  Preferred Stock  will be
                                           entitled to  their pro  rata  portion of  the  assets of  the  Company
                                           available for distribution to holders of Parity Stock up to the amount
                                           of  the liquidation  preference of the  Series M  Preferred Stock plus
                                           accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends thereon. See 'Description
                                           of Series  M  Preferred Stock  --  Liquidation Preference'  and  'Risk
                                           Factors.'
Covenants..............................  The  Certificate  of  Designation imposes  certain  restrictions  on the
                                           ability of the Company to (i) declare dividends or make  distributions
                                           with  respect to, or purchase, redeem or exchange, any Junior Stock or
                                           Parity Stock,  except  in or  for  Junior Stock,  if  full  cumulative
                                           dividends have not been paid on, or redemption or exchange obligations
                                           have not been satisfied with respect to, the Series M Preferred Stock,
                                           in  cash or, to the extent permitted  by its terms, by the issuance of
                                           additional shares of Series M  Preferred Stock or (ii) consolidate  or
                                           merge  with or into or sell all  or substantially all of its assets to
                                           any  person  or  entity.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of   the
                                           foregoing,  the TBS Transaction will  not require the affirmative vote
                                           or consent of the holders of the Series M Preferred Stock. If the  TBS
                                           Transaction  is  consummated, the  Series  M Preferred  Stock  will be
                                           converted into a substantially identical  class of preferred stock  of
                                           New  Time  Warner. See  'Description of  Series  M Preferred  Stock --
                                           Dividends' and 'Description  of Series  M Preferred  Stock --  Merger,
                                           Consolidation and Sale of Assets.'

 
                                       11
 

 

 
TERMS OF SERIES L PREFERRED STOCK

                                      
Dividends..............................  Holders  of the Series L  Preferred Stock are entitled,  when, as and if
                                           declared by  the Board  of  Directors of  the  Company, out  of  funds
                                           legally  available therefor, to receive  dividends on each outstanding
                                           share of the  Series L Preferred  Stock, at  the rate of  10 1/4%  per
                                           annum. Dividends on the Series L Preferred Stock are payable quarterly
                                           in  arrears on March 30, June 30, September 30 and December 30 of each
                                           year, commencing  on the  first Dividend  Payment Date  following  the
                                           exchange  of the Series  M Preferred Stock for  the Series L Preferred
                                           Stock to holders of record as  of the immediately preceding March  15,
                                           June  15, September 15 and December 15, respectively. Dividends on the
                                           Series L Preferred Stock will be cumulative (whether or not earned  or
                                           declared)  from the date of issuance  of the Series L Preferred Stock.
                                           Dividends which  are not  declared  and paid  when due  will  compound
                                           quarterly at the dividend rate.
                                         Until June 30, 2006 dividends may, at the option of the Company, be paid
                                           in  cash or by issuing fully paid and nonassessable shares of Series L
                                           Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation preference equal to such
                                           dividends.  Thereafter,  dividends  are  payable  only  in  cash.  See
                                           'Description  of  Series L  Preferred  Stock --  Dividends'  and 'Risk
                                           Factors.'
Liquidation Preference.................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
Voting Rights..........................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
Optional Redemption....................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
Mandatory Redemption...................  The Company is  required to redeem  the outstanding shares  of Series  L
                                           Preferred  Stock on July 1,  2011 at a price  equal to the liquidation
                                           preference thereof, plus accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends.
                                           The Company's obligation  to redeem  the Series L  Preferred Stock  is
                                           subject  to the legal  availability at the  Company of funds therefor.
                                           See 'Description of Series L Preferred Stock -- Mandatory  Redemption'
                                           and 'Risk Factors.'
Exchange at Option
  of Company...........................  The Company has the option on any Dividend Payment Date to exchange (the
                                           'Debt  Exchange'), in whole but not in part, the outstanding shares of
                                           Series L Preferred Stock for  Senior Subordinated Debentures having  a
                                           principal  amount equal to the liquidation  preference of the Series L
                                           Preferred Stock plus  accrued and unpaid  dividends thereon,  provided
                                           that  the  Debt  Exchange shall  not  be made  unless  all accumulated
                                           dividends have been paid in full and the Company shall have obtained a
                                           Rating Confirmation  with respect  thereto. The  Company's ability  to
                                           exchange  the  Series L  Preferred Stock  for the  Senior Subordinated
                                           Debentures is  subject to  the legal  availability at  the Company  of
                                           funds   equal  to  the  aggregate   principal  amount  of  the  Senior
                                           Subordinated Debentures to  be issued.  See 'Description  of Series  L
                                           Preferred Stock -- Exchange at Option of Company.'
Change of Control......................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
Ranking................................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
Covenants..............................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
 
TERMS OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
Maturity Date..........................  July 1, 2011.
Interest...............................  Interest  will accrue at 10 1/4% per  annum and be payable in arrears on
                                           June 30 and  December 30 of  each year, commencing  with the first  of
                                           such  dates to  occur after  the date  upon which  Senior Subordinated
                                           Debentures are issued in exchange for the

 
                                       12
 

 

 

                                      
                                           Series L  Preferred  Stock ('Exchange  Date').  Until June  30,  2006,
                                           interest  may, at  the option of  the Company,  be paid in  cash or by
                                           issuing additional  Senior Subordinated  Debentures with  a  principal
                                           amount  equal  to such  interest. Thereafter,  interest on  the Senior
                                           Subordinated Debentures  must be  paid in  cash. See  'Description  of
                                           Senior Subordinated Debentures -- Interest.'
Optional Redemption....................  On  and  after  July 1,  2006,  the Senior  Subordinated  Debentures are
                                           redeemable at any  time, in whole  or in  part, at the  option of  the
                                           Company,  initially at 105.125% of  the principal amount, declining to
                                           100% of the principal amount  on or after July  1, 2010, in each  case
                                           plus  accrued and unpaid interest; provided, however, that no optional
                                           redemption shall  be made  unless the  Company shall  obtain a  Rating
                                           Confirmation   with  respect  thereto.   See  'Description  of  Senior
                                           Subordinated Debentures -- Optional Redemption.'
Change of Control......................  Same as Series M Preferred Stock.
Subordination..........................  The Senior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinated to all  existing
                                           and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein) of the Company. The
                                           Senior Subordinated Debentures will rank pari passu with the Company's
                                           senior  subordinated indebtedness  outstanding from time  to time (the
                                           'Senior Subordinated  Indebtedness')  and  will  rank  senior  to  all
                                           existing  and future subordinated indebtedness  of the Company that by
                                           its terms  is subordinated  to Senior  Subordinated Indebtedness  (the
                                           'Subordinated  Indebtedness'). At  March 31,  1996 after  adjusting to
                                           give pro forma effect to the Series K Refinancing (as defined herein),
                                           (i)  the  Company   (excluding  its   subsidiaries)  had   outstanding
                                           approximately  $8.3 billion of Senior Indebtedness and $977 million of
                                           Subordinated Indebtedness and (ii) the consolidated and unconsolidated
                                           subsidiaries  of  the  Company  had  outstanding  approximately  $16.1
                                           billion  of liabilities (including indebtedness) which, insofar as the
                                           assets  of  those   subsidiaries  are  concerned,   would  have   been
                                           effectively  senior to the  Senior Subordinated Debentures.  As of the
                                           date of  this  Prospectus,  the Company  has  no  Senior  Subordinated
                                           Indebtedness.  See 'Description  of Senior  Subordinated Debentures --
                                           Subordination.'
Certain Restrictions...................  In the event of  a default under the  Senior Subordinated Debentures  or
                                           any  other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness  (i) the Company shall not
                                           declare or pay any  dividend on, make  any distributions with  respect
                                           to,  or redeem, purchase,  acquire or make  a liquidation payment with
                                           respect to, any of its capital  stock, and (ii) the Company shall  not
                                           make  any payment  of interest, principal  or premium, if  any, on, or
                                           repay, repurchase or redeem, any debt securities issued by the Company
                                           which rank  pari  passu with  or  junior to  the  Senior  Subordinated
                                           Debentures;  provided, however, that  the foregoing restrictions shall
                                           not apply to any interest or  dividend payments by the Company,  where
                                           the  interest or dividend is paid by way of the issuance of securities
                                           that  rank  junior   to  the  Senior   Subordinated  Debentures.   See
                                           'Description of Senior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination.'
                                         The  Senior Subordinated  Indenture (as  defined herein)  for the Senior
                                           Subordinated  Debentures  will,  among  other  things,  also   contain
                                           restrictions  (with certain exceptions) on  the ability of the Company
                                           and certain  of  its subsidiaries  to  merge or  consolidate  with  or
                                           transfer  all or substantially all of  their assets to another entity.
                                           The TBS Transaction is not subject  to approval by the holders of  the
                                           Senior Subordinated

 
                                       13
 

 

 

                                      
                                           Debentures. See 'Description of Senior Subordinated
                                           Debentures -- Consolidation, Merger and Sale.' The Senior Subordinated
                                           Indenture also will prohibit the Company from issuing any indebtedness
                                           that  is  senior  in  right  of  payment  to  the  Senior Subordinated
                                           Debentures and expressly subordinate in right of payment to any  other
                                           indebtedness of the Company.
                                         See 'Description of Senior Subordinated Debentures -- Covenants.'

 
                                       14



 

                                  RISK FACTORS
 
LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS
 
     As  a general matter, dividends  declared by the Board  of Directors on the
Series M Preferred Stock need only be paid in cash to the extent of the Pro Rata
Percentage of cash  distributions, excluding certain  Tax Distributions, to  the
Company  (and its subsidiaries) with respect to the TWE Series B Capital and TWE
Junior Capital. Under the TWE  Partnership Agreement, distributions (other  than
Tax  Distributions) with  respect to the  TWE Series  B Capital may  not be made
prior to June 30, 1998. After June 30, 1998 such distributions are limited to an
amount up to the priority return on the TWE Series B Capital accruing from  June
30,  1998. There can be no assurance  that sufficient partnership income will be
allocated to the TWE Series B Capital  to satisfy the entire priority return  to
which  it  is  entitled (11.25%  to  the  extent paid  concurrently,  and 13.25%
otherwise). Further, the TWE Partnership  Agreement provides for quarterly  cash
distributions  on the TWE  Series B Capital  and TWE Junior  Capital only out of
Excess Cash (as defined herein), and  subject to prior payments with respect  to
partnership  interests that are senior thereto. See 'TWE Partnership Interests.'
TWE is not currently generating Excess Cash  and there can be no assurance  that
sufficient  Excess Cash will be generated by TWE  in the future to enable TWE to
make distributions  with respect  to the  TWE Series  B Capital  and/or the  TWE
Junior  Capital  such that  cash  dividends would  be  payable on  the  Series M
Preferred Stock. In addition, under Delaware law, dividends on capital stock may
only be paid out of funds legally available therefor.
 
     Payments in respect of mandatory redemption obligations with respect to the
Series M Preferred  Stock in 2012,  2013, 2014 and  2015 will be  limited to  an
amount equal to the Pro Rata Percentage of any cash received by the Company (and
its  subsidiaries) in connection with the  Series B Redemption occurring on June
30 of the calendar year immediately  preceding the year in which such  mandatory
redemption  is  to  be  made and  any  cash  received by  the  Company  (and its
subsidiaries) in respect  of its TWE  Junior Capital  from such June  30 to  the
record  date for such mandatory  redemption of the Series  M Preferred Stock. In
the event that TWE has not redeemed  the TWE Series B Capital in full,  payments
in  respect of the final mandatory redemption obligation in 2016 with respect to
the Series M Preferred Stock will only be made to the extent of an amount  equal
to  the Pro  Rata Percentage  of the  fair market  value of  TWE (net  of taxes)
attributable to the TWE Series B Capital  and the TWE Junior Capital. There  can
be  no assurance  that such value  will be  sufficient to permit  the Company to
redeem  the  Series  M  Preferred  Stock  at  the  liquidation  preference  plus
accumulated  and accrued and unpaid dividends.  In addition, payments in respect
of all mandatory redemptions  with respect to the  Series M Preferred Stock  are
subject to the Company having funds legally available therefor. See 'Description
of Series M Preferred Stock -- Mandatory Redemption.'
 
     Upon  an insolvency of the Company, the rights of the holders of the Series
M Preferred Stock will be subordinated to claims of creditors of the Company and
its subsidiaries, including TWE, and the  holders will no longer have the  right
to  be paid  to the  extent of  an amount  equal to  the Pro  Rata Percentage of
distributions on, or  value attributable to,  the TWE Series  B Capital and  TWE
Junior Capital.
 
     Under the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1995, as amended (the 'TWE
Credit  Agreement'), TWE is not permitted  to make distributions (other than Tax
Distributions) unless, after giving effect  to such distributions, TWE would  be
in  compliance  with specified  leverage ratios  and would  otherwise not  be in
default under the TWE Credit Agreement. In addition, the Indenture, dated as  of
April  30,  1992, as  amended (the  'TWE Indenture'),  which governs  TWE's $3.8
billion of  outstanding  public  debt  securities,  prohibits  TWE  from  making
distributions  if (i)  TWE shall have  failed to  pay any interest  on such debt
securities and such failure  shall be continuing or  (ii) an 'event of  default'
shall  have occurred and  be continuing. Any  payments by TWE  in respect of its
partnership interests may also be  subject to restrictions imposed under  credit
agreements, indentures and other agreements entered into after the date hereof.
 
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
 
     The  Company  is a  holding  company and  its  assets consist  primarily of
investments in its consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries, including  TWE.
The  Company's ability  to pay  dividends on and  redeem the  Series M Preferred
Stock  and  the  Series   L  Preferred  Stock,  as   well  as  its  ability   to
 
                                       15
 

 

make  interest  and principal  payments  on the  Senior  Subordinated Debentures
(which together with  the Series M  Preferred Stock and  the Series L  Preferred
Stock, are collectively referred to as the 'Securities'), is dependent primarily
upon the earnings of its consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries, including
TWE,  and the distribution or other payment of such earnings to the Company. The
Company's rights and  the rights  of its stockholders  and creditors,  including
holders  of the Series M Preferred Stock,  and if issued, the Series L Preferred
Stock and the Senior Subordinated Debentures, to participate in the distribution
of assets of any person in which the Company owns an equity interest  (including
TWE)  upon such person's liquidation or  reorganization will be subject to prior
claims of  such person's  creditors, including  trade creditors,  except to  the
extent  that the Company may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against
such person (in which case the claims  of the Company would still be subject  to
the  prior claims of  any secured creditor of  such person and  of any holder of
indebtedness of  such  person that  is  senior to  that  held by  the  Company).
Accordingly,  the rights  of holders  of the  Series M  Preferred Stock,  and if
issued, the Series  L Preferred  Stock and the  Senior Subordinated  Debentures,
will be effectively subordinated to such claims.
 
EXCHANGE OFFER PROCEDURES
 
     Issuance  of shares of Series  M Preferred Stock in  exchange for shares of
Series K Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only  after
a  timely receipt by the  Company of such shares of  Series K Preferred Stock, a
properly completed  and  duly  executed  Letter of  Transmittal  and  all  other
required  documents.  All  questions  as  to  the  validity,  form,  eligibility
(including time of receipt) and acceptance of shares of Series K Preferred Stock
tendered for exchange will be determined by the Company in its sole  discretion,
which  determination will be final and binding on all parties. Holders of shares
of Series K Preferred Stock desiring to tender such shares of Series K Preferred
Stock in exchange for shares of Series M Preferred Stock should allow sufficient
time  to  ensure  timely  delivery.  The  Company  is  under  no  duty  to  give
notification  of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of shares
of Series K  Preferred Stock for  exchange. Shares of  Series K Preferred  Stock
that  are not  tendered or  are tendered  but not  accepted will,  following the
consummation of  the Exchange  Offer, continue  to be  subject to  the  existing
restrictions  upon transfer thereof and, except  as provided herein, the Company
will have  no further  obligations to  provide for  the registration  under  the
Securities  Act of  such shares  of Series K  Preferred Stock.  In addition, any
holder of Series K  Preferred Stock who  tenders in the  Exchange Offer for  the
purpose  of participating in a distribution of  the Series M Preferred Stock may
be deemed to have received restricted  securities, and, if so, will be  required
to  comply with  the registration  and prospectus  delivery requirements  of the
Securities Act in  connection with any  resale transaction. To  the extent  that
shares  of Series K  Preferred Stock are  tendered and accepted  in the Exchange
Offer, the trading market for untendered  and tendered but unaccepted shares  of
Series K Preferred Stock could be adversely affected. See 'Exchange Offer.'
 
ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET
 
     The Series M Preferred Stock is a new security for which there currently is
no  market. Although the Initial Purchasers  have informed the Company that they
currently intend  to make  a market  in the  Series M  Preferred Stock,  and  if
issued,  the Series  L Preferred Stock  and the  Senior Subordinated Debentures,
they are not obligated to do so  and any such market making may be  discontinued
at  any time without  notice. Accordingly, there  can be no  assurance as to the
development or liquidity of any market for the Securities. The Company does  not
intend  to apply for listing of the Securities on any securities exchange or for
quotation through  the  National  Association of  Securities  Dealers  Automated
Quotation System.
 
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
     See 'Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences.'
 
                                       16
 

 

                                  THE COMPANY
 
GENERAL
 
     The  Company is  the world's  leading media  company, and  has interests in
three fundamental areas  of business: Entertainment,  consisting principally  of
interests   in  recorded  music  and  music  publishing,  filmed  entertainment,
broadcasting,  theme   parks  and   cable  television   programming;  News   and
Information,  consisting principally  of interests in  magazine publishing, book
publishing and direct marketing; and Telecommunications, consisting  principally
of interests in cable television systems.
 
     The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware in August 1983 and is
the  successor  to a  New  York corporation  originally  organized in  1922. The
Company changed its  name from  Time Incorporated following  its acquisition  of
59.3%  of the common stock  of Warner Communications Inc.  ('WCI') in July 1989.
WCI became a wholly  owned subsidiary of  the Company in  January 1990 upon  the
completion of the merger of WCI and a subsidiary of the Company.
 
PUBLISHING
 
     The  Company's  publishing operations  are  conducted through  wholly owned
subsidiaries and  include the  publication of  magazines such  as TIME,  PEOPLE,
SPORTS  ILLUSTRATED, FORTUNE, MONEY, ENTERTAINMENT  WEEKLY, PARENTING and MARTHA
STEWART LIVING and regional  magazines such as SOUTHERN  LIVING and SUNSET.  The
publication   and  distribution  of  books  is  conducted  by  Time  Life  Inc.,
Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc.,  Warner Books,  Inc., Little,  Brown and  Company,
Oxmoor House and Sunset Books.
 
MUSIC
 
     The  Company's worldwide music  business is conducted  through wholly owned
subsidiaries and includes the production and sale of compact discs and  cassette
tapes  marketed  throughout  the  world  under  various  labels,  including  the
proprietary labels  'Warner Bros.,'  'Elektra,' 'Atlantic,'  'Reprise,'  'Sire,'
'EastWest,' 'WEA,' 'Teldec,' 'Erato' and 'Carrere.' The Company also owns 50% of
the  Columbia House Company, a direct  marketer of compact discs, cassette tapes
and videocassettes  in  the U.S.  and  Canada. The  Company's  music  publishing
subsidiaries, headed by Warner/Chappell, Inc., own or control the rights to many
standard   and  contemporary  compositions,  and   CPP/Belwin,  Inc.  and  other
subsidiaries market sheet music and song books throughout the world.
 
FILMED ENTERTAINMENT
 
     The Company's filmed entertainment operations are conducted primarily as  a
division  of  TWE.  These operations  include  Warner Bros.  which  produces and
distributes  feature  motion  pictures,  television  programming  and   animated
programming   for  theatrical  and  television  exhibition.  Warner  Home  Video
distributes home  videocassettes  and  laser  discs  throughout  the  world.  In
addition, TWE is engaged in product licensing and the ownership and operation of
retail stores, movie theaters and theme parks, including the management of TWE's
interest in Six Flags Theme Parks.
 
PROGRAMMING-HBO
 
     Programming-HBO,  a  division  of  TWE, consists  principally  of  Home Box
Office, which operates two pay television programming services, HBO and Cinemax.
Home Box Office also has a number of international joint ventures, including HBO
Ole in Latin America and a movie-based HBO service in Asia. The Home Box  Office
division  also produces television programming and operates TVKO, an entity that
produces boxing matches and other programming for pay-per-view.
 
CABLE
 
     Time Warner Cable, a division of TWE, is the second largest multiple system
cable operator in  the United States.  In addition,  as a result  of the  recent
acquisitions of Summit, KBLCOM and CVI, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company
own    cable   television   systems   that    are   managed   by   Time   Warner
 
                                       17
 

 

Cable. See 'Recent Developments.' As of December 31, 1995, the Company's  wholly
and partially owned cable systems served approximately 11.7 million subscribers.
 
THE WB TELEVISION NETWORK
 
     Warner Bros., a division of TWE, launched The WB, a new national television
network,  which completed its first full year of broadcast operations in January
1996. Combining The WB's current broadcast affiliate line-up of 95 stations with
the reach of Tribune Broadcasting Company's WGN Superstation, The WB's  national
coverage is more than 80% of all United States television households.
 
SIX FLAGS THEME PARKS
 
     Six  Flags Entertainment Corporation ('Six  Flags'), in which TWE currently
owns a 49% interest, operates 11 theme  parks in seven locations, making it  the
second  largest operator  of theme  parks in the  United States  and the leading
operator of national system regional theme parks. Six Flags' theme parks include
seven major  ride-based theme  parks, as  well as  three separately-gated  water
parks and one wild-life safari park.
 
TWE
 
     TWE  owns  and operates  substantially all  of  the Company's  interests in
filmed entertainment, broadcasting, theme parks and cable television programming
and a majority of the Company's interests in cable television systems.
 
     As of the  date of this  Prospectus, the Company  and certain wholly  owned
subsidiaries  of the Company collectively own 74.49% of the TWE Series A Capital
and the TWE Residual Capital and 100% of the TWE Senior Capital (which is senior
to the TWE Series A  Capital) and the TWE Series  B Capital (which is junior  to
the TWE Series A Capital). A wholly owned subsidiary of U S WEST owns the 25.51%
of  the TWE  Series A  Capital and  the TWE  Residual Capital  not owned  by the
Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. See 'TWE Partnership Interests.'
 
     TWE is not consolidated with  the Company for financial reporting  purposes
because of certain limited partnership approval rights related to TWE's interest
in  certain cable television systems. Although TWE manages substantially all the
cable  systems  owned   by  the  Company,   TWE  and  the   TWE-Advance/Newhouse
Partnership,  in which TWE owns a two-thirds interest, the results of operations
of the  cable  systems owned  by  the Company's  consolidated  subsidiaries  are
included  in the Company's consolidated results, while the results of operations
of the cable systems owned by  TWE and the TWE-Advance/Newhouse Partnership  are
included in TWE's consolidated results.
 
TBS TRANSACTION
 
     In  September 1995, the Company announced that  it had agreed to merge with
TBS by acquiring the approximately 80% interest in TBS not already owned by  the
Company. At March 31, 1996, the Company had economic and voting interests in TBS
of  approximately 19.4% and 6.4%, respectively. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement
each of the Company and TBS would  merge with separate subsidiaries of New  Time
Warner,  a holding company.  In connection with the  TBS Transaction, the issued
and outstanding  shares of  each class  of  the capital  stock of  the  Company,
including  the Series K Preferred Stock and the Series M Preferred Stock, are to
be converted into shares of a substantially identical class of capital stock  of
New Time Warner. TBS's business includes the ownership and operation of domestic
and  international  entertainment networks  (including TBS  SuperStation, Turner
Network Television, the Cartoon Network  and TNT Latin America); the  production
and  distribution  of entertainment  and  news programming  worldwide (including
Turner  Pictures,   TBS  Productions,   Hanna-Barbera  Cartoons,   Castle   Rock
Entertainment,  New  Line  Cinema, Cable  News  Network, Headline  News  and CNN
International); and the ownership of two professional sports teams (the  Atlanta
Braves  and the Atlanta Hawks). The TBS Transaction and the related transactions
are  subject  to  customary  closing  conditions,  including  approval  of   the
shareholders  of TBS  and the  Company, all necessary  approvals of  the FCC and
appropriate antitrust  approvals.  There can  be  no assurance  that  all  these
 
                                       18
 

 

approvals  can  be  obtained,  or  in the  case  of  governmental  approvals, if
obtained, will  not be  conditioned upon  changes  to the  terms of  the  Merger
Agreement.  For  a  further  discussion  of  the  TBS  Transaction  and  related
transactions, and certain litigation  relating thereto (including  the U S  WEST
Litigation), reference is made to the 10-K and the First Quarter 10-Q, which are
incorporated herein by reference.
 
                           TWE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
 
     The  summary of  the TWE  Partnership Agreement  provisions described below
does not purport  to be complete  and is qualified  in its entirety  by the  TWE
Partnership Agreement which is incorporated by reference herein.
 
PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
 
     Each partner's interest in TWE consists of the initial priority capital and
residual  equity amounts that  were assigned to that  partner or its predecessor
based on the estimated fair value of the net assets each contributed to TWE,  as
adjusted  for the fair  value of certain  assets distributed by  TWE to the Time
Warner General Partners in 1993 which were not subsequently reacquired by TWE in
1995 ('Contributed  Capital'),  plus,  with  respect  to  the  priority  capital
interests  only, any undistributed priority capital return. The priority capital
return consists of net partnership income  allocated to date in accordance  with
the  provisions of the TWE  Partnership Agreement and the  right to be allocated
additional partnership income which, together with any previously allocated  net
partnership  income, provides for  the various priority  capital rates of return
specified  in  the  table  below.  The  sum  of  Contributed  Capital  and   the
undistributed  priority capital  return is  referred to  as 'Cumulative Priority
Capital.' The  ultimate  realization of  Cumulative  Priority Capital  could  be
affected by the fair value of TWE, which is subject to fluctuation.
 
     A  summary of the priority of  Contributed Capital, the Company's ownership
of Contributed Capital  and Cumulative Priority  Capital at March  31, 1996  and
priority capital rates of return thereon is as set forth below.
 


                                                                   CUMULATIVE
                                                                    PRIORITY          PRIORITY
                                                                   CAPITAL AT         CAPITAL          % OWNED
                 PRIORITY OF                     CONTRIBUTED       MARCH 31,          RATES OF          BY THE
             CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL                 CAPITAL(a)           1996           RETURN(b)         COMPANY
- ----------------------------------------------   -----------       ----------       ------------       --------
                                                                                    (% PER ANNUM
                                                                                     COMPOUNDED
                                                          (BILLIONS)                 QUARTERLY)
 
                                                                                           
TWE Senior Capital............................       $1.4             $1.5(c)            8.00%          100.00%
TWE Series A Capital..........................        5.6              9.0              13.00%(d)        74.49%
TWE Series B Capital..........................        2.9(g)           4.7              13.25%(e)       100.00%
TWE Residual Capital..........................        3.3(g)           3.3(f)              -- (f)         74.49%

 
- ------------
 
 (a) Excludes partnership income or loss allocated thereto and is subject to any
     special income allocations for tax purposes.
 
 (b) Income allocations related to priority capital rates of return are based on
     partnership income after any special income allocations for tax purposes.
 
 (c) Net  of $366 million of partnership income distributed in 1995 representing
     the priority capital return thereon through June 30, 1995.
 
 (d) 11.00% to the extent concurrently distributed.
 
 (e) 11.25% to the extent concurrently distributed.
 
 (f) TWE Residual Capital  is not entitled  to stated priority  rates of  return
     and,  as such, the Cumulative Priority Capital relating thereto is equal to
     the Contributed Capital. However, in the case of certain events such as the
     liquidation or dissolution of TWE, the TWE Residual Capital is entitled  to
     any
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       19
 

 

(footnotes continued from previous page)

     excess  of the then fair value of the  net assets of TWE over the aggregate
     amount of Cumulative Priority Capital and special tax allocations.
 
 (g) The Contributed Capital relating to the  TWE Series B Capital has  priority
     over  the priority  returns on  the TWE  Series A  Capital. The Contributed
     Capital relating to the TWE Residual Capital has priority over the priority
     returns on the TWE Series B Capital and the TWE Series A Capital.
 
                            ------------------------
     Because Contributed Capital is  based on the fair  value of the net  assets
that  each  partner  contributed  to  TWE,  the  aggregate  of  such  amounts is
significantly  higher  than  TWE's  partners'   capital  as  reflected  in   the
consolidated  financial statements, which is based on the historical cost of the
contributed net assets. For purposes of allocating partnership income or loss to
the partners, partnership income or loss is  based on the fair value of the  net
assets  contributed to TWE and results in significantly less partnership income,
or results in partnership losses, in contrast to the net income reported by  TWE
for  financial statement purposes, which is also based on the historical cost of
contributed net assets.
 
     If certain operating performance targets  are achieved by TWE with  respect
to  the five-year period ending December 31, 1996 and the ten-year period ending
December 31,  2001,  the Time  Warner  General  Partners would  be  entitled  to
increased  partnership interests (the 'TWE Contingent Capital'), which generally
would be junior  to the  TWE Series  B Capital but  senior to  the TWE  Residual
Capital.  Although  TWE  is unable  to  determine  whether it  will  satisfy the
ten-year operating performance target at this time, it is not expected that  the
five-year target will be attained.
 
     U S WEST has an option (the 'U S WEST Option') to increase its share of the
TWE  Series A Capital and the TWE Residual  Capital by up to 6.33%, depending on
the operating performance  of TWE's  cable business. The  option is  exercisable
between  January 1, 1999 and on or about May 1, 2005 at a maximum exercise price
of $1.25 billion to $1.8 billion, depending on the year of exercise. Either U  S
WEST or TWE may elect that the exercise price be paid with partnership interests
rather than cash. The issuance of partnership interests upon exercise of the U S
WEST  Option may  result in a  dilution of the  TWE Junior Capital  owned by the
Company, and accordingly, the rights of the holders of Series M Preferred  Stock
with respect to cash distributed thereon or value attributable thereto.
 
ALLOCATIONS OF PARTNERSHIP INCOME AND LOSS
 
     Under  the  TWE Partnership  Agreement, partnership  income, to  the extent
earned, is  first  allocated to  the  partners'  capital accounts  so  that  the
economic  burden  of  income  taxes is  borne  as  though TWE  were  taxed  as a
corporation ('special  income allocation  for tax  purposes'), then  to the  TWE
Senior  Capital, the TWE Series A Capital and the TWE Series B Capital, in order
of priority, at rates of return ranging from 8% to 13.25% per annum, and finally
to the TWE Residual Capital. Partnership losses generally are allocated first to
eliminate prior allocations  of partnership income  to, and then  to reduce  the
Contributed  Capital  relating to  the TWE  Residual Capital,  the TWE  Series B
Capital and the TWE  Series A Capital,  in that order, then  to reduce the  Time
Warner  General  Partners'  TWE  Senior  Capital,  including  partnership income
allocated thereto, and finally to reduce  any special income allocation for  tax
purposes.  To  the  extent partnership  income  is insufficient  to  satisfy all
special allocations  in a  particular accounting  period, the  right to  receive
additional  partnership  income necessary  to provide  for the  various priority
capital rates  of  return is  carried  forward  until satisfied  out  of  future
partnership  income, including any  partnership income that  may result from any
liquidation or dissolution of  TWE. A liquidation, sale  or dissolution of  TWE,
other than as a result of the Insolvency of TWE, will result in a Reorganization
of  TWE. See 'Description of Series M Preferred Stock -- Reorganization of TWE.'
Under certain circumstances, there may  be adjustments to the partners'  capital
accounts to reflect changes in the fair value of the assets of TWE.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     Allocations  of income to  the partners' capital accounts  do not result in
the distribution of cash to the  partners. Under the TWE Partnership  Agreement,
distributions of cash, including upon liquidation,
 
                                       20
 

 

are required to be made first to the partners of TWE to permit them to pay taxes
at  statutory  rates on  their taxable  income from  TWE, including  any special
income allocation  for  tax  purposes. Subject  to  any  applicable  contractual
restrictions contained in the agreements governing the indebtedness of TWE, cash
distributions  (after Tax Distributions)  will generally be  made on a quarterly
basis to the  extent of Excess  Cash as follows  and in the  following order  of
priority:  (i) first,  with respect to  the TWE  Senior Capital up  to an amount
equal to its  priority return; (ii)  second, with  respect to the  TWE Series  A
Capital,  up to an amount (including any Tax Distributions thereon) equal to its
priority return accruing  from June 30,  1995; (iii) third,  beginning June  30,
1998,  with respect to the  TWE Series B Capital up  to an amount (including any
Tax Distributions thereon) equal to its  priority return accruing from June  30,
1998;  (iv) fourth,  with respect to  TWE Contingent  Capital, if any,  up to an
amount (including any Tax  Distributions thereon) equal  to its priority  return
and  (v) thereafter,  with respect  to (and in  proportion to)  the TWE Residual
Capital. 'Excess Cash' generally means the  net income of TWE, as determined  in
accordance  with generally  accepted accounting principles,  after adjusting for
non-cash items, capital  expenditures, investments,  acquisitions, debt  service
requirements,  changes in working capital and reserves for future operations, as
determined by TWE's  Board of Representatives.  There can be  no assurance  that
Excess  Cash  in  any period  will  be  sufficient to  make  cash distributions,
including with respect to the TWE Series B Capital. See 'Risk Factors.'
 
     If  the  Class  A  Partners  have  not  received  aggregate   distributions
(generally  from all sources) at  least equal to $800  million by June 30, 1997,
distributions (other than Tax Distributions) to the Time Warner General Partners
with respect to  their TWE Series  A Capital  and TWE Residual  Capital will  be
deferred  until such threshold is met. 'Class  A Partners' include U S WEST, the
Company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and exclude the Time Warner
General Partners. Similarly, if the Class A Partners have not received aggregate
distributions (generally from  all sources) at  least equal to  $1.6 billion  by
June  30, 1998, distributions (other than  Tax Distributions) to the Time Warner
General Partners with respect to their  TWE Series B Capital and TWE  Contingent
Capital will be deferred until such threshold is met.
 
     The  TWE  Senior Capital  and, to  the  extent not  previously distributed,
partnership income allocated thereto, is required to be redeemed in three annual
installments: 33 1/3% of  the amount outstanding,  on July 1,  1997; 50% of  the
amount outstanding, on July 1, 1998; and 100% of the amount outstanding, on July
1, 1999. In addition, the TWE Series A Capital and the TWE Series B Capital and,
to  the extent not previously distributed, partnership income allocated thereto,
are to be redeemed out  of available cash, on a  pro rata basis, in five  annual
installments:  20% of  the amounts  outstanding, on  June 30,  2011; 25%  of the
amounts outstanding, on June  30, 2012; 33 1/3%  of the amounts outstanding,  on
June 30, 2013; 50% of the amounts outstanding, on June 30, 2014; and 100% of the
amounts  outstanding, on June  30, 2015. Such distributions  with respect to the
TWE Series B Capital are referred to as the 'Series B Redemptions' and the  date
of  each Series B Redemption  is referred to as  the 'Series B Redemption Date.'
There can be no assurance that TWE  will have sufficient available cash to  make
any such distribution. To the extent any such distributions are not made in full
on  the scheduled distribution  date, TWE will  make up such  shortfall prior to
making any subsequently scheduled distributions.
 
     In addition, the TWE Partnership  Agreement provides that the net  proceeds
of  any sale of a division of TWE  or a substantial portion thereof, or the cash
available from any financing  or refinancing of TWE's  debt (in each case,  less
expenses  and proceeds used  to repay outstanding  debt) will be  required to be
distributed with respect  to the  partners' partnership interests.  Such a  sale
would constitute a Reorganization of TWE. See 'Description of Series M Preferred
Stock -- Reorganization of TWE.'
 
     Under  the TWE Credit Agreement, TWE is not permitted to make distributions
(other  than   Tax  Distributions)   unless,  after   giving  effect   to   such
distributions,  TWE would  be in compliance  with specified  leverage ratios and
would otherwise not be in default  under the TWE Credit Agreement. In  addition,
the  TWE Indenture prohibits TWE from making distributions if (i) TWE shall have
failed to pay any interest on any debt securities issued under the TWE Indenture
and such failure shall be  continuing or (ii) an  'event of default' shall  have
occurred and be continuing. There can be no assurance that TWE will be permitted
to    make   distributions   with   respect   to   the   partnership   interests
 
                                       21
 

 

therein, including the TWE  Series B Capital and  the TWE Junior Capital,  under
the TWE Credit Agreement or the Indenture.
 
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
     The  Company and  TWE have  recently completed,  or have  entered into, the
transactions described below.
 
     On April 11,  1996, the  Company issued the  Series K  Preferred Stock  for
approximately  $1.552 billion  of net  proceeds. In April  and May  of 1996, the
Company used approximately $1.265  billion of such proceeds  to redeem all  $250
million  principal amount  of its  outstanding 8.75%  Debentures due  2017 (plus
redemption premiums and accrued interest thereon  of $15 million) and to  reduce
bank  debt of  TWI Cable  Inc. ('TWI Cable'),  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Company, by $1 billion. The  remaining proceeds will be  used by the Company  to
reduce  approximately $287  million of other  outstanding indebtedness. However,
the Company has not yet determined which indebtedness it will repurchase, redeem
or otherwise repay. The issuance of the Series K Preferred Stock and the use  of
the  proceeds therefrom  to reduce outstanding  indebtedness of  the Company are
referred to herein as the 'Series K Refinancing.'
 
     On February  1,  1996, the  Company  redeemed the  remaining  $1.2  billion
principal  amount  of 8.75%  Convertible Subordinated  Debentures due  2015 (the
'8.75% Convertible Debentures') for $1.28 billion, including redemption premiums
and accrued interest thereon (the  'February 1996 Redemption'). In addition,  in
September  1995, the Company redeemed  approximately $1 billion principal amount
of 8.75% Convertible Debentures for $1.06 billion, including redemption premiums
and accrued interest  thereon (the 'September  1995 Redemption'). The  September
1995  Redemption was  financed with (i)  approximately $500  million of proceeds
raised from the issuance in June 1995 of 7.75% notes due 2005, (ii) $363 million
of net proceeds raised  in August 1995 from  the issuance of approximately  12.1
million  Company-obligated  mandatorily  redeemable  preferred  securities  of a
subsidiary ('PERCS') that are redeemable for  cash or, at the Company's  option,
approximately  12.1 million  shares of  Hasbro, Inc.  common stock  owned by the
Company and that  pay cash distributions  at a rate  of 4% per  annum and  (iii)
available  cash and equivalents  (the '1995 Convertible  Debt Refinancing'). The
February 1996 Redemption  was financed  with (i)  $557 million  of net  proceeds
raised  in  December 1995  from  the issuance  of  Company-obligated mandatorily
redeemable  preferred  securities   of  a  subsidiary   (the  'Preferred   Trust
Securities')  that pay cash distributions at a rate of 8 7/8% per annum and (ii)
proceeds raised from the  $750 million issuance of  debentures in January  1996,
consisting  of (w) $400  million principal amount of  6.85% debentures due 2026,
which are redeemable  at the option  of the  holders thereof in  2003, (x)  $200
million  principal amount of 8.3% discount debentures due 2036, which do not pay
cash interest until 2016, (y) $166 million principal amount of 7.48%  debentures
due  2008 and  (z) $150  million principal amount  of 8.05%  debentures due 2016
(collectively referred to herein as the 'January 1996 Debentures'). The issuance
of the Preferred Trust Securities and the January 1996 Debentures, together with
the  February  1996  Redemption  are  collectively  referred  to  as  the  '1996
Convertible  Debt Refinancing.'  The 1995  Convertible Debt  Refinancing and the
1996 Convertible Debt  Refinancing are  collectively referred to  herein as  the
'Convertible Debt Refinancings.'
 
     On  January 4, 1996 (as  previously reported on the  Current Report on Form
8-K of the Company dated January 4, 1996), the Company completed its acquisition
of Cablevision Industries Corporation ('CVI') and certain affiliated entities of
CVI (the 'Gerry Companies'). CVI and the Gerry Companies owned cable  television
systems serving approximately 1.3 million subscribers (the 'CVI Acquisition').
 
     On  October 2, 1995  and September 5,  1995 (as previously  reported on the
Current Report  on Form  8-K of  the  Company dated  August 31,  1995),  Toshiba
Corporation  ('Toshiba') and  ITOCHU Corporation  ('ITOCHU'), respectively, each
exchanged (i)  their  5.61%  TWE  Series A  Capital  and  TWE  Residual  Capital
interests,  (ii) their 6.25% residual equity  interests in TW Service Holding I,
L.P. and TW Service Holding II, L.P., each of which owned certain assets related
to the TWE businesses (the 'Time  Warner Service Partnerships') and (iii)  their
options  to increase their interests in  TWE under certain circumstances for, in
the case of ITOCHU, 8 million shares of two series of new convertible  preferred
stock ('Series G Preferred Stock' and 'Series H Preferred Stock') of the Company
and, in the case of Toshiba, 7 million shares of new convertible preferred stock
of Time Warner ('Series I
 
                                       22
 

 

Preferred Stock') and $10 million in cash (the 'ITOCHU/Toshiba Transaction'). As
a  result  of the  ITOCHU/Toshiba Transaction,  the Company  and certain  of its
wholly-owned subsidiaries  collectively  now own  74.49%  of the  TWE  Series  A
Capital  and TWE  Residual Capital and  100% of  the TWE Senior  Capital and TWE
Series B Capital in TWE. A subsidiary of  U S WEST owns the remaining 25.51%  of
the TWE Series A Capital and TWE Residual Capital.
 
     On September 22, 1995 (as previously reported on the Current Report on Form
8-K  of the Company dated September 22, 1995), the Company announced that it had
entered into the Merger Agreement which, as amended, provides for the merger  of
each of the Company and TBS with separate subsidiaries of New Time Warner, which
will  combine, for financial reporting purposes, the consolidated net assets and
operating results of the  Company and TBS. In  connection therewith, the  issued
and  outstanding  shares of  each class  of  the capital  stock of  the Company,
including the Series K Preferred Stock and the Series M Preferred Stock, will be
converted into shares of a substantially identical class of capital stock of New
Time Warner.  In  addition,  the  Company  has  agreed  to  enter  into  certain
agreements  and related transactions with certain shareholders of TBS, including
R.  E.  Turner  and   Liberty  Media  Corporation   ('LMC'),  an  affiliate   of
Tele-Communications,  Inc. The  Merger Agreement and  certain related agreements
provide for  the issuance  by New  Time Warner  of approximately  172.8  million
shares  of common stock, par  value $.01 per share  (such holding company stock,
or, prior to the formation of such holding company, the existing Company  common
stock,  being referred to herein as  the 'Common Stock') (including 50.6 million
shares of a special class  of non-redeemable Common Stock  to be issued to  LMC,
the  'LMC  Class Common  Stock'), in  exchange for  the outstanding  TBS capital
stock, the issuance  of approximately 13  million stock options  to replace  all
outstanding  TBS  options  and  the  assumption  of  TBS's  indebtedness  (which
approximated $2.5 billion at  March 31, 1996). As  part of the TBS  Transaction,
LMC  will receive an  additional five million  shares of LMC  Class Common Stock
pursuant to  a  separate  option  agreement  (the  'Option  Agreement'),  which,
together  with the 50.6 million shares received pursuant to the TBS Transaction,
will be placed  in a voting  trust or, in  certain circumstances, exchanged  for
shares  of another special  class of non-voting,  non-redeemable common stock of
New Time Warner.
 
     On August 15, 1995, the Company redeemed all of its $1.8 billion  principal
amount  of outstanding  Redeemable Reset Notes  due 2002 (the  'Reset Notes') in
exchange for  new  securities (the  'Reset  Notes Refinancing'),  consisting  of
approximately $454 million aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due
2000,  approximately $272 million aggregate principal amount of 7.975% Notes due
2004, approximately $545 million aggregate principal amount of 8.11%  Debentures
due  2006, and  approximately $545 million  aggregate principal  amount of 8.18%
Debentures due 2007.
 
     On July 6, 1995 (as previously reported  on the Current Report on Form  8-K
of  the Company  dated July 6,  1995), the Company  acquired KBLCOM Incorporated
('KBLCOM') which owned  cable television systems  serving approximately  700,000
subscribers  and  a 50%  interest in  Paragon Communications  ('Paragon'), which
owned cable television  systems serving an  additional 972,000 subscribers  (the
'KBLCOM  Acquisition'). The other  50% interest in Paragon  was already owned by
TWE.
 
     On June 30, 1995, TWI  Cable, TWE and the TWE-Advance/Newhouse  Partnership
executed  a five-year  revolving credit  facility. Such  credit facility enabled
such entities to refinance certain indebtedness assumed in the Acquisitions  (as
defined  herein),  to refinance  TWE's  indebtedness under  a  pre-existing bank
credit agreement and to finance the ongoing working capital, capital expenditure
and other  corporate  needs  of  each borrower  (the  'Bank  Refinancing').  The
Convertible  Debt  Refinancings,  the  Reset  Notes  Refinancing  and  the  Bank
Refinancing are referred to herein as the 'Debt Refinancings.'
 
     On June 23, 1995, (i) Six Flags was recapitalized, (ii) TWE sold 51% of its
interest in Six Flags to an investment group led by Boston Ventures  Management,
Inc. and (iii) TWE granted certain licenses to Six Flags (collectively, the 'Six
Flags Transaction').
 
     On  May 2,  1995, the  Company acquired  Summit Communications  Group, Inc.
('Summit'), which owned cable  television systems serving approximately  162,000
subscribers (the 'Summit Acquisition').
 
                                       23
 

 

     On  April 1, 1995 (as previously reported on the Current Report on Form 8-K
of the Company dated  April 1, 1995), TWE  closed its transaction (the  'TWE-A/N
Transaction')  with Advance/Newhouse, pursuant to which TWE and Advance/Newhouse
formed the TWE-Advance/ Newhouse Partnership, to which Advance/Newhouse and  TWE
contributed   cable   television   systems   (or   interests   therein)  serving
approximately  4.5  million  subscribers,  as  well  as  certain  foreign  cable
investments and certain programming investments that included Advance/Newhouse's
10%  interest in Primestar Partners, L.P.  TWE owns a two-thirds equity interest
in  the  TWE-Advance/Newhouse  Partnership  and  is  the  managing  partner  and
Advance/Newhouse owns a one-third equity interest.
 
     During  1995,  TWE  entered  into  agreements  to  sell,  or  announced its
intention to  sell,  17 of  its  unclustered cable  television  systems  serving
approximately  180,000 subscribers, of which  certain of the transactions closed
during 1995 and the remaining transactions, which are not material, have  closed
or are expected to close in 1996 (the 'Unclustered Cable Transactions').
 
     The  Unclustered  Cable  Transactions  and the  Six  Flags  Transaction are
referred to herein  as the  'Asset Sale Transactions';  the Summit  Acquisition,
KBLCOM   Acquisition  and  CVI  Acquisition  are   referred  to  herein  as  the
'Acquisitions'; and the Acquisitions and the TWE-A/N Transaction are referred to
herein as the 'Cable Transactions.'
 
                          CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION
 
     The consolidated historical and pro forma capitalization of the Company and
the Company's Entertainment Group, consisting  principally of TWE, at March  31,
1996,  is set forth below. The Entertainment  Group is not consolidated with the
Company  for  financial  reporting   purposes.  The  consolidated  as   adjusted
capitalization of the Company set forth in column (1) gives effect to the Series
K  Refinancing, as if  such transaction occurred at  such date; the consolidated
pro forma capitalization of the Company set forth in column (2) gives effect  to
the  TBS Transaction,  as if  such transaction  occurred at  such date;  and the
consolidated pro forma as  adjusted capitalization of the  Company set forth  in
column (3) gives effect to the transactions reflected in columns (1) and (2), as
if  such transactions  occurred at  such date.  The pro  forma capitalization is
presented for informational purposes only  and is not necessarily indicative  of
the  future  capitalization of  the  Company, any  new  holding company  and the
Entertainment Group. Capitalized terms are as defined and described in the 'Time
Warner Inc. and Entertainment Group  Pro Forma Consolidated Condensed  Financial
Statements'  included  in  the  May  15, 1996  8-K  and  incorporated  herein by
reference, or elsewhere herein.
 
                                       24
 

 

 


                                                              TIME WARNER INC.                       ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
                                          --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
                                                                                           (3)
                                                                                        POST-TBS
                                                                            (2)         PRO FORMA    
                                                            (1)           POST-TBS         AS        
                                          HISTORICAL   AS ADJUSTED(a)   PRO FORMA(b)   ADJUSTED(b)       HISTORICAL
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------   -------------------
                                                                            (MILLIONS)

                                                                                      
Long-term debt:
Time Warner Debt:
     7.45%, 7.75%, 7.95% and
     7.975% notes.......................   $  1,769       $  1,769        $  1,769       $ 1,769                --
     Floating rate notes due 2000 (6.2%
       interest rate)...................        454            454             454           454                --
     8.11% and 8.18% Debentures.........      1,090          1,090           1,090         1,090                --
     Zero coupon convertible notes due
       2012 (6.25% yield)(c)............        590            590             590           590                --
     Zero coupon convertible notes due
       2013 (5% yield)(c)...............      1,032          1,032           1,032         1,032                --
     8.75%, 9.125% and 9.15%
       Debentures(d)....................      2,248          2,000           2,248         2,000                --
     Debt due to TWE (6.4% interest
       rate)(e).........................        400            400             400           400                --
     6.85%, 7.48% and 8.05%
       Debentures.......................        716            716             716           716                --
     8.30% Discount Debentures due
       2036(c)..........................         35             35              35            35                --
Time Warner Cable Subsidiaries Debt:
     CVI 10 3/4% senior notes...........        300            300             300           300                --
     CVI 9 1/4% senior
       debentures.......................        200            200             200           200                --
     Summit 10 1/2% senior subordinated
       debentures.......................        140            140             140           140                --
     New Credit Agreement (weighted
       average interest rate of 6.2%
       with respect to TWI Cable and
       5.9% with respect to TWE and the
       TWE-A/N Partnership)(f)(g).......      2,800          1,800           2,800         1,800           $ 1,740
TBS Debt:
     TBS credit agreement (weighted
       average interest rate of 6.4%)...         --             --           1,475         1,475                --
     TBS 8 3/8% and 7.4% senior notes...         --             --             547           547                --
     TBS 8.4% senior debentures.........         --             --             200           200                --
     TBS zero coupon convertible notes
       due 2007 (7.25% yield)(c)........         --             --             268           268                --
     TBS other indebtedness.............         --             --               5             5                --

 
                                                  (table continued on next page)
 
                                       25
 

 

(table continued from previous page)
 


                                                              TIME WARNER INC.                       ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
                                          --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
                                                                                           (3)
                                                                                        POST-TBS
                                                                            (2)         PRO FORMA    
                                                            (1)           POST-TBS         AS        
                                          HISTORICAL   AS ADJUSTED(a)   PRO FORMA(b)   ADJUSTED(b)       HISTORICAL
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------   -------------------
                                                                            (MILLIONS)
                                                                                      
TWE Debt:
     TWE commercial paper (weighted
       average interest rate of
       5.7%)(g).........................         --             --              --            --               190
     TWE 8 7/8%, 9 5/8% and 10.15%
       notes(g).........................         --             --              --            --             1,197
     TWE 7 1/4%, 8 3/8% and 8 3/8%
       debentures(g)....................         --             --              --            --             2,584
Other...................................         83             83             178           178                13
Reduction of debt with remaining
  proceeds from offering of Series K
  Preferred Stock(h)....................         --           (287)             --          (287)               --
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------      ----------
Subtotal................................     11,857         10,322          14,447        12,912             5,724
Reclassification of debt due
  to TWE to investments
  in and amounts due to
  the Entertainment Group(e)............       (400)          (400)           (400)         (400)               --
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------      ----------
          Total long-term debt..........     11,457          9,922          14,047        12,512             5,724
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
  preferred securities of subsidiaries
  holding solely subordinated notes and
  debentures of the Company.............        949            949             949           949                --
Series K Preferred Stock(i).............         --          1,552              --         1,552                --
Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock liquidation
       preference.......................      3,643          3,643           3,643         3,643                --
     Equity applicable to common
       stock............................        684            675           7,946         7,937                --
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------      ----------
          Total shareholders' equity....      4,327          4,318          11,589        11,580                --
     Time Warner General Partners'
       Senior Capital...................         --             --              --            --             1,454
     Partners' capital..................         --             --              --            --             6,604
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------      ----------
          Total capitalization..........   $ 16,733       $ 16,741        $ 26,585       $26,593           $13,782
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------      ----------
                                          ----------   --------------   ------------   -----------      ----------

 
- ------------
 
 (a) Also reflects, on an as adjusted  basis, the capitalization of the  Company
     as  a separate subsidiary of the  new holding company after consummation of
     the TBS Transaction. See 'The Company -- TBS Transaction.'
 
 (b) Reflects, on  a pro  forma basis,  the capitalization  of the  new  holding
     company  after  consummation  of the  TBS  Transaction (in  which  case the
     Company expects that the  new holding company  would provide guarantees  of
     the Company's outstanding public debt).
 
 (c) The  zero coupon convertible notes  due 2012 and 2013  are reflected net of
     unamortized original issue discount of  $1.061 billion and $1.383  billion,
     respectively.  The 8.3% Discount  Debentures due 2036  are reflected net of
     unamortized original issue discount  of $165 million.  The TBS zero  coupon
     convertible  notes due 2007 are reflected net of unamortized original issue
     discount of $314 million.
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       26
 

 

(footnotes continued from previous page)
 
 (d) The $250 million principal amount of 8.75% Debentures due 2017 redeemed  in
     connection  with the Series K Refinancing  are reflected net of unamortized
     original issue discount of $2 million.
 
 (e) The Company and TWE entered into a credit agreement in 1994 that allows the
     Company to borrow up to $400  million from TWE through September 15,  2000.
     Outstanding  borrowings from TWE bear interest  at LIBOR plus 1% per annum.
     For financial reporting purposes, the $400 million of currently outstanding
     loans from  TWE  to the  Company  have been  reclassified  and shown  as  a
     reduction   in  the  Company's  investments  in  and  amounts  due  to  the
     Entertainment Group.
 
 (f) The TWE Credit Agreement permits borrowings in an aggregate amount of up to
     $8.3 billion, with no scheduled reductions in credit availability prior  to
     maturity. Borrowings are limited to $4 billion in the case of TWI Cable, $5
     billion  in  the  case  of the  TWE-Advance/Newhouse  Partnership  and $8.3
     billion in the case of TWE, subject in each case to certain limitations and
     adjustments. Such borrowings bear interest  at different rates for each  of
     the  three  borrowers, generally  equal to  LIBOR  plus a  margin initially
     ranging from 50 to 87.5 basis points,  which margin will vary based on  the
     credit  rating  or financial  leverage of  the applicable  borrower. Unused
     credit is  available  for general  business  purposes and  to  support  any
     commercial  paper  borrowings. The  TWE  Credit Agreement  contains certain
     covenants for each  borrower relating  to, among  other things,  additional
     indebtedness;  liens on assets; cash flow coverage and leverage ratios; and
     loans, advances,  distributions and  other cash  payments or  transfers  of
     assets from the borrowers to their respective partners or affiliates.
 
 (g) Except for borrowings by TWI Cable and the TWE-Advance/Newhouse Partnership
     under  the TWE Credit Agreement, such indebtedness is guaranteed by certain
     subsidiaries of the Company which are the general partners of TWE.
 
 (h) Although the  remaining net  proceeds from  the issuance  of the  Series  K
     Preferred  Stock  will  be used  to  reduce approximately  $287  million of
     outstanding indebtedness of the Company, the Company has not yet determined
     which indebtedness  it  will repurchase,  redeem  or otherwise  repay.  The
     weighted average interest rate on the Company's outstanding indebtedness as
     of  March 31, 1996 was approximately 7.5%. The weighted average maturity of
     the  Company's  outstanding   indebtedness  as  of   March  31,  1996   was
     approximately 13 years.
 
 (i) The  shares of Series K  Preferred Stock are to  be exchanged for shares of
     Series M Preferred Stock.
 
                                       27


 

            SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
COMPANY SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The  selected  historical financial  information of  the Company  set forth
below has  been  derived  from  and  should be  read  in  conjunction  with  the
consolidated financial statements and other financial information of the Company
contained  in the 10-K and with  the unaudited consolidated financial statements
of the Company  for the  quarter ended  March 31,  1996 contained  in the  First
Quarter   10-Q,  which  are  incorporated  herein  by  reference.  The  selected
historical  financial  information  for  all  periods  after  1992  reflect  the
deconsolidation  of the Entertainment Group,  principally TWE, effective January
1, 1993.  Capitalized terms  are as  defined and  described in  such  historical
financial statements, or elsewhere herein.
 
     The  selected  historical  financial  information  for  1996  reflects  the
issuance of  6.5  million  shares  of  convertible  preferred  stock  having  an
aggregate  liquidation preference  of $648  million in  connection with  the CVI
Acquisition. The selected historical financial information for 1995 reflects the
issuance of  29.3  million  shares  of convertible  preferred  stock  having  an
aggregate  liquidation preference of  $2.926 billion in  connection with (i) the
KBLCOM Acquisition  and  the  Summit Acquisition  and  (ii)  the  ITOCHU/Toshiba
Transaction. The selected historical financial information for 1993 reflects the
issuance  of $6.1 billion of long-term debt and  the use of $500 million of cash
and equivalents for  the exchange  or redemption  of preferred  stock having  an
aggregate  liquidation  preference  of  $6.4  billion.  The  selected historical
financial information for 1992  reflects the capitalization of  TWE on June  30,
1992  and associated  refinancings, and  the acquisition  of the  18.7% minority
interest in American  Television and  Communications Corporation  ('ATC') as  of
June   30,  1992,  using   the  purchase  method   of  accounting  for  business
combinations. Per  common share  amounts  and average  common shares  have  been
restated  to give effect to the four-for-one common stock split that occurred on
September 10, 1992.
 


                                                    THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                        MARCH 31,                             YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                            ----------------------------------    ------------------------------------------------
                                                 1996               1995           1995      1994      1993      1992       1991
                                            ---------------    ---------------    ------    ------    ------    -------    -------
                                                               (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RATIOS)
                                                                                                      
OPERATING STATEMENT INFORMATION
Revenues.................................       $ 2,068            $ 1,817        $8,067    $7,396    $6,581    $13,070    $12,021
Depreciation and amortization............           228                112           559       437       424      1,172      1,109
Business segment operating income(a).....           110                138           697       713       591      1,343      1,154
Equity in pretax income of Entertainment
  Group..................................           116                 22           256       176       281         --         --
Interest and other, net..................           296                155           877       724       718        882        966
Income (loss) before extraordinary
  item...................................           (93)               (47)         (124)      (91)     (164)        86        (99)
Net income (loss)(b)(c)..................          (119)               (47)         (166)      (91)     (221)        86        (99)
Net loss applicable to common shares
  (after preferred dividends)............          (153)               (50)         (218)     (104)     (339)      (542)      (692)
Per share of common stock:
     Loss before extraordinary items.....       $ (0.32)           $ (0.13)       $ (.46)   $ (.27)   $ (.75)   $ (1.46)   $ (2.40)
     Net loss(b)(c)......................       $ (0.39)           $ (0.13)       $ (.57)   $ (.27)   $ (.90)   $ (1.46)   $ (2.40)
     Dividends...........................       $   .09            $   .09        $  .36    $  .35    $  .31    $  .265    $   .25
Average common shares(c).................         391.7              379.5         383.8     378.9     374.7      371.0      288.2
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
  (deficiency in the coverage of fixed
  charges by earnings before fixed
  charges)(d)............................       $   (76)               1.0x         1.1x      1.1x      1.1x       1.4x       1.1x
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed
  charges and preferred stock dividends
  (deficiency in the coverage of combined
  fixed charges and preferred stock
  dividends by earnings before fixed
  charges and preferred stock
  dividends)(d)..........................       $  (131)               $(3)         1.0x      1.1x    $  (91)   $  (509)   $(1,240)

 
                                       28
 

 

 


                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                             MARCH 31,         --------------------------------------------------
                                                1996            1995       1994      1993       1992       1991
                                         ------------------    -------    ------    -------    -------    -------
                                                                        (MILLIONS)
 
                                                                                        
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Investments in and amounts due to and
  from Entertainment Group............        $  5,931         $ 5,734    $5,350    $ 5,627    $    --    $    --
Total assets..........................          24,832          22,132    16,716     16,892     27,366     24,889
Long-term debt........................          11,457           9,907     8,839      9,291     10,068      8,716
Company-obligated mandatorily
  redeemable preferred securities of
  subsidiaries holding solely
  subordinated notes and debentures of
  the Company(e)......................             949             949        --         --         --         --
Shareholders equity:
Preferred stock liquidation
  preference..........................           3,643           2,994       140        140      6,532      6,256
Equity applicable to common stock.....             684             673     1,008      1,230      1,635      2,242
Total shareholders equity.............        $  4,327         $ 3,667    $1,148    $ 1,370    $ 8,167    $ 8,498
Total capitalization..................        $ 16,733         $14,523    $9,987    $10,661    $18,235    $17,214

 
- ------------
 
 (a) Business segment  operating income  for the  year ended  December 31,  1995
     includes  $85 million  in losses relating  to certain  businesses and joint
     ventures owned by  the Music  division which were  restructured or  closed.
     Business  segment operating  income for  the year  ended December  31, 1991
     includes a  $60  million  charge  relating  to  the  restructuring  of  the
     Publishing division.
 
 (b) The  net  loss  for the  three  months  ended March  31,  1996  includes an
     extraordinary loss  on the  retirement of  debt of  $26 million  ($.07  per
     common  share). The net loss for the  year ended December 31, 1995 includes
     an extraordinary loss on  the retirement of debt  of $42 million ($.11  per
     common  share). The net loss for the  year ended December 31, 1993 includes
     an extraordinary loss on  the retirement of debt  of $57 million ($.15  per
     common  share) and an unusual charge of $70 million ($.19 per common share)
     from the effect of the new income tax law on the Company's deferred  income
     tax liability.
 
 (c) In  August 1991, the Company completed the  sale of 137.9 million shares of
     common stock pursuant to a rights offering. Net proceeds of $2.558  billion
     from  the  rights  offering  were used  to  reduce  indebtedness  under the
     Company's bank credit agreement. If the rights offering had been  completed
     at  the beginning of 1991, net loss for the year would have been reduced to
     $33 million, or  $1.70 per common  share, and there  would have been  369.3
     million shares of common stock outstanding during the year.
 
 (d) For  purposes of the  ratio of earnings  to fixed charges  and the ratio of
     earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends,  earnings
     were  calculated  by  adding  (i)  pretax  income,  (ii)  interest expense,
     including previously  capitalized interest  amortized  to expense  and  the
     portion  of rents representative of an  interest factor for the Company and
     its majority-owned subsidiaries, (iii) the Company's proportionate share of
     the items  included  in  (ii)  above  for  its  50%-owned  companies,  (iv)
     preferred  stock dividend requirements  of majority-owned subsidiaries, (v)
     minority interest in  the income of  majority-owned subsidiaries that  have
     fixed  charges  and (vi)  undistributed  losses of  its less-than-50%-owned
     companies.  Fixed  charges  consist  of  (i)  interest  expense,  including
     interest capitalized and the portion of rents representative of an interest
     factor  for  the  Company  and its  majority-owned  subsidiaries,  (ii) the
     Company's proportionate share of such items for its 50%-owned companies and
     (iii) preferred stock dividend requirements of majority-owned subsidiaries.
     Combined fixed  charges  and preferred  stock  dividends also  include  the
     amount  of  pretax  income  necessary  to  cover  preferred  stock dividend
     requirements of the  Company. For  periods in which  earnings before  fixed
     charges   were   insufficient   to   cover   fixed   charges   or  combined
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       29
 

 

(footnotes continued from previous page)

     fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, the dollar amount of  coverage
     deficiency, instead of the ratio, is disclosed. Earnings as defined include
     significant noncash charges for depreciation and amortization. In addition,
     fixed  charges for the three  months ended March 31,  1996 and 1995 and the
     years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 include noncash interest expense  of
     $22  and $57, and $176 million  and $219 million, respectively, relating to
     the Company's zero coupon convertible notes due 2012 and 2013 and, in  1995
     and 1994 only, the Reset Notes.
 
 (e) Includes  $374 million of preferred securities that are redeemable for cash
     or, at the Company's option,  approximately 12.1 million shares of  Hasbro,
     Inc. common stock owned by the Company.
 
ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The  selected historical  financial information of  the Entertainment Group
set forth below has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and other financial information of the Company
and TWE contained in the 10-K and the First Quarter 10-Q, which are incorporated
herein by reference.  Capitalized terms  are as  defined and  described in  such
historical  financial  statements, or  elsewhere  herein. For  periods  prior to
January 1, 1993, the  Entertainment Group is consolidated  with the Company  for
financial  reporting  purposes  and,  accordingly,  is  also  reflected  in  the
Company's summary historical financial information.
 
     The  selected  historical  financial  information  for  1995  reflects  the
consolidation  by TWE of the TWE-Advance/Newhouse Partnership resulting from the
formation  of  such  partnership,  effective  as  of  April  1,  1995,  and  the
consolidation  of Paragon effective as of  July 6, 1995. The selected historical
financial information gives effect to  the consolidation of Six Flags  effective
as of January 1, 1993 as a result of an increase in TWE's ownership of Six Flags
from  50% to 100% in  September 1993, and the  subsequent deconsolidation of Six
Flags resulting from  the disposition  by TWE  of a  51% interest  in Six  Flags
effective as of June 23, 1995. The selected historical financial information for
1993  also gives effect  to the admission of  U S WEST  as an additional limited
partner of TWE as of September 15, 1993 and the issuance of $2.6 billion of  TWE
debentures  during the  year to  reduce indebtedness  under TWE's  then existing
credit agreement, and for 1992 gives effect to the initial capitalization of TWE
and associated refinancings as of  the dates such transactions were  consummated
and  the Company's acquisition of the ATC minority interest as of June 30, 1992,
using the purchase method of accounting.  The Company's cost to acquire the  ATC
minority  interest is reflected in the  consolidated financial statements of TWE
under the pushdown method of accounting.


                                                    THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                        MARCH 31,                            YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                               ----------------------------          -------------------------------------------
                                                1996                1995            1995      1994      1993      1992     1991
                                               ------              ------          ------    ------    ------    ------   ------
                                                                  (MILLIONS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
 
                                                                                                    
OPERATING STATEMENT INFORMATION
Revenues..............................         $2,487              $2,073          $9,629    $8,509    $7,963    $6,761    $6,068
Depreciation and amortization.........            290                 230           1,060       959       909       788       733
Business segment operating income.....            271                 201             992       852       905       814       724
Interest and other, net...............             88                 164             539       616       564       531       526
Income before extraordinary item......             98                  11             170       136       217       173       103
Net income(a).........................             98                  11             146       136       207       173       103
TWE ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges(b)..........................           2.2x                1.1x            1.6x      1.4x      1.4x      1.4x      1.4x
 
 

 
                                       30
 

 

 


                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                           MARCH 31,         ---------------------------------------------------
                                              1996            1995       1994       1993       1992       1991
                                       ------------------    -------    -------    -------    -------    -------
                                                                      (MILLIONS)
 
                                                                                       
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Total assets........................         $18,636         $18,960    $18,992    $18,202    $15,886    $14,230
Long-term debt......................           5,724           6,137      7,160      7,125      7,171      4,571
Time Warner General Partners' Senior
  capital...........................           1,454           1,426      1,663      1,536         --         --
Partners' capital...................           6,604           6,576      6,491      6,228      6,483      6,717

 
- ------------
 
 (a) Net income  for the  years ended  December 31,  1995 and  1993 includes  an
     extraordinary  loss  on  the retirement  of  debt  of $24  million  and $10
     million, respectively.
 
 (b) For purposes  of the  ratio of  earnings to  fixed charges,  earnings  were
     calculated  by adding (i)  pretax income, (ii)  interest expense, including
     previously capitalized interest  amortized to  expense and  the portion  of
     rents  representative of an interest factor  for TWE and its majority-owned
     subsidiaries, (iii) TWE's proportionate share of the items included in (ii)
     above for its 50%-owned companies, (iv) minority interest in the income  of
     majority-owned  subsidiaries that have fixed  charges and (v) undistributed
     losses of its less-than-50%-owned companies.  Fixed charges consist of  (i)
     interest  expense, including interest capitalized  and the portion of rents
     representative of  an  interest  factor  for  TWE  and  its  majority-owned
     subsidiaries  and  (ii) TWE's  proportionate share  of  such items  for its
     50%-owned companies.
 
COMPANY AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SELECTED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     The unaudited selected pro forma  balance sheet information of the  Company
at  March 31, 1996 set forth below gives  effect to the TBS Transaction as if it
had occurred at such date. The unaudited selected pro forma operating  statement
information  of the Company for the three  months ended March 31, 1996 set forth
below gives effect in column (1) to the 1996 Convertible Debt Refinancing and in
column (2) to such transaction and the  TBS Transaction, in each case as if  the
transactions  had occurred at  the beginning of  such period. The ITOCHU/Toshiba
Transaction, the Cable Transactions, the 1995 Convertible Debt Refinancing,  the
Reset  Notes Refinancing, the Bank Refinancing, the Asset Sale Transactions and,
with respect to the balance sheet  only, the 1996 Convertible Debt  Refinancing,
are  already reflected in the historical  financial statements of the Company as
of and for the  three months ended  March 31, 1996.  The unaudited selected  pro
forma operating statement information of the Company for the year ended December
31,  1995  set forth  below gives  effect  in column  (1) to  the ITOCHU/Toshiba
Transaction, the Cable Transactions,  the Debt Refinancings  and the Asset  Sale
Transactions  and  in  column (2)  to  each  of such  transactions  and  the TBS
Transaction, in each case as if  the transactions had occurred at the  beginning
of such period.
 
 
     The  unaudited selected  pro forma  operating statement  information of the
Entertainment Group for the year ended  December 31, 1995 set forth below  gives
effect  to the TWE-A/N Transaction, the  Debt Refinancings, the consolidation of
Paragon and the Asset Sale Transactions, in each case as if the transactions had
occurred at the beginning of such period. Unaudited selected pro forma financial
statement information of the Entertainment Group as of and for the three  months
ended  March  31,  1996  has  not been  presented  since  all  such transactions
consummated by TWE are  reflected, in all material  respects, in the  historical
financial  statements of the Entertainment Group as  of and for the three months
ended March  31, 1996.  The  incremental effect  on  the Company's  loss  before
extraordinary  item per common share on a Post-TBS basis would be an increase of
$.05 and $.19 per common share, respectively.
 
     The selected pro forma financial information should be read in  conjunction
with  the  'Time  Warner Inc.  and  Entertainment Group  Pro  Forma Consolidated
Condensed  Financial  Statements'  included  in   the  May  15,  1996  8-K   and
incorporated  herein  by reference.  Consistent with  the pro  forma information
presented in conformity with  the instructions of Form  8-K and included in  the
May  15, 1996  8-K, no pro  forma effect has  been given in  the information set
forth below  for the  Series  K Refinancing  or the  issuance  of the  Series  M
Preferred  Stock offered hereby. However, giving  additional pro forma effect to
 
                                       31
 

the Series K Refinancing for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and the  year
ended  December 31, 1995, as if the transaction had occurred at the beginning of
such periods, the incremental effect on the Company's Pre-TBS pro forma  results
would  have been a decrease in the loss before extraordinary item of $16 million
and $65  million, respectively,  resulting from  the after-tax  effect of  lower
interest  expense, and  an increase  in the  loss before  extraordinary item per
common share of $.07 and $.29 per common share, respectively, resulting from  an
increase in preferred dividend requirements that more than offsets the effect of
lower interest expense.
 
 
     The selected pro forma financial information is presented for informational
purposes only and  is not necessarily  indicative of the  financial position  or
operating results that would have occurred if the transactions given retroactive
effect  therein  had been  consummated  as of  the  dates indicated,  nor  is it
necessarily indicative of future financial conditions or operating results.



                                                  THREE MONTHS ENDED                        YEAR ENDED
                                                    MARCH 31, 1996                       DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                              ---------------------------   -------------------------------------------
                                                  (1)            (2)            (1)            (2)
                                                COMPANY        COMPANY        COMPANY        COMPANY
                                                PRE-TBS        POST-TBS       PRE-TBS        POST-TBS     ENTERTAINMENT
                                              PRO FORMA(a)   PRO FORMA(b)   PRO FORMA(a)   PRO FORMA(b)       GROUP
                                              ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   -------------
                                                           (MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RATIOS)

                                                                                           
PRO FORMA OPERATING
STATEMENT INFORMATION
Revenues....................................     $2,068         $2,843         $8,742         $12,179         $9,686
Depreciation and amortization...............        228            320            935           1,312          1,078
Business segment operating income...........        110             86            656             803            994
Equity in pretax income of Entertainment
  Group.....................................        116            116            286             286             --
Interest and other, net.....................        289            328          1,037           1,249            484
Income (loss) before extraordinary item.....        (89)          (145)          (255)           (366)           203
Loss before extraordinary item applicable to
  common shares (after preferred
  dividends)................................       (123)          (179)          (398)           (509)            --
Per share of common stock:
Loss before extraordinary item..............     $ (.31)        $ (.31)        $(1.02)        $  (.90)            --
Dividends...................................     $  .09         $  .09         $  .36         $   .36             --
Average common shares.......................      391.7          569.5          387.7           565.5             --
Company and TWE ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges (deficiency in the coverage of
  fixed charges by earnings before fixed
  charges)(c)...............................     $  (69)        $ (141)        $  (60)        $  (142)          1.8x
Company deficiency in the coverage of
  combined fixed charges and preferred stock
  dividends by earnings before fixed charges
  and preferred stock dividends(c)..........     $ (124)        $ (196)        $ (258)        $  (340)            --

 


                                                                                                MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                                               ----------------
                                                                                               COMPANY POST-TBS
                                                                                                 PRO FORMA(b)
                                                                                                --------------
                                                                                                  (MILLIONS)
 
                                                                                            
PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Investments in and amounts due to and from Entertainment Group..............................        $ 5,931
Total assets................................................................................         36,050
Long-term debt..............................................................................         14,047
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiaries holding solely
  subordinated notes and debentures of the Company..........................................            949
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock liquidation preference......................................................          3,643
Equity applicable to common stock...........................................................          7,946
Total shareholders' equity..................................................................         11,589

 
                                                        (footnotes on next page)
 
                                       32
 

 

(footnotes from previous page)
 
 (a) Also reflects, on a pro forma  basis, the Company as a separate  subsidiary
     of  the new holding company after  consummation of the TBS Transaction. See
     'The Company -- TBS Transaction.'
 
 (b) Reflects, on a pro forma basis, the new holding company after  consummation
     of  the TBS  Transaction (in  which case the  Company expects  that the new
     holding company  would  provide  guarantees of  the  Company's  outstanding
     public debt).
 
 (c) For  purposes of the  ratio of earnings  to fixed charges  and the ratio of
     earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends,  earnings
     were  calculated  by  adding  (i)  pretax  income,  (ii)  interest expense,
     including previously  capitalized interest  amortized  to expense  and  the
     portion  of  rents representative  of an  interest factor  for each  of the
     Company and TWE, respectively, and each of their respective  majority-owned
     subsidiaries,  (iii) each of the Company's and TWE's proportionate share of
     the items included  in (ii) above  for each of  their respective  50%-owned
     companies,   (iv)  minority  interest  in   the  income  of  majority-owned
     subsidiaries that have fixed  charges and (v) undistributed losses of  each
     of their respective less-than-50%-owned companies. Fixed charges consist of
     (i)  interest  expense,  including  interest capitalized and the portion of
     rents representative of an interest factor for each of the Company and TWE,
     respectively, and  its majority-owned  subsidiaries and  (ii) each  of  the
     Company's  and TWE's  proportionate share of  such items for  each of their
     respective 50%-owned companies. Combined fixed charges and preferred  stock
     dividends  also  include the  amount of  pretax  income necessary  to cover
     preferred stock dividend requirements of the Company, for periods in  which
     earnings  before fixed charges were insufficient  to cover fixed charges or
     combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, the dollar amount  of
     coverage  deficiency,  instead  of  the ratio,  is  disclosed.  Earnings as
     defined  include   significant  noncash   charges  for   depreciation   and
     amortization.  Fixed charges  for the  Company for  the three  months ended
     March 31, 1996  and the  year ended  December 31,  1995 in  column (1)  and
     column  (2)  included  noncash  interest expense  of  $22  million  and $83
     million, respectively, relating  to the Company's  zero coupon  convertible
     notes  due 2012 and 2013 and, in  column (2) only, an additional $5 million
     and $18 million,  respectively, relating to  TBS's zero coupon  convertible
     notes due 2007.
 
                                 EXCHANGE OFFER
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth  in this Prospectus  and in the accompanying  Letter of Transmittal (which
together constitute  the  Exchange  Offer),  to  exchange  shares  of  Series  M
Preferred  Stock for any and all of the outstanding shares of Series K Preferred
Stock (on  a  share for  share  basis) properly  tendered  on or  prior  to  the
Expiration  Date  and  not withdrawn  as  permitted pursuant  to  the procedures
described below.
 
PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     On April 11, 1996, the  Company issued 1.6 million  shares of the Series  K
Preferred  Stock. The  issuance of Series  K Preferred Stock  was not registered
under the Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(2)
of the Securities Act.
 
     In connection with the issuance and  sale of the Series K Preferred  Stock,
the  Company entered into the Registration  Rights Agreement, which requires the
Company to (i) use its best efforts to cause to be filed with the Commission  by
May  26,  1996  a  registration  statement  (the  'Exchange  Offer  Registration
Statement') relating to a registered Exchange  Offer for the Series K  Preferred
Stock  under the Securities Act; (ii) use  its best efforts to have the Exchange
Offer Registration  Statement declared  effective under  the Securities  Act  by
October  8, 1996; and (iii)  commence the Exchange Offer  as soon as practicable
after the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and use its
best efforts to consummate the Exchange Offer as promptly as practicable, but in
any event by December 7, 1996.  In the event that applicable interpretations  of
the  staff of the  Commission do not  permit the Company  to effect the Exchange
Offer or do not permit any holder of the Series K Preferred Stock (including the
Initial Purchasers) to participate in the  Exchange Offer, the Company will  use
its best
 
                                       33
 

 

efforts  to cause to be filed with the Commission a shelf registration statement
(the 'Shelf Registration Statement') to cover resales of the Series K  Preferred
Stock  by such holders  who satisfy certain conditions  relating to, among other
things, the provision of information  in connection with the Shelf  Registration
Statement.  If the Exchange  Offer is not consummated  or the Shelf Registration
Statement is not  declared effective by  December 7, 1996,  the annual  dividend
rate  borne by  the Series  K Preferred Stock  will immediately  increase by .50
percent per annum; provided that if the Company had also failed to file with the
Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement  by May 26, 1996, then  the
annual  dividend rate will  immediately increase by 1.0  percent (instead of .50
percent) per  annum.  Upon  the  consummation  of  the  Exchange  Offer  or  the
effectiveness  of  a  Shelf Registration  Statement,  as  the case  may  be, the
dividend rate borne  by the  Series K  Preferred Stock  will be  reduced to  the
original  dividend rate.  The Exchange  Offer is  being made  by the  Company to
satisfy its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
     Based on no action letters issued by  the staff of the Commission to  third
parties,  the  Company believes  that  the Series  M  Preferred Stock  issued in
exchange for Series  K Preferred  Stock pursuant to  the Exchange  Offer may  be
offered  for resale, resold and otherwise  transferred by holders thereof (other
than (i) a broker-dealer  who purchases such Series  K Preferred Stock  directly
from  the  Company  to resell  pursuant  to  Rule 144A  or  any  other available
exemption under the Securities Act or (ii) a person that is an affiliate of  the
Company  within  the meaning  of  Rule 405  under  the Securities  Act), without
compliance with the  registration and  prospectus delivery  requirements of  the
Securities  Act  provided  that such  shares  of  Series M  Preferred  Stock are
acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business and such holders  have
no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of such Series
M  Preferred Stock. Any  holder of Series  K Preferred Stock  who tenders in the
Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the  Series
M  Preferred Stock  could not rely  on such  interpretation by the  staff of the
Commission and  must  comply  with  the  registration  and  prospectus  delivery
requirements  of the Securities  Act in connection  with any resale transaction.
Thus, any shares of Series M Preferred  Stock acquired by such holders will  not
be  freely  transferable  except in  compliance  with the  Securities  Act. Each
broker-dealer that  receives shares  of Series  M Preferred  Stock for  its  own
account  in exchange  for shares  of Series K  Preferred Stock  acquired by such
broker-dealer  as  a  result  of  market-making  activities  or  other   trading
activities,  must acknowledge  that it will  deliver a  prospectus in connection
with any  resale of  such  shares of  Series M  Preferred  Stock. See  'Plan  of
Distribution.'
 
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; TERMINATION; AMENDMENTS
 
     The  Exchange  Offer will  expire  at 5:00  p.m.,  New York  City  time, on
            , 1996, unless the Company, in its sole discretion, has extended the
period of time (as described below) for  which the Exchange Offer is open  (such
date,  as it may be  extended, is referred to  herein as the 'Expiration Date').
The Expiration Date will be at least 20 business days after the commencement  of
the  Exchange Offer in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act. The
Company expressly reserves  the right,  at any  time or  from time  to time,  to
extend  the period of time during which  the Exchange Offer is open, and thereby
delay acceptance  for exchange  of any  shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock  by
giving  oral notice  (confirmed in  writing) or  written notice  to the Exchange
Agent and by giving written notice of  such extension to the holders thereof  or
by  timely  public  announcement  communicated,  unless  otherwise  required  by
applicable law or  regulation, by making  a release through  the Dow Jones  News
Service,  in each case, no later than 9:00  a.m. New York City time, on the next
business day after the previously  scheduled Expiration Date. Such  announcement
may  state that  the Company  is extending  the Exchange  Offer for  a specified
period of time.  During any  such extension, all  shares of  Series K  Preferred
Stock previously tendered will remain subject to the Exchange Offer.
 
     In addition, the Company expressly reserves the right to terminate or amend
the  Exchange  Offer and  not  to accept  for exchange  any  shares of  Series K
Preferred Stock not theretofore accepted for exchange upon the occurrence of any
of the events  specified below  under ' --  Certain Conditions  to the  Exchange
Offer.' If any such termination or amendment occurs, the Company will notify the
Exchange  Agent and will  either issue a  press release or  give oral or written
notice  to  the  holders  of  the  Series  K  Preferred  Stock  as  promptly  as
practicable.
 
                                       34
 

 

     For  purposes of the Exchange  Offer, a 'business day'  means any day other
than Saturday, Sunday or a federal holiday, and consists of the time period from
12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, New York City time.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING SERIES K PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The tender to the Company of shares of Series K Preferred Stock by a holder
thereof as  set forth  below and  the  acceptance thereof  by the  Company  will
constitute a binding agreement between the tendering holder and the Company upon
the  terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the
accompanying Letter of Transmittal.
 
     A holder of shares of Series K  Preferred Stock may tender the same by  (i)
properly completing and signing the Letter of Transmittal or a facsimile thereof
(all  references in this Prospectus to the Letter of Transmittal shall be deemed
to include  a facsimile  thereof) and  delivering the  same, together  with  the
certificate  or certificates representing the shares of Series K Preferred Stock
being tendered and any required signature  guarantees, to the Exchange Agent  at
its address set forth below on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Expiration  Date  (or  complying  with  the  procedure  for  book-entry transfer
described below)  or  (ii) complying  with  the guaranteed  delivery  procedures
described below.
 
     THE  METHOD OF DELIVERY  OF SHARES OF  SERIES K PREFERRED  STOCK, LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF  THE
HOLDERS.  IF SUCH DELIVERY  IS BY MAIL,  IT IS RECOMMENDED  THAT REGISTERED MAIL
PROPERLY INSURED,  WITH  RETURN  RECEIPT  REQUESTED, OR  AN  OVERNIGHT  OR  HAND
DELIVERY  SERVICE, BE USED. IN  ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME  SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
INSURE TIMELY  DELIVERY. NO  SHARES OF  SERIES K  PREFERRED STOCK  OR LETTER  OF
TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY.
 
     Signatures  on a Letter  of Transmittal or  a notice of  withdrawal, as the
case may be, must be  guaranteed unless the shares  of Series K Preferred  Stock
surrendered  for  exchange pursuant  thereto are  tendered  (i) by  a registered
holder of the shares of Series K  Preferred Stock who has not completed the  box
entitled  'Special Issuance Instructions' or  'Special Delivery Instructions' on
the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution (as
defined herein). In the event  that signatures on a  Letter of Transmittal or  a
notice  of withdrawal, as the  case may be, are  required to be guaranteed, such
guarantees must  be  by a  firm  which is  a  member of  a  registered  national
securities  exchange  or  a member  of  the National  Association  of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or  by a  commercial bank  or trust  company having  an office  or
correspondent  in the United States (each  an 'Eligible Institution'). If shares
of Series K Preferred Stock are registered in the name of a person other than  a
signer  of the  Letter of  Transmittal, the shares  of Series  K Preferred Stock
surrendered for exchange  must be endorsed  by, or be  accompanied by a  written
instrument  or  instruments of  transfer or  exchange,  in satisfactory  form as
determined by  the  Company  in  its  sole  discretion,  duly  executed  by  the
registered   holder  with  the  signature  thereon  guaranteed  by  an  Eligible
Institution.
 
     The Exchange Agent  will make  a request promptly  after the  date of  this
Prospectus to establish accounts with respect to the Series K Preferred Stock at
the  book-entry transfer facility, The Depository Trust Company, for the purpose
of facilitating the Exchange  Offer, and subject  to the establishment  thereof,
any  financial  institution that  is a  participant  in the  book-entry transfer
facility's system may make book-entry delivery  of shares of Series K  Preferred
Stock  by causing such  book-entry transfer facility to  transfer such shares of
Series K Preferred Stock into the  Exchange Agent's account with respect to  the
shares  of Series K  Preferred Stock in accordance  with the book-entry transfer
facility's procedures for such transfer. Although delivery of shares of Series K
Preferred Stock  may be  effected through  book-entry transfer  in the  Exchange
Agent's  account at the  book-entry transfer facility,  an appropriate Letter of
Transmittal with any required signature  guarantee and other required  documents
must  in each case be  transmitted to and received  or confirmed by the Exchange
Agent at its address set forth below on or prior to the Expiration Date, or,  if
the guaranteed delivery procedures described below are complied with, within the
time period provided under such procedures.
 
     If a holder desires to accept the Exchange Offer and time will not permit a
Letter  of  Transmittal or  shares  of Series  K  Preferred Stock  to  reach the
Exchange Agent  before  the Expiration  Date  or the  procedure  for  book-entry
transfer  cannot be completed on a timely basis, a tender may be effected if the
Exchange Agent has received at its  address or facsimile number set forth  below
on or prior to the
 
                                       35
 

 

Expiration  Date a  letter, telegram or  facsimile from  an Eligible Institution
setting forth the name and  address of the tendering  holder, the name in  which
the  shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock are  registered and,  if possible, the
certificate number or  numbers of the  certificate or certificates  representing
the  shares of  Series K Preferred  Stock to  be tendered, and  stating that the
tender is being made  thereby and guaranteeing that  within three business  days
after  the Expiration Date the shares of Series K Preferred Stock in proper form
for transfer (or a confirmation of book-entry transfer of such shares of  Series
K  Preferred Stock into the Exchange  Agent's account at the book-entry transfer
facility), will  be  delivered by  such  Eligible Institution  together  with  a
properly  completed  and  duly executed  Letter  of Transmittal  (and  any other
required documents). Unless shares of Series K Preferred Stock being tendered by
the above-described method are deposited with the Exchange Agent within the time
period set forth above (accompanied or  preceded by a properly completed  Letter
of  Transmittal  and any  other  required documents),  the  Company may,  at its
option, reject the tender. Copies of  a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery which  may
be  used by an Eligible Institution for the purposes described in this paragraph
are available from the Exchange Agent.
 
     A tender will be deemed to have been  received as of the date when (i)  the
tendering  holder's  properly completed  and duly  signed Letter  of Transmittal
accompanied by the  shares of  Series K Preferred  Stock (or  a confirmation  of
book-entry transfer of such shares of Series K Preferred Stock into the Exchange
Agent's account at the book-entry transfer facility) is received by the Exchange
Agent,  or (ii) a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or letter, telegram or facsimile
to similar effect (as provided above)  from an Eligible Institution is  received
by  the  Exchange Agent.  Issuances of  shares  of Series  M Preferred  Stock in
exchange for shares of Series K Preferred Stock tendered pursuant to a Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery  or letter,  telegram  or facsimile  to similar  effect  (as
provided  above) by an Eligible Institution will be made only against deposit of
the Letter of Transmittal  (and any other required  documents) and the  tendered
shares of Series K Preferred Stock.
 
     All  questions as  to the  validity, form,  eligibility (including  time of
receipt) and  acceptance of  shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock  tendered  for
exchange  will  be  determined by  the  Company  in its  sole  discretion, which
determination will be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the
right to  reject any  and  all tenders  of any  particular  shares of  Series  K
Preferred  Stock not properly tendered or reject any particular shares of Series
K Preferred Stock the acceptance of which might, in the judgment of the  Company
or  its counsel, be  unlawful. The Company  also reserves the  absolute right to
waive any defects or irregularities or condition of the Exchange Offer as to any
particular shares  of  Series K  Preferred  Stock  either before  or  after  the
Expiration  Date (including the  right to waive the  ineligibility of any holder
who seeks to tender shares of Series  K Preferred Stock in the Exchange  Offer).
The  interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including
the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) by the Company shall  be
final  and binding on all parties.  Unless waived, any defects or irregularities
in connection with tenders  of shares of Series  K Preferred Stock for  exchange
must  be cured  within such  time as  the Company  shall determine.  Neither the
Company nor any other  person shall be  under any duty  to give notification  of
defects  or  irregularities  with  respect  to tenders  of  shares  of  Series K
Preferred Stock for  exchange, nor  shall any of  them incur  any liability  for
failure to give such notification.
 
     If  the Letter of Transmittal or any  shares of Series K Preferred Stock or
powers of attorney are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians,
attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or  others acting in a fiduciary  or
representative  capacity,  such persons  should  so indicate  when  signing, and
unless waived by  the Company, proper  evidence satisfactory to  the Company  of
their authority to so act must be submitted.
 
     By tendering, each holder that is not a broker-dealer or is a broker-dealer
but is not receiving shares of Series M Preferred Stock for its own account will
represent  to  the Company  that, among  other  things, the  shares of  Series M
Preferred Stock acquired pursuant  to the Exchange Offer  are being obtained  in
the  ordinary  course  of  such  holder's  business,  that  such  holder  has no
arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of such shares of
Series M Preferred  Stock and  that such  holder is  not an  'affiliate' of  the
Company as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Each broker-dealer that
is  receiving shares of Series M Preferred Stock for its own account in exchange
for shares  of Series  K  Preferred Stock  that were  acquired  as a  result  of
market-making or other trading activities will
 
                                       36
 

 

represent  to the Company that  it will deliver a  prospectus in connection with
any resale of such shares of Series M Preferred Stock.
 
     In addition, the Company reserves the  right in its sole discretion to  (a)
purchase  or make offers for any shares  of Series K Preferred Stock that remain
outstanding subsequent to Expiration Date, or,  as set forth under ' --  Certain
Conditions  to the Exchange Offer,'  to terminate the Exchange  Offer and (b) to
the extent permitted by  applicable law, purchase shares  of Series K  Preferred
Stock in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The
terms  of any such purchases or offers may differ from the terms of the Exchange
Offer.
 
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
 
     Tenders of shares of Series K Preferred Stock may be withdrawn at any  time
prior to the Expiration Date. For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice
of  withdrawal sent  by letter,  telegram or facsimile  must be  received by the
Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration  Date at its address or facsimile  number
set  forth below. Any such notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the
person having tendered the  shares of Series K  Preferred Stock to be  withdrawn
(the  'Depositor'), (ii) identify the  shares of Series K  Preferred Stock to be
withdrawn (including the  certificate number  or numbers of  the certificate  or
certificates  representing such shares of Series K Preferred Stock and number of
shares of such Series K Preferred Stock),  (iii) be signed by the holder in  the
same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such
shares  of  Series  K  Preferred Stock  were  tendered  (including  any required
signature guarantees) or be accompanied  by documents of transfer sufficient  to
permit the Transfer Agent with respect to the shares of Series K Preferred Stock
to  register the transfer  of such shares  of Series K  Preferred Stock into the
name of the person withdrawing the tender and (iv) specify the name in which any
such shares of Series K Preferred Stock are to be registered, if different  from
that  of the Depositor. All  questions as to the  validity, form and eligibility
(including time of receipt) of such withdrawal notices will be determined by the
Company in its sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding on
all parties. Any shares of Series K Preferred Stock so withdrawn will be  deemed
not  to have  been validly tendered  for purposes  of the Exchange  Offer and no
shares of Series M  Preferred Stock will be  issued with respect thereto  unless
the  shares of Series K Preferred Stock so withdrawn are validly retendered. Any
shares of  Series K  Preferred Stock  which  have been  tendered but  which  are
withdrawn  will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder as
soon as practicable after such withdrawal. Properly withdrawn shares of Series K
Preferred Stock may be retendered by  following one of the procedures  described
above  under ' -- Procedures for Tendering Series K Preferred Stock' at any time
prior to the Expiration Date.
 
ACCEPTANCE OF SERIES K PREFERRED STOCK FOR EXCHANGE; DELIVERY OF SERIES M
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the Exchange Offer,
the Company  will accept,  promptly after  the Expiration  Date, all  shares  of
Series K Preferred Stock properly tendered and will issue the shares of Series M
Preferred   Stock  promptly  after   acceptance  of  the   Exchange  Offer.  See
' --  Certain Conditions  to the  Exchange  Offer' below.  For purposes  of  the
Exchange  Offer, the Company  will be deemed to  have accepted properly tendered
shares of Series K Preferred Stock for exchange when the Company has given  oral
or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.
 
     In  all  cases, issuance  of  the shares  of  Series M  Preferred  Stock in
exchange for shares of Series K  Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange  Offer
will be made only after timely receipt by the Company of such shares of Series K
Preferred  Stock, a properly  completed and duly  executed Letter of Transmittal
and all other required documents. If  any tendered shares of Series K  Preferred
Stock  are not accepted for  exchange for any reason set  forth in the terms and
conditions of the Exchange Offer, such  unaccepted shares of Series K  Preferred
Stock  will  be returned  without  expense to  the  tendering holder  thereof as
promptly as practicable after the rejection of such tender or the expiration  or
termination of the Exchange Offer.
 
                                       37
 

 

UNTENDERED SERIES K PREFERRED STOCK
 
     Holders  of shares  of Series  K Preferred Stock  whose shares  of Series K
Preferred Stock  are  not tendered  or  are tendered  but  not accepted  in  the
Exchange Offer will continue to hold such shares of Series K Preferred Stock and
will  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  preferences  and  subject  to the
limitations applicable thereto.  Following consummation of  the Exchange  Offer,
the holders of shares of Series K Preferred Stock will continue to be subject to
the  existing restrictions upon transfer thereof and, except as provided herein,
the Company will have no further obligation  to such holders to provide for  the
registration  under the Securities Act of the shares of Series K Preferred Stock
held by them. To the extent that shares of Series K Preferred Stock are tendered
and accepted  in the  Exchange  Offer, the  trading  market for  untendered  and
tendered  but unaccepted shares  of Series K Preferred  Stock could be adversely
affected.
 
CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, the Company will  not
be  required to accept for exchange, or issue shares of Series M Preferred Stock
in exchange for, any shares  of Series K Preferred  Stock, and may terminate  or
amend the Exchange Offer, if at any time before the acceptance of such shares of
Series K Preferred Stock for exchange, any of the following events shall occur:
 
          (i) an injunction, order or decree shall have been issued by any court
     or governmental agency that would prohibit, prevent or otherwise materially
     impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer; or
 
          (ii)  there shall occur a change  in the current interpretation of the
     staff of the Commission which current interpretation permits the shares  of
     Series  M Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange
     for the shares of Series K Preferred Stock to be offered for resale, resold
     and  otherwise  transferred   by  holders   thereof  (other   than  (i)   a
     broker-dealer who purchases such Series K Preferred Stock directly from the
     Company  to resell pursuant  to Rule 144A or  any other available exemption
     under the Securities  Act or  (ii) a  person that  is an  affiliate of  the
     Company  within the meaning of Rule  405 under the Securities Act), without
     compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of  the
     Securities  Act provided that  such shares of Series  M Preferred Stock are
     acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business and such  holders
     have  no arrangement with any person  to participate in the distribution of
     shares of Series M Preferred Stock.
 
     The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and may be
asserted by the Company regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any  such
condition  or may be waived by  the Company in whole or  in part at any time and
from time to time in its sole discretion. The failure by the Company at any time
to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such
right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted
at any time and from time to time.
 
     If the Company determines that it may terminate the Exchange Offer, as  set
forth  above,  the Company  may  (i) refuse  to accept  any  shares of  Series K
Preferred Stock and return all shares of Series K Preferred Stock that have been
tendered to the holders thereof, (ii)  extend the Exchange Offer and retain  all
shares  of  Series K  Preferred  Stock tendered  prior  to the  Expiration Date,
subject to the rights of such holders  of tendered shares of Series K  Preferred
Stock  to withdraw their tendered  shares of Series K  Preferred Stock, or (iii)
waive such termination event with respect  to the Exchange Offer and accept  all
properly  tendered  shares  of  Series  K Preferred  Stock  that  have  not been
withdrawn. If such waiver constitutes a  material change in the Exchange  Offer,
the  Company  will  disclose  such  change by  means  of  a  supplement  to this
Prospectus that  will be  distributed to  each registered  holder of  shares  of
Series  K Preferred Stock, and the Company  will extend the Exchange Offer for a
period of five  to ten  business days, depending  upon the  significance of  the
waiver  and the manner of disclosure to  the registered holders of the shares of
Series K Preferred Stock,  if the Exchange Offer  would otherwise expire  during
such period.
 
     In  addition,  the  Company  will  not accept  for  exchange  any  Series K
Preferred Stock tendered,  and no  Series M Preferred  Stock will  be issued  in
exchange    for   any   such    Series   K   Preferred    Stock,   if   at   any
 
                                       38
 

 

time any stop  order shall be  threatened by  the Commission or  in effect  with
respect to the Registration Statement.
 
     The  Exchange Offer is not  conditioned on any minimum  number of shares of
Series K Preferred Stock being tendered for exchange.
 
EXCHANGE AGENT
 
     Chemical  Mellon  Shareholder  Services,   L.L.C.  ('Chemical')  has   been
appointed as Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer. Questions regarding Exchange
Offer  procedures and requests  for additional copies of  this Prospectus or the
Letter of Transmittal  should be  directed to  the Exchange  Agent addressed  as
follows:

                                               
                By Mail:                             By Hand or Overnight Delivery:
  85 Challenger Road                              85 Challenger Road
  Ridgefield Park NJ 07660                        Ridgefield Park NJ 07660
  Attention: Reorganization Department            Attention: Reorganization Department

 
SOLICITATION OF TENDERS; FEES AND EXPENSES
 
     The  Company has  not retained  any dealer-manager  in connection  with the
Exchange Offer  and will  not make  any payments  to brokers,  dealers or  other
persons soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will
pay  the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary  fees for its services and will
reimburse the  Exchange  Agent  for its  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  in
connection  therewith.  The  cash expenses  to  be  incurred by  the  Company in
connection with the Exchange Offer will be paid by the Company.
 
     No person  has been  authorized to  give  any information  or to  make  any
representation  in connection with the Exchange Offer other than those contained
in this Prospectus. If given or made, such information or representations should
not be  relied  upon as  having  been authorized  by  the Company.  Neither  the
delivery  of this  Prospectus nor any  exchange made hereunder  shall, under any
circumstances, create  any implication  that there  has been  no change  in  the
affairs  of the Company  since the respective  dates as of  which information is
given herein. The  Exchange Offer  is not  being made  to (nor  will tenders  be
accepted  from or on behalf of) holders of shares of Series K Preferred Stock in
any jurisdiction in  which the making  of the Exchange  Offer or the  acceptance
thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.
 
TRANSFER TAXES
 
     The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange
of  shares  of Series  K Preferred  Stock  pursuant to  the Exchange  Offer. If,
however, certificates representing shares of Series M Preferred Stock or  shares
of  Series K  Preferred Stock not  tendered or  accepted for exchange  are to be
delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other
than the registered holder of the  shares of Series K Preferred Stock  tendered,
or  if tendered shares of Series K Preferred Stock are registered in the name of
any  person  other  than   the  person  signing   the  Letter  of   Transmittal,
 
                                       39
 

 

or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of shares
of  Series K Preferred Stock pursuant to  the Exchange Offer, then the amount of
any such transfer taxes (whether imposed  on the registered holder or any  other
persons)  will be payable  by the tendering holder.  If satisfactory evidence of
payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of
Transmittal, the amount of such transfer  taxes will be billed directly to  such
tendering holder.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
     No  gain or loss for accounting purposes  will be recognized by the Company
upon the consummation  of the  Exchange Offer. Expenses  incurred in  connection
with  the issuance  of the  Series M  Preferred Stock  will be  amortized by the
Company over the term of the  Series M Preferred Stock under generally  accepted
accounting principles.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     Each broker-dealer that receives shares of Series M Preferred Stock for its
own  account in exchange  for shares of  Series K Preferred  Stock acquired as a
result of market-making  or other  trading activities must  acknowledge that  it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such shares of Series
M  Preferred Stock.  For a  period of  90 days  after the  Expiration Date, this
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be  used
by  a  broker-dealer in  connection  with resales  of  such shares  of  Series M
Preferred Stock. During such 90-day period, the Company will use best efforts to
make this Prospectus available to any  broker-dealer for use in connection  with
such  resales,  provided  that such  broker-dealer  indicates in  the  Letter of
Transmittal that it is a broker-dealer.
 
     The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of shares of Series
M Preferred Stock by broker-dealers. Shares of Series M Preferred Stock received
by broker-dealers for their  own account pursuant to  the Exchange Offer may  be
sold  from time  to time  in one  or more  transactions in  the over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the shares
of Series M  Preferred Stock  or a  combination of  such methods  of resale,  at
market  prices  prevailing at  the time  of  resale, at  prices related  to such
prevailing market  prices or  negotiated prices.  Any such  resale may  be  made
directly  to  purchasers  or  to  or  through  broker-dealers  who  may  receive
compensation  in  the  form  of   commissions  or  concessions  from  any   such
broker-dealer  and/or the  purchasers of any  such shares of  Series M Preferred
Stock. Any broker-dealer that  resells shares of Series  M Preferred Stock  that
were  received by it for its own account  pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any
person that  participates  in  the  distribution of  such  shares  of  Series  M
Preferred  Stock may be deemed to be  an 'underwriter' within the meaning of the
Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of shares of Series M Preferred
Stock and any commissions or concessions received by any such broker-dealers may
be deemed to be underwriting compensation  under the Securities Act. The  Letter
of  Transmittal  states  that a  broker-dealer,  by acknowledging  that  it will
deliver and by delivering a prospectus, will  not be deemed to admit that it  is
an  'underwriter' within  the meaning  of the  Securities Act.  The Company will
indemnify  the  holders  of  the   Series  M  Preferred  Stock  (including   any
broker-dealers)  against  certain liabilities,  including liabilities  under the
Securities Act.
 
     In addition, the Company has agreed that if upon expiration of the Exchange
Offer, any of the Initial Purchasers of  the Series K Preferred Stock shall  not
have  sold all  of the  Series K  Preferred Stock  initially purchased  from the
Company  by  such  Initial  Purchasers  to  unaffiliated  investors,  upon  such
purchasers' request (made within 10 days after the Expiration Date), the Company
will  use its best efforts  to file promptly, or if  so requested by the Initial
Purchasers, on  a later  date (no  later than  six months  after the  Expiration
Date),  a shelf  registration statement relating  to the resale  of the Existing
Debentures and keep such shelf registration statement effective for a period  of
120 days.
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF SERIES M PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The  Series M Preferred Stock  will be issued pursuant  to a certificate of
designation (the 'Certificate of Designation'). The summary contained herein  of
certain  provisions  of the  Series M  Preferred  Stock does  not purport  to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of  the
 
                                       40
 

 

Certificate  of  Designation.  The  definitions of  certain  terms  used  in the
Certificate of Designation  and in the  following summary are  set forth in  the
'Glossary of Significant Terms.'
 
GENERAL
 
     The  Company is authorized to  issue 1 billion shares  of capital stock, of
which 750 million shares  are common stock, par  value $1.00 per share  ('Common
Stock'), and 250 million shares are preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share.
 
     On  April 30, 1996,  there were outstanding 391.6  million shares of Common
Stock and 37.8 million shares of preferred stock.
 
     The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted resolutions reserving for
issuance an adequate number of  shares of the Series  M Preferred Stock and  the
Series  L  Preferred  Stock,  and  the Company  will  file  the  Certificates of
Designation with respect  thereto with the  Secretary of State  of the State  of
Delaware  as required by Delaware  law. Shares of Series  M Preferred Stock when
issued in exchange for shares of Series K Preferred Stock will be fully paid and
nonassessable, and the holders thereof  will have no subscription or  preemptive
rights related thereto.
 
     Pursuant  to  the Company's  Certificate  of Incorporation,  the  shares of
Series M Preferred Stock shall always be subject to redemption by the Company at
a redemption price equal to fair market value payable in cash, by action of  the
Board  of Directors, if  in the judgment  of the Board  of Directors such action
should be taken, pursuant  to Section 151(b) of  the General Corporation Law  of
the  State of  Delaware (or by  any other  provision of applicable  law), to the
extent necessary to prevent the loss or secure the reinstatement of any  license
or  franchise from any governmental agency held by the Company or any subsidiary
to conduct  any  portion  of the  business  of  the Company,  which  license  or
franchise  is conditioned upon some or all of the holders of the Company's stock
of any class or series possessing prescribed qualifications.
 
RANKING
 
     The Series M Preferred Stock,  with respect to dividends and  distributions
upon the liquidation, winding up and dissolution of the Company, ranks senior to
all  classes of  Junior Stock and  pari passu  with the other  classes of Parity
Stock of the Company.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
     Holders of Series M Preferred Stock are entitled, when, as and if  declared
by  the  Board  of Directors  of  the  Company out  of  funds  legally available
therefor, to receive dividends on each  outstanding share of Series M  Preferred
Stock,  at the rate  of 10 1/4% per  annum. Dividends on  the Series M Preferred
Stock are payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing
on the  First Dividend  Payment  Date, to  holders of  record  of the  Series  M
Preferred  Stock on the Record Date  immediately preceding such Dividend Payment
Date. Dividends on the Series M  Preferred Stock will be cumulative (whether  or
not  earned or  declared) from the  date of  issuance of the  Series M Preferred
Stock. Dividends  which  are  not  declared and  paid  when  due  will  compound
quarterly  on each Dividend Payment  Date at the dividend  rate until payment is
made.
 
     Dividends may,  at the  option of  the  Company, be  paid on  any  Dividend
Payment Date either in cash or by issuing fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Series  M Preferred Stock with an  aggregate liquidation preference equal to the
amount of  such dividends;  provided,  however, that  dividends payable  on  any
Dividend  Payment Date  shall be paid  (i) in cash,  to the extent  of an amount
equal to the Pro Rata Percentage as of the Preceding Record Date, multiplied  by
the  amount  of  cash  distributions,  excluding  Tax  Distributions  other than
Included  Tax  Distributions,  if  any,   received  by  the  Company  (and   its
subsidiaries)  on or after the Preceding Record  Date to, but not including, the
current Record Date  with respect to  its TWE  Series B Capital  and TWE  Junior
Capital,  and (ii) in Series M Preferred Stock or cash, at the Company's option,
to the extent of any balance. TWE's ability to make distributions is subject  to
certain restrictions. See 'Risk Factors.'
 
                                       41
 

 

     Holders  of Series  K Preferred  Stock whose  shares of  Series K Preferred
Stock are accepted  for exchange  will be  deemed to  have waived  the right  to
receive any payment in respect of any unpaid dividends on the Series K Preferred
Stock  that have accumulated or accrued to the  date of issuance of the Series M
Preferred Stock. Consequently, on  the First Dividend  Payment Date holders  who
exchange  their shares of Series K Preferred  Stock for Series M Preferred Stock
will receive the same dividends on the Series M Preferred Stock that holders  of
the  Series K Preferred Stock who do  not accept the Exchange Offer will receive
on the Series K Preferred Stock.
 
     No dividends may be declared or paid  or set apart for payment on Series  M
Preferred  Stock or any other  Parity Stock, and no  Parity Stock, including the
Series M Preferred Stock, may  be repurchased, exchanged, redeemed or  otherwise
retired  by the  Company, nor may  funds be  set apart for  payment with respect
thereto, unless full cumulative dividends shall have been paid or set apart  for
such  payment  on,  and  all  applicable  redemption,  exchange  and  repurchase
obligations shall have been satisfied with respect to, all outstanding shares of
Series M Preferred Stock  and such other Parity  Stock; provided that  dividends
may  be paid on Parity  Stock if they are payable  in Junior Stock; and provided
further that Parity Stock  may be converted into  or exchanged for Parity  Stock
(having  the same liquidation preference) or Junior Stock. If full dividends are
not so paid, the Series M Preferred  Stock shall share dividends with all  other
Parity  Stock so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the Series M
Preferred Stock and all such other Parity Stock shall in all cases bear the same
ratio that cumulative dividends  per share on the  Series M Preferred Stock  and
all  such other Parity Stock bear to each other. No dividends may be paid or set
apart for such payment on Junior Stock, and no Junior Stock may be  repurchased,
exchanged,  redeemed or otherwise retired nor may funds be set apart for payment
with respect thereto,  if full cumulative  dividends have not  been paid on  the
Series  M Preferred Stock  or any applicable  redemption, exchange or repurchase
obligation has not  been satisfied  with respect  to all  outstanding shares  of
Series  M Preferred Stock; provided that  dividends or distributions may be made
on Junior  Stock  if  they  are payable-in-kind  in  additional  shares  of,  or
warrants,   rights,  calls  or  options  exercisable  for  or  convertible  into
additional shares of Junior Stock; and provided further that Junior Stock may be
converted into or  exchanged for Junior  Stock. In addition,  in the event  that
there  shall  have occurred  certain events  of default  in connection  with the
Company's debt, the Company shall not  declare or pay or make any  distributions
on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem or exchange any of its capital stock,
except  where such dividend or payment is made  in the form of, or such exchange
is for, capital stock.
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
 
     The Series M  Preferred Stock  may not  be redeemed  at the  option of  the
Company  prior to July 1, 2006. Thereafter, the Series M Preferred Stock will be
redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole  or in part, at any time and  from
time to time upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed by
first-class  mail  to the  registered address  of  each holder  of the  Series M
Preferred Stock as of the record date for such redemption. The redemption  price
for  each share  of Series  M Preferred Stock  called for  redemption during the
12-month period commencing on July 1 of  the years set forth below shall be  the
amounts  (expressed as  percentages of  the liquidation  preference thereof) set
forth opposite such years, plus accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends  to
the redemption date.
 


                                                                                     PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                                      LIQUIDATION
PERIOD                                                                                PREFERENCE
- ------                                                                               -------------
 
                                                                               
 2006    .........................................................................      105.125%
 2007    .........................................................................      103.844
 2008    .........................................................................      102.563
 2009    .........................................................................      101.281
 2010 and thereafter..............................................................      100.000

 
     No  optional redemption  shall be  effected unless  the Company  shall have
obtained a Rating Confirmation with respect to such redemption.
 
                                       42
 

 

MANDATORY REDEMPTION
 
     On each Mandatory Redemption  Date, the Company is  required to redeem  the
Redeemable  Number  of  shares of  Series  M  Preferred Stock  at  the Mandatory
Redemption Price.
 
     On July 1,  2016, the  Final Redemption Date,  the Company  is required  to
redeem  all of the  then outstanding shares  of Series M  Preferred Stock at the
lesser of the Mandatory  Redemption Amount and  the Mandatory Redemption  Price;
provided  that if the  Company does not  obtain a TWE  Valuation within 150 days
following the final Series B Redemption Date or if the TWE Series B Capital  has
been  fully  redeemed  in accordance  with  the TWE  Partnership  Agreement, the
Company shall redeem the  Series M Preferred Stock  at the Mandatory  Redemption
Price.
 
     Upon  the redemption  of Series M  Preferred Stock on  the Final Redemption
Date, the Company's obligations with respect thereto will be discharged, and  if
such  redemption  is effected  at the  Mandatory  Redemption Amount,  holders of
shares of Series M Preferred Stock  may have received less than the  liquidation
preference  thereof plus accumulated  and accrued and  unpaid dividends thereon.
The Company's obligation to  redeem the Series M  Preferred Stock is subject  to
the legal availability at the Company of funds therefor. See 'Risk Factors.'
 
REDEMPTION UPON INSOLVENCY OF TWE
 
     In the event of a liquidation, winding up or dissolution of TWE as a result
of  the Insolvency  of TWE,  the Series  M Preferred  Stock will  be mandatorily
redeemable on  the  Insolvency  Redemption Date  at  the  Insolvency  Redemption
Amount.  Upon  such a  redemption  of Series  M  Preferred Stock,  the Company's
obligation with  respect thereto  will be  discharged and  holders of  Series  M
Preferred  Stock may have received less  than the liquidation preference thereof
plus accumulated  and  accrued  and  unpaid  dividends  thereon.  The  Company's
obligations  to redeem the Series M Preferred Stock upon an Insolvency of TWE is
subject to the legal  availability at the Company  of funds therefor. See  'Risk
Factors.'
 
REORGANIZATION OF TWE
 
     Upon  a Reorganization of  TWE, the Company  shall, within 90  days, make a
public announcement that it  intends, on the Reorganization  Redemption/Exchange
Date,  to either (i) exchange each outstanding share of Series M Preferred Stock
for shares  of the  Series L  Preferred Stock  having an  aggregate  liquidation
preference  equal  to  the liquidation  preference  of  such share  of  Series M
Preferred Stock plus accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends thereon at the
date of exchange, or  (ii) redeem the outstanding  shares of Series M  Preferred
Stock  at  the  Reorganization  Redemption Price;  provided,  however,  that the
Company may not effect a Reorganization Redemption (as described in clause (ii))
prior to  July  1,  2011  unless  the  Company  shall  have  obtained  a  Rating
Confirmation with respect to such Reorganization Redemption and provided further
that  the  Company may  not effect  a Reorganization  Exchange (as  described in
clause (i))  on  or after  July  1, 2011.  The  Company's ability  to  effect  a
Reorganization Redemption is subject to the legal availability at the Company of
funds therefor.
 
CHANGE OF CONTROL
 
     Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer
(the  'Preferred Stock  Change of  Control Offer')  to each  holder of  Series M
Preferred Stock  to  repurchase  all or  any  part  of such  holder's  Series  M
Preferred  Stock at a  purchase price in  cash equal to  101% of the liquidation
preference thereof, plus  an amount  equal to  all accumulated  and accrued  and
unpaid  dividends per share to the date  of purchase. The Preferred Stock Change
of Control Offer must be made within 30 days following a Change of Control, must
remain open for at least 30 and not  more than 40 days and must comply with  the
requirements  of  Rule 14e-1  under the  Exchange Act  and any  other applicable
securities laws and regulations. The  Company's obligation to offer to  purchase
the Series M Preferred Stock is subject to the legal availability at the Company
of funds therefor. See Risk Factors.
 
                                       43
 

 

PROCEDURE FOR REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
 
     On  and after a redemption or exchange date, unless the Company defaults in
the  payment  of  the  applicable  redemption  price  or  exchange  obligations,
dividends  will cease to accrue on shares of Series M Preferred Stock called for
redemption or exchange and all rights  of holders of such shares will  terminate
except  for the right to receive the  redemption price or the Series L Preferred
Stock, as the case  may be, without  interest. The Company  will send a  written
notice  of redemption by first class mail to  each holder of record of shares of
Series M Preferred Stock, not fewer than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior  to
the  date fixed for such  redemption. Shares of Series  M Preferred Stock issued
and reacquired  will,  upon  compliance  with  the  applicable  requirements  of
Delaware  law, have  the status of  authorized but unissued  shares of preferred
stock of the Company undesignated  as to Series and may  with any and all  other
authorized  but unissued shares of preferred  stock of the Company be designated
or redesignated and  issued or  reissued, as  the case may  be, as  part of  any
Series of preferred stock of the Company, except that any issuance or reissuance
of shares of Series M Preferred Stock must be in compliance with the Certificate
of Designation.
 
     In the event of partial redemptions of Series M Preferred Stock, the shares
to  be redeemed  will be  determined pro rata  or by  lot, as  determined by the
Company, except that the Company  may redeem such shares  held by any holder  of
fewer  than 100 shares (or  shares held by holders who  would hold less than 100
shares as a result of such redemption), as may be determined by the Company.
 
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
 
     In the event of any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the  Company,
holders  of Series M Preferred Stock will  be entitled to their pro rata portion
of the assets  of the Company  available for distribution  to holders of  Parity
Stock  up to the  liquidation preference of  the Series M  Preferred Stock, plus
accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, before any distribution is
made on any Junior Stock, including, without limitation, on any Common Stock. If
upon any  liquidation, winding-up  or dissolution  of the  Company, the  amounts
payable  with respect to the Series M Preferred Stock and the other Parity Stock
are not paid in full, the holders of the Series M Preferred Stock and the  other
Parity Stock will share equally and ratably in any distribution of assets of the
Company  in  proportion to  the  full liquidation  preference  to which  each is
entitled. After payment  of the full  amount of the  liquidation preferences  to
which  they are entitled, the holders of shares of Series M Preferred Stock will
not be entitled to  any further participation in  any distribution of assets  of
the  Company.  Neither the  sale, conveyance,  exchange  or transfer  (for cash,
shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially  all
of  the property or assets of the Company nor the consolidation or merger of the
Company with  one or  more corporations  shall be  deemed to  be a  liquidation,
winding-up or dissolution of the Company.
 
     The  Certificate of Designation  for the Series M  Preferred Stock does not
contain any provision requiring funds to be set aside to protect the liquidation
preference of the Series M Preferred Stock, although such liquidation preference
will be substantially  in excess of  the par value  of such shares  of Series  M
Preferred  Stock. In  addition, the  Company is  not aware  of any  provision of
Delaware law or any controlling decision of the courts of the State of  Delaware
(the state of incorporation of the Company) that requires a restriction upon the
surplus of the Company solely because the liquidation preference of the Series M
Preferred  Stock  will exceed  its  par value.  Consequently,  there will  be no
restriction upon  any surplus  of  the Company  solely because  the  liquidation
preference  of the Series M Preferred Stock  will exceed the par value and there
will be no remedies available to holders of the Series M Preferred Stock  before
or  after  the  payment of  any  dividend,  other than  in  connection  with the
liquidation preference of the  Company, solely by reason  of the fact that  such
dividend  would reduce  the surplus of  the Company  to an amount  less than the
difference between the liquidation  preference of the  Series M Preferred  Stock
and its par value.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Holders  of the Series  M Preferred Stock  will have no  voting rights with
respect to general corporate matters except as  provided by law or as set  forth
in the Certificate of Designation therefor.
 
                                       44
 

 

The  Certificate of Designation provides  that upon a failure  of the Company to
(a) pay dividends  on the Series  M Preferred Stock  in cash or,  to the  extent
permitted  by  its terms,  by  the issuance  of  additional shares  of  Series M
Preferred Stock, for more than six consecutive quarterly dividend periods or (b)
discharge any redemption  or exchange obligation  with respect to  the Series  M
Preferred  Stock, the size of the Company's Board of Directors will be increased
by two directors, and  holders of the outstanding  shares of Series M  Preferred
Stock,  voting or consenting, as  the case may be, together  as a class with the
holders of any shares  of Parity Stock  as to which  dividends are similarly  in
arrears  or unpaid  or the Company's  redemption or exchange  obligation has not
been satisfied, and to  which similar voting rights  apply, will be entitled  to
elect  two directors to fill the newly created directorships. Such voting rights
will continue  until such  time as  all dividends  in arrears  on the  Series  M
Preferred  Stock are paid in full and any failure, breach or default referred to
in clause (b)  is remedied,  at which  time the  term of  the directors  elected
pursuant  to the provisions  of this paragraph shall  terminate. Each such event
described in clauses (a) and (b) above is referred to herein as a 'Voting Rights
Triggering Event.' Any vacancy occurring in the office of the directors  elected
by  holders of the Series M Preferred Stock (and such other Parity Stock) may be
filled by the remaining director elected  by such holders unless and until  such
vacancy shall be filled by such holders.
 
     The  Certificate of  Designation also  provides that  the Company  will not
create, authorize or issue any new class of capital stock senior to the Series M
Preferred Stock without the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a
majority of  the outstanding  shares  of Series  M  Preferred Stock,  voting  or
consenting,  as the  case may  be, separately as  one class.  The Certificate of
Designation also provides  that the  Company may  not amend  the Certificate  of
Designation  or the Certificate  of Incorporation so as  to affect adversely the
specified rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of  shares
of  the Series M Preferred Stock, without the affirmative vote or consent of the
holders of at least a majority of  the outstanding shares of Series M  Preferred
Stock,  voting or consenting, as  the case may be,  separately as one class. The
holders of at least a majority of  the outstanding shares of Series M  Preferred
Stock,  voting or consenting, as  the case may be,  separately as one class, may
also waive compliance with any provision of the Certificate of Designation.  The
Certificate  of Designation also  provides that, except as  set forth above, (a)
the creation, authorization or issuance of any shares of Junior Stock or  Parity
Stock  or (b) the increase or decrease in the amount of authorized capital stock
of any class, including  any preferred stock, shall  not require the consent  of
the  holders of Series M Preferred Stock, voting or consenting separately as one
class, and shall  not be  deemed to  affect adversely  the rights,  preferences,
privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of Series M Preferred Stock.
 
     Under Delaware law, holders of Series M Preferred Stock will be entitled to
vote  together as a class  with holders of any shares  of preferred stock upon a
proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation, whether or not  entitled
to  vote thereon  by the  certificate of  incorporation, if  the amendment would
increase or  decrease  the  number  of authorized  shares  of  preferred  stock,
increase  or decrease  the par value  of the shares  of such class,  or alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of such class  so
as to affect them adversely. If any proposed amendment would alter or change the
powers,  preferences or special rights of one or  more series of any class so as
to affect them adversely, but  shall not so affect  the entire class, then  only
the  shares of the series so affected by such amendment will be entitled to vote
thereon separately as one class.
 
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS
 
     Without the  affirmative vote  or consent  of  the holders  of at  least  a
majority  of  the outstanding  shares  of Series  M  Preferred Stock,  voting or
consenting, as the case  may be, separately  as one class,  the Company may  not
consolidate  or merge with or into, or  sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or  substantially all of its  assets to, any person  or
entity  unless: (a) the entity formed by  such consolidation or merger (if other
than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance
or other disposition shall  have been made shall  be a corporation organized  or
existing  under  the laws  of  the United  States or  any  State thereof  or the
District of Columbia; (b) the Series  M Preferred Stock shall be converted  into
or  exchanged  for and  shall  become shares  of  such successor,  transferee or
resulting corporation  or a  parent  corporation of  such corporation  (each,  a
'Successor  Corporation'), having  in respect  of such  successor, transferee or
resulting corporation or parent
 
                                       45
 

 

corporation  substantially   the   same   powers,   preferences   and   relative
participating,  optional  or  other  special  rights,  and  the  qualifications,
limitations or  restrictions thereon,  that  the Series  M Preferred  Stock  had
immediately  prior to such transaction; and  (c) immediately after giving effect
to such transaction, no Voting Rights Triggering Event shall have occurred or be
continuing. The Company may consolidate or merge with or into, or sell,  assign,
transfer,  lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets to, any person or entity if  such merger, consolidation or sale has  been
approved by the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a majority of
the outstanding shares of Series M Preferred Stock, voting or consenting, as the
case  may be, separately  as one class.  Without limiting the  generality of the
foregoing, the  consummation  of  the  TBS  Transaction  will  not  require  the
affirmative  vote or consent of the holders  of the Series M Preferred Stock. If
the TBS  Transaction  is consummated,  the  Series  M Preferred  Stock  will  be
converted  into a substantially  identical class of preferred  stock of New Time
Warner.
 
COVENANT TO REPORT
 
     Notwithstanding that the Company or any Successor Corporation, as the  case
may  be,  may not  be subject  to the  reporting requirements  of Section  13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company or any Successor Corporation,  as
the case may be, will provide the Transfer Agent and the holders of the Series M
Preferred Stock with all information, documents and reports specified in Section
13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
     Chemical  is the  transfer agent and  registrar for the  Series M Preferred
Stock.
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF SERIES L PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Series L Preferred  Stock will be issued  pursuant to a certificate  of
designation  (the 'Series L Certificate of  Designation'). The provisions of the
Series L Preferred  Stock are  substantially similar to  those of  the Series  M
Preferred  Stock,  except  as  set  forth  below.  See'Description  of  Series M
Preferred Stock.'  The summary  contained herein  of certain  provisions of  the
Series L Preferred Stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety  by  reference  to  the  provisions  of  the  Series  L  Certificate of
Designation filed with the Secretary of State  of Delaware as an exhibit to  the
Certificate  of Designation. The definitions of certain terms used in the Series
L Certificate of Designation and in the  following summary are set forth in  the
'Glossary of Significant Terms.'
 
DIVIDENDS
 
     Holders  of the  Series L  Preferred Stock  are entitled,  when, as  and if
declared by the Board of Directors of the Company out of funds legally available
therefor, to  receive  dividends on  each  outstanding  share of  the  Series  L
Preferred  Stock, at the  rate of 10 1/4%  per annum. Dividends  on the Series L
Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment  Date,
commencing  on the  first Dividend  Payment Date  following the  exchange of the
Series M Preferred Stock for the Series  L Preferred Stock to holders of  record
as of the immediately preceding March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15,
respectively.  Dividends  on the  Series L  Preferred  Stock will  be cumulative
(whether or not earned or  declared) from the date of  issuance of the Series  L
Preferred  Stock.  Dividends  which are  not  declared  and paid  when  due will
compound quarterly on  each Dividend  Payment Date  at the  dividend rate  until
payment is made.
 
     Until June 30, 2006, dividends payable on any Dividend Payment Date may, at
the  option of the Company, be paid either  in cash or by issuing fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Series L  Preferred Stock with an aggregate  liquidation
preference  equal to  the amount  of such  dividends. Thereafter,  dividends are
payable only in cash. See 'Risk Factors.'
 
                                       46
 

 

MANDATORY REDEMPTION
 
     The Company  is required  to  redeem the  outstanding  shares of  Series  L
Preferred  Stock on July 1, 2011 at  a price equal to the liquidation preference
thereof plus accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends thereon. The Company's
obligation to  redeem the  Series L  Preferred  Stock is  subject to  the  legal
availability at the Company of funds therefor. See 'Risk Factors.'
 
EXCHANGE AT OPTION OF COMPANY
 
     The  Company has the  option on any  Dividend Payment Date  to exchange, in
whole but not in part, outstanding shares of Series L Preferred Stock for Senior
Subordinated Debentures  having  a principal  amount  equal to  the  liquidation
preference  of the  Series L Preferred  Stock plus accrued  and unpaid dividends
thereon; provided  that the  Debt  Exchange shall  not  be effected  unless  all
accumulated dividends have been paid in full and the Company shall have obtained
a  Rating Confirmation with respect to such Debt Exchange. The Company's ability
to exchange the Series L Preferred Stock for the Senior Subordinated  Debentures
is subject to the legal availability at the Company of funds therefor.
 
     To the extent the TBS Transaction has occurred and substantially all of the
debt  of the Company immediately prior to  the TBS Transaction is assumed by New
Time Warner,  New Time  Warner may  exchange the  Series L  Preferred Stock  for
Senior  Subordinated Debentures  issued by  New Time  Warner; provided  that, if
substantially all  the  debt  of  the  Company  immediately  prior  to  the  TBS
Transaction  is assumed by New Time Warner and is guaranteed by the Company, the
Company shall similarly provide a  senior subordinated guarantee for the  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures. But if substantially all of the debt of the Company is
not assumed by New Time Warner upon the consummation of the TBS Transaction, New
Time Warner may, at its  option, exchange the Series  L Preferred Stock for  (i)
Senior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company or (ii) Senior Subordinated
Debentures issued by New Time Warner with a senior subordinated guarantee of the
Company.
 
                 DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The  Senior  Subordinated  Debentures  will be  issued  under  an indenture
substantially in the form of  the senior subordinated indenture described  below
(the  'Senior Subordinated Indenture')  between the Company and  a trustee to be
designated by  the Company  prior to  the issuance  of the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures (the 'Trustee'). The Senior Subordinated Indenture does not limit the
amount  of securities which may be  issued thereunder. The following description
does not purport  to be  complete and  is subject to,  and is  qualified in  its
entirety  by reference to the Senior Subordinated Indenture, the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939,  as amended (the  'Trust Indenture Act'),  and the other  documents
incorporated   by  reference  herein.  The  terms  of  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  include  those  set  forth  in  the  Trust  Indenture  Act.  Certain
capitalized  terms  are  used  herein  as  defined  in  the  Senior Subordinated
Indenture.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Senior Subordinated  Debentures will  be issued  as direct,  unsecured,
senior subordinated obligations of the Company, in an aggregate principal amount
equal  to the aggregate  liquidation preference of the  Series L Preferred Stock
plus accrued  and  unpaid dividends  thereon.  Upon the  Debt  Exchange,  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures  will  be  issued  in  fully  registered  form, without
coupons, only in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
 
     Principal of and premium, if any,  and interest on the Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  will  be payable,  and the  Senior  Subordinated Debentures  will be
exchangeable and transferable,  at the office  or agency of  the Company in  The
City  of New  York (which initially  will be  the Corporate Trust  Office of the
Trustee); provided, however,  that payment of  interest, to the  extent paid  in
cash,  may be made  at the option of  the Company by check  mailed to the person
entitled thereto as shown on the Register of the Senior Subordinated Debentures.
No service charge will be made for  any registration of transfer or exchange  of
Senior  Subordinated Debentures, except for any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection therewith.
 
                                       47
 

 

SUBORDINATION
 
     The payment of  the principal of  and interest on  the Senior  Subordinated
Debentures will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full
in  cash or cash equivalents of all  of the Company's existing and future Senior
Indebtedness, which at March 31, 1996, after adjustment to give pro forma effect
to the Series  K Refinancing,  would have  been approximately  $8.3 billion.  In
addition to such Senior Indebtedness, the Company's obligations under the Senior
Subordinated   Debentures  are  effectively   subordinated  to  all  liabilities
(including indebtedness) of  its consolidated  and unconsolidated  subsidiaries,
which at March 31, 1996, after adjustment to give pro forma effect to the Series
K  Refinancing, aggregated approximately $16.1  billion. The Senior Subordinated
Debentures  will  rank   senior  to   all  existing   and  future   Subordinated
Indebtedness.  The amount of Subordinated  Indebtedness outstanding at March 31,
1996, was $977 million. As  of the date of this  Prospectus, the Company has  no
Senior  Subordinated  Indebtedness  outstanding. In  the  event of  an  event of
default under the  Company's Senior  Subordinated Indebtedness or,  an Event  of
Default  under the Senior Subordinated Debentures, the Company shall not declare
or pay dividends on, make any distribution with respect to, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with  respect to any of its capital  stock
and the Company shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if
any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company
that  rank  pari passu  with or  junior to  the Senior  Subordinated Debentures;
provided, however,  that  the foregoing  restrictions  shall not  apply  to  any
interest  or dividend payment by the Company,  where the interest or dividend is
paid by  way of  the  issuance of  securities that  rank  junior to  the  Senior
Subordinated Debentures.
 
     The  Senior  Subordinated Indenture  does not  limit  the amount  of Senior
Indebtedness which the Company may  incur. Moreover, the Company's  subsidiaries
may  incur  indebtedness and  other liabilities  and  have obligations  to third
parties. Generally,  the claims  of such  third  parties to  the assets  of  the
Company's   subsidiaries  will  be  superior  to  those  of  the  Company  as  a
stockholder, and, therefore, the Senior Subordinated Debentures may be deemed to
be effectively subordinated  to the  claims of  such third  parties. The  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures  will  rank  pari passu  with  the  Senior Subordinated
Indebtedness and senior to the Subordinated Indebtedness.
 
     Upon any payment or distribution of all or substantially all of the  assets
of  the Company  or in  the event  of any  insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership,
liquidation, dissolution,  reorganization or  other similar  proceeding  whether
voluntary  or involuntary relative to the  Company or its creditors, the holders
of all Senior Indebtedness will first be entitled to receive payment in full  in
cash  or  cash  equivalents  before  the  holders  of  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures will be entitled to receive  any distribution on account thereof.  No
payments  on account of the Senior  Subordinated Debentures, including by way of
any Claim (as defined herein) may be made if, at any time, there is a default in
the payment of  principal of or  interest on or  other monetary obligation  with
respect  to  any  Senior  Indebtedness  (including,  without  limitation,  fees,
expenses and indemnities) or if there is an event of default with respect to any
Senior Indebtedness or any agreement  pursuant to which the Senior  Indebtedness
is  issued which, or any event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time,
would be an event of default and  permit the holders to accelerate the  maturity
thereof.  The Company is obligated,  upon the occurrence of  any such default or
event of default, to provide  written notice to the  Trustee of such default  or
event  of default. By reason of such  subordination, in the event of insolvency,
under certain circumstances  the holders of  Senior Subordinated Debentures  may
receive  less, ratably,  than the Company's  general creditors.  As used herein,
'Claim' means  any claim  against the  Company or  any of  its subsidiaries  for
rescission  of the Senior  Subordinated Debentures or  for monetary damages from
the purchase or receipt of the Senior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     As  used  in   the  Senior   Subordinated  Indenture,   the  term   'Senior
Indebtedness'  means all indebtedness or obligations, whether outstanding at the
date of execution of the  Senior Subordinated Indenture or thereafter  incurred,
assumed,  guaranteed or otherwise created, unless the terms of the instrument or
instruments by  which the  Company incurred,  assumed, guaranteed  or  otherwise
created  any  such  indebtedness  or  obligation  expressly  provide  that  such
indebtedness or  obligation is  subordinate  to all  other indebtedness  of  the
Company or that such indebtedness or obligation is pari passu or is subordinated
in right of payment to the Senior Subordinated Debentures with respect to any of
the  following (including, without  limitation, interest accruing  on or after a
bankruptcy or other
 
                                       48
 

 

similar event, whether or  not an allowed claim  therein): (i) any  indebtedness
incurred by the Company or assumed or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the
Company  (a) for money borrowed,  (b) in connection with  the acquisition of any
business, property or other  assets (other than trade  payables incurred in  the
ordinary  course  of  business) or  (c)  for  advances or  progress  payments in
connection with the construction or acquisition of any building, motion picture,
television production or other entertainment of any kind; (ii) any obligation of
the Company (or of a  subsidiary which is guaranteed  by the Company) as  lessee
under  a lease of real or personal property; (iii) any obligation of the Company
to purchase property  at a future  date in  connection with a  financing by  the
Company  or a subsidiary  of the Company;  (iv) letters of  credit; (v) currency
swaps and interest  rate hedges; and  (vi) any deferral,  renewal, extension  or
refunding of any of the foregoing.
 
INTEREST
 
     Each Senior Subordinated Debenture shall bear interest at the rate equal to
the  dividend rate  of the Series  L Preferred  Stock from the  original date of
issuance, payable semi-annually in  arrears on June 30  and December 30 of  each
year (each, an 'Interest Payment Date'), to the person in whose name such Senior
Subordinated  Debenture  is registered,  subject to  certain exceptions,  at the
close of  business on  the Business  Day next  preceding the  relevant  Interest
Payment Date. In the event the Senior Subordinated Debentures shall not continue
to  remain in book-entry only  form, the Company shall  have the right to select
record dates, which shall be  more than one Business  Day prior to the  Interest
Payment Date.
 
     Until June 30, 2006, interest may, at the option of the Company, be paid in
cash  or by issuing  additional Senior Subordinated  Debentures with a principal
amount equal to such interest.  Thereafter, interest on the Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  must be paid in cash. The  amount of interest payable for any period
will be computed on  the basis of  a 360-day year of  twelve 30-day months.  The
amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full semi-annual period
for  which interest  is computed  will be  computed on  the basis  of the actual
number of days elapsed  per 30-day month.  In the event that  any date on  which
interest is payable on the Senior Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day,
then  payment of  the interest  payable on such  date will  be made  on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (without any interest or other payment  in
respect  of any such  delay), except that, if  such Business Day  is in the next
succeeding calendar year,  then such payment  shall be made  on the  immediately
preceding  Business Day, in each case with the  same force and effect as if made
on such date.
 
CHANGE OF CONTROL
 
     Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall make an offer
(a 'Debt Change  of Control Offer')  to each holder  of the Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  to repurchase all  or any part of  such holder's Senior Subordinated
Debentures at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount  of
the  Senior Subordinated  Debentures, plus  an amount  equal to  all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon. The Debt Change of Control Offer must be made within 30
days following a Change  of Control, must  remain open for at  least 30 and  not
more  than 40 days and must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and regulations.
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
 
     The Company  shall  have  the  right  to  redeem  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures,  in whole or  in part, from time  to time, on or  after July 1, 2006
(the 'Optional Redemption Date'),  upon at least  30 and no  more than 60  days'
notice,  mailed by  first-class mail  to each  holder's registered  address. The
redemption price for  the Senior Subordinated  Debentures called for  redemption
during  the 12-month period  commencing on July  1 of the  years set forth below
shall be the amounts  (expressed as percentages of  the principal amount of  the
Senior  Subordinated Debentures) set forth opposite such years, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the redemption date.
 
                                       49
 

 

 


                                                                                     PERCENTAGE
                                                                                         OF
                                                                                     PRINCIPAL
YEAR                                                                                   AMOUNT
- ----                                                                                ------------
 
                                                                                 
2006.............................................................................      105.125%
2007.............................................................................      103.844
2008.............................................................................      102.563
2009.............................................................................      101.281
2010 and thereafter..............................................................      100.000

 
     If less than all of the Senior Subordinated Debentures are to be  redeemed,
the  Trustee shall select the Senior Subordinated Debentures or portions thereof
to be  redeemed either  pro rata  or by  lot. No  optional redemption  shall  be
effected  unless  the Company  shall have  obtained  a Rating  Confirmation with
respect to such redemption.
 
COVENANTS
 
     The Senior Subordinated Indenture  will provide that  the Company will  not
incur,  create,  assume, guarantee  or in  any other  manner become  directly or
indirectly liable  with respect  to  or responsible  for,  or permit  to  remain
outstanding,  any indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment
to any Senior Indebtedness unless such indebtedness is also pari passu with,  or
subordinate  in right of payment to, the Senior Subordinated Debentures pursuant
to subordination  provisions substantially  similar to  those contained  in  the
Senior Subordinated Indenture.
 
DEFEASANCE
 
     The Senior Subordinated Indenture provides that the Company, at its option,
(a)  will be Discharged  (as defined in the  Senior Subordinated Indenture) from
any and all obligations in respect of the Senior Subordinated Debentures (except
for certain  obligations to  register the  transfer or  exchange of  the  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures, replace stolen, lost  or mutilated Senior Subordinated
Debentures, maintain paying agencies  and hold moneys for  payment in trust)  or
(b)  need not comply with any restrictive covenant described herein, and certain
Events of  Default (as  defined herein)  (other than  those arising  out of  the
failure  to pay interest or principal  on the Senior Subordinated Debentures and
certain events  of bankruptcy,  insolvency and  reorganization) will  no  longer
constitute Events of Default with respect to the Senior Subordinated Debentures,
in  each case if the  Company deposits with the Trustee,  in trust, money or the
equivalent in U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the Senior Subordinated
Indenture), or  a combination  thereof, which  through the  payment of  interest
thereon  and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money
in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of, and interest on, the Senior
Subordinated Debentures on the  dates such payments are  due in accordance  with
the terms of the Senior Subordinated Indenture. To exercise any such option, the
Company is required, among other things, to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of
counsel  to the effect that  the deposit and related  defeasance would not cause
the holders of such series to recognize  income, gain or loss for United  States
Federal  income tax purposes and, in the  case of a Discharge pursuant to clause
(a), such opinion  must be based  on a ruling  to such effect  received from  or
published  by the  United States  Internal Revenue Service  or upon  a change in
applicable Federal  income tax  law. In  addition, the  Company is  required  to
deliver  to the Trustee  an Officers' Certificate stating  that such deposit was
not made by  the Company with  the intent of  defeating, hindering, delaying  or
defrauding creditors of the Company or others.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     If any Event of Default shall occur with respect to the Senior Subordinated
Debentures  and be continuing,  the Trustee will  have the right  to declare the
principal of and  the interest  on the  Senior Subordinated  Debentures and  any
other  amounts payable under  the Senior Subordinated  Indenture to be forthwith
due and payable and to  enforce its other rights as  a creditor with respect  to
the  Senior Subordinated  Debentures. An 'Event  of Default' is  defined as: (i)
default for  30 days  in the  payment  of interest  on the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures;   (ii)   default   in   payment   of   the   principal   amount   at
 
                                       50
 

 

maturity or  the  amount payable  upon  redemption of  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures;  (iii) failure by the Company for 90 days after receipt of notice to
it by the Trustee  (or the holders of  at least 25% in  principal amount of  the
Senior  Subordinated  Debentures then  outstanding) to  comply  with any  of its
covenants or agreements contained in the Senior Subordinated Indenture; and (iv)
certain  events  of  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  receivership  or   reorganization
involving  the Company or certain affiliates.  If any Event of Default described
in clause (i),  (ii) or (iii)  above occurs  and is continuing,  the Trustee  by
notice  to  the  Company, or  the  holders of  not  less than  25%  in aggregate
principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Debentures outstanding by notice  to
the  Trustee and the Company, may  declare the Senior Subordinated Debentures to
be due  and payable  and, upon  any such  declaration, the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  shall become immediately due and  payable along with any accrued and
unpaid interest. If any Event of  Default described in clause (iv) above  occurs
and  is continuing, the Senior  Subordinated Debentures shall become immediately
due and  payable along  with  any accrued  and  unpaid interest.  Under  certain
conditions  the holders of a majority in principal amount of Senior Subordinated
Debentures  then  outstanding  may  waive   certain  past  defaults  and   their
consequences  with respect to  the Senior Subordinated  Debentures, other than a
default in  the payment  of principal  or interest  or in  the observance  of  a
provision  which cannot be amended without the  consent of each holder of Senior
Subordinated Debentures, unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient
to pay all  matured installments  of interest  and principal  otherwise than  by
acceleration has been deposited with the Trustee.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
     The  Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of the holders of the
Senior Subordinated Debentures, enter into indentures supplemental to the Senior
Subordinated Indenture for, among others, one or more of the following purposes:
(i) to  evidence  the succession  of  another person  to  the Company,  and  the
assumption  by  such successor  of the  Company's  obligations under  the Senior
Subordinated Indenture  and  the Senior  Subordinated  Debentures; (ii)  to  add
covenants  of  the Company,  or surrender  any  rights of  the Company,  for the
benefit of  the  holders  of  Senior  Subordinated  Debentures  or  Subordinated
Debentures  of any or  all series; (iii)  to cure any  ambiguity, or correct any
inconsistency in the Senior Subordinated Indenture; (iv) to evidence and provide
for the  acceptance  of  any  successor  Trustee  with  respect  to  the  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures  or  to  facilitate the  administration  of  the trusts
thereunder by one or  more trustees in accordance  with the Senior  Subordinated
Indenture;  (v)  to  establish  the  form  or  terms  of  any  series  of Senior
Subordinated Debentures; and (vi) to provide any additional Events of Default.
 
     The  Senior  Subordinated  Indenture  contains  provisions  permitting  the
Company  and the  Trustee, with the  consent of the  holders of not  less than a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Subordinated  Debentures,
to  modify the Senior Subordinated Indenture; provided that no such modification
may, without the consent of the holders of each outstanding Senior  Subordinated
Debenture  affected  thereby,  (i)  reduce  the  amount  of  Senior Subordinated
Debentures the holders  of which must  consent to any  amendment, supplement  or
waiver  of the Senior Subordinated Indenture; (ii)  reduce the rate of or extend
the time for the payment of interest on any Senior Subordinated Debenture; (iii)
alter the method of calculation  of, or reduce, the  amount paid at maturity  or
extend  the fixed maturity  of any Senior Subordinated  Debenture; (iv) make any
Senior Subordinated  Debenture payable  in  money or  property other  than  that
stated  in  the  Senior  Subordinated  Debenture; (v)  make  any  change  to the
subordination terms  that adversely  affects the  rights of  any holder  of  the
Senior  Subordinated  Debentures;  or (vi)  make  any change  to  the provisions
relating to waivers  of past defaults  or the  rights of holders  of the  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures to receive payments or  reduce the percentage of Senior
Subordinated Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such
modification.
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE
 
     The Senior Subordinated  Indenture provides that  the Company may,  without
the  consent of the  holders of the  Senior Subordinated Debentures, consolidate
with or merge into, or transfer  its properties as an entirety or  substantially
as    an   entirety    to   any    corporation,   person    or   other   entity;
 
                                       51
 

 

provided that in  any such  case (i)  the successor  person (if  other than  the
Company)  (a) is an entity  organized and existing under  the laws of the United
States of America or  any political subdivision thereof  and (b) such entity  or
its  parent  corporation  assumes  by  a  supplemental  indenture  the Company's
obligations under  the Senior  Subordinated  Indenture, (ii)  immediately  after
giving  effect to such transaction, no Event  of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing  and (iii)  the Company  shall have  delivered to  the Trustee  an
officer's  certificate and opinion  of counsel stating  that such consolidation,
merger or  transfer  and such  supplemental  indenture comply  with  the  Senior
Subordinated  Indenture. The TBS  Transaction is not subject  to approval by the
holders of the Senior Subordinated Debt.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Senior Subordinated  Indenture and the  Senior Subordinated  Debentures
will  be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     The Trustee, prior to  default, undertakes to perform  only such duties  as
are  specifically  set forth  in the  Senior  Subordinated Indenture  and, after
default, shall exercise the  same degree of care  as a prudent individual  would
exercise  in the conduct of  his or her own  affairs. Subject to such provision,
the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by
the Senior  Subordinated  Indenture at  the  request  of any  holder  of  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures,  unless offered  reasonable  indemnity by  such holder
against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred thereby.  The
Trustee  is not  required to  expend or  risk its  own funds  or otherwise incur
personal financial liability  in the performance  of its duties  if the  Trustee
reasonably  believes  that repayment  or  adequate indemnity  is  not reasonably
assured to it.  The Trustee  may be  one of  a number  of banks  with which  the
Company and its subsidiaries maintain ordinary banking and trust relationships.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
     The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or
obligations  under the  Senior Subordinated  Indenture to  a direct  or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company; provided that, in the event of any  such
assignment,  the Company will  remain jointly and severally  liable for all such
obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Senior Subordinated Indenture will be
binding upon  and  inure  to  the  benefit of  the  parties  thereto  and  their
respective successors and assigns.
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The  summary  contained  herein of  the  outstanding capital  stock  of the
Company does not  purport to be  complete and  is qualified in  its entirety  by
reference   to  the  following  documents:  (i)  the  Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation; (ii) the Company's  by laws; and (iii)  the Rights Agreement,  as
amended,  between  the  Company and  Chemical  Bank, Rights  Agent  (the 'Rights
Agreement').
 
     The outstanding capital stock of the Company at April 30, 1996 consisted of
37.8 million shares of preferred stock and 391.6 million shares of Common  Stock
(net of 46.8 million shares of Common Stock in treasury).
 
COMMON STOCK
 
     Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred
stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor.
 
     Each  holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held on
all matters  voted  upon by  the  stockholders  of the  Company,  including  the
election  of directors. The Common Stock does not have cumulative voting rights.
Election of directors is  decided by the  holders of a  plurality of the  shares
entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy at a meeting for the election
of directors. See
 
                                       52
 

 

'Description  of Series M Preferred Stock' for a discussion of the voting rights
of the Series M Preferred Stock.
 
     In the event of  any voluntary or  involuntary liquidation, dissolution  or
winding  up of the  Company, after the  payment or provision  for payment of the
debts and other liabilities of the Company and the preferential amounts to which
holders of the  Company's preferred stock  are entitled, the  holders of  Common
Stock are entitled to share ratably in the remaining assets of the Company.
 
     The  Common Stock has no  preemptive or conversion rights  and there are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable thereto.
 
     The Common Stock of the Company is  listed on the New York Stock  Exchange,
the  Pacific  Stock  Exchange and  the  International Stock  Exchange  and Stock
Exchange of the United  Kingdom and the Republic  of Ireland, Ltd. The  transfer
agent and the registrar for the Common Stock is Chemical Bank.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     Set  forth  below is  a summary  of  the principal  terms of  the Company's
outstanding issues of preferred stock, all of which are Parity Stock:
 


                                                                NUMBER OF
                                                                 SHARES
                                               SHARES       OF COMMON STOCK    EARLIEST      EARLIEST
                                           OUTSTANDING AT    ISSUABLE UPON     EXCHANGE     REDEMPTION
              DESCRIPTION                  APRIL 30, 1996     CONVERSION         DATE          DATE
             ------------                  --------------    ---------------    --------    ------------
                                             (MILLIONS)        (MILLIONS)
 
                                                                                
Series B Preferred Stock................          .4                --               --     At any time
Series C Preferred Stock................         3.3                6.8          5/2/98        5/2/00
Series D Preferred Stock................        11.0               22.9          7/6/99        7/6/00
Series E Preferred Stock................         3.3                6.8          1/4/01        1/4/01
Series F Preferred Stock................         3.2                6.7          1/4/00        1/4/01
Series G Preferred Stock................         6.2               12.9          9/5/99        9/5/99
Series H Preferred Stock................         1.8                3.7          9/5/00        9/5/99
Series I Preferred Stock................         7.0               14.6         10/2/99       10/2/99
Series K Preferred Stock................         1.6               --
                                               -----              -----
     Total shares.......................        37.8               74.4
                                               -----              -----
                                               -----              -----

 
     Each share of Series  B Preferred Stock: (1)  is entitled to a  liquidation
preference  of $145 per share,  (2) is not convertible,  (3) entitles the holder
thereof to receive an annual dividend equal to $4.35 per share beginning in June
1995, and $9.28  per share  prior thereto, (4)  does not  generally entitle  the
holder  thereof  to vote,  except in  certain limited  circumstances and  (5) is
redeemable, in whole  or in  part, by  the Company  and the  holders thereof  in
exchange  for cash or shares  of any class or  series of publicly-traded Company
stock, at the Company's option, equal in  value to the liquidation value of  the
Series B Preferred Stock plus a premium of 2% of liquidation value for each year
after May 31, 1995 to the redemption date.
 
     The principal terms of each series of convertible preferred stock issued in
1995  and 1996 (the Series C Preferred  Stock, the Series D Preferred Stock, the
Series E Preferred Stock, the Series  F Preferred Stock, the Series G  Preferred
Stock,  the  Series  H  Preferred  Stock  and  the  Series  I  Preferred  Stock,
collectively referred to as  the 'Convertible Preferred  Stock') are similar  in
nature, unless otherwise noted below. Each share of Convertible Preferred Stock:
(1)  is  entitled  to  a  liquidation  preference  of  $100  per  share,  (2) is
immediately convertible into 2.08264 shares of the Common Stock at a  conversion
price  of $48 per share (based on  its liquidation value), except that shares of
the Series H Preferred  Stock are generally not  convertible until September  5,
2000, (3) entitles the holder thereof (i) to receive for a four-year period from
the  date of issuance  (or a five year  period with respect to  the Series C and
Series E Preferred Stock) an annual dividend  per share equal to the greater  of
$3.75  and an amount equal to the dividends  paid on the Common Stock into which
each share may be converted  and (ii) to the extent  that any of such shares  of
preferred stock remain outstanding at the end of the period in which the minimum
$3.75  per share  dividend is  to be paid,  the holders  thereafter will receive
 
                                       53
 

 

dividends equal to the  dividends paid on shares  of Common Stock multiplied  by
the  number of shares into which their shares of preferred stock are convertible
and (4) except for the Series H Preferred Stock, which is generally not entitled
to vote, entitles the holder thereof to vote with the common stockholders on all
matters on which the common stockholders are entitled to vote, and each share of
such Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to two votes on any such matter.
 
     The Company has the right to exchange each series of Convertible  Preferred
Stock  for Common Stock at  the stated conversion price at  any time on or after
the respective exchange date.  The Series C Preferred  Stock is exchangeable  by
the  holder beginning after the third year from  its date of issuance and by the
Company after the fourth  year at the stated  conversion price plus a  declining
premium  in years  four and  five and  no premium  thereafter. In  addition, the
Company has the right to redeem  each series of Convertible Preferred Stock,  in
whole  or in part, for cash at  the liquidation value plus accrued dividends, at
any time on or after the respective redemption date.
 
     In 1993, the  Company redeemed or  exchanged $6.4 billion  of Series C  and
Series D preferred stock ('old Series C and Series D preferred stock') that were
issued  in the Company's 1989 acquisition of Warner Communications Inc. The cash
redemption of the old Series D  Preferred Stock was financed principally by  the
proceeds  from the issuance of long-term notes  and debentures. The old Series C
Preferred Stock was exchanged for the 8.75% Convertible Debentures.
 
     At March 31, 1996,  the Company had reserved  177 million shares of  Common
Stock  for  the  conversion  of its  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  zero coupon
convertible notes  and other  convertible securities,  and for  the exercise  of
outstanding options to purchase shares of Common Stock.
 
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
 
     Pursuant  to a shareholder rights plan adopted in January 1994, the Company
distributed one right  per share of  Common Stock which  becomes exercisable  in
certain  events involving the acquisition of 15% or more of the then outstanding
Common Stock of the Company.  Upon the occurrence of  such an event, each  right
entitled  its  holder to  purchase for  $150 the  economic equivalent  of Common
Stock, or in certain circumstances, common stock of the acquiror, worth twice as
much. In connection with the plan, 4 million shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
which is junior to the Parity Stock, were reserved. The rights expire on January
20, 2004. In connection with the  TBS Transaction, the Company expects to  amend
the  shareholder rights plan principally to  change the basis for determining if
an  acquisition  of  15%  or  more  of  the  Common  Stock  has  occurred  to  a
fully-diluted basis.
 
                   CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
     The  following discussion of certain of  the anticipated federal income tax
consequences of  an  exchange of  the  Series K  Preferred  Stock for  Series  M
Preferred  Stock and of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the Series M
Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock, and Senior Subordinated Debentures is
based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended  (the
'Code'),  the final, temporary, and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder,
and administrative rulings and  judicial decisions now in  effect, all of  which
are   subject  to  change  (possibly   with  retroactive  effect)  or  different
interpretations. In particular, Congress  could enact legislation affecting  the
treatment  of stock with characteristics similar to the Series M Preferred Stock
or the Treasury Department could change  the current law in future  regulations,
including  regulations issued pursuant to its  authority under Section 337(d) of
the Code. Any such legislation or regulations could be enacted or promulgated to
apply retroactively  to the  Series M  Preferred Stock.  This summary  does  not
purport to deal with all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant
to a particular investor, nor any tax consequences arising under the laws of any
state,  locality,  or  foreign  jurisdiction,  and  it  is  not  intended  to be
applicable to all  categories of investors,  some of which,  such as dealers  in
securities,   banks,  insurance  companies,  tax-exempt  organizations,  foreign
persons, persons that hold Series M  Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred  Stock,
or   Senior  Subordinated  Debentures  as  part  of  a  straddle  or  conversion
transaction, or holders subject to the  alternative minimum tax, may be  subject
to  special rules. In addition, the summary is limited to persons that will hold
the Series M Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock, and Senior  Subordinated
Debentures as 'capital assets'(generally, property held for
 
                                       54
 

 

investment)  within the meaning of Section 1221  of the Code. No ruling has been
or will be  requested by  the Company from  the Internal  Revenue Service  ('the
Service')  on any tax matters relating to the Series M Preferred Stock, Series L
Preferred Stock,  or  Senior  Subordinated  Debentures,  and  there  can  be  no
assurance  that  the Service  will  agree with  the  views expressed  below. ALL
INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR  OWN TAX ADVISERS REGARDING THE  FEDERAL,
STATE,  LOCAL,  AND FOREIGN  TAX CONSEQUENCES  OF  THE PURCHASE,  OWNERSHIP, AND
DISPOSITION OF SERIES  M PREFERRED STOCK,  SERIES L PREFERRED  STOCK, OR  SENIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES.
 
TAXATION OF HOLDERS ON EXCHANGE
 
     Although the matter is not free from doubt, an exchange of shares of Series
K  Preferred  Stock for  shares  of Series  M  Preferred Stock  pursuant  to the
Exchange Offer should not be  a taxable event to  holders of Series K  Preferred
Stock,  and holders should not recognize any taxable gain or loss as a result of
such an exchange or a filing. Accordingly, a holder would have the same adjusted
basis and holding period in the Series M Preferred Stock as it had in the Series
K Preferred Stock immediately before the exchange. Further, the tax consequences
of ownership and disposition of any shares of Series M Preferred Stock should be
the same as the tax consequences of  ownership and disposition of shares of  the
Series K Preferred Stock.
 
SERIES M PREFERRED STOCK
 
     In  the opinion of counsel,  the Series M Preferred  Stock will be stock of
the Company for  federal income  tax purposes.  There are,  however, no  federal
income  tax regulations, court  decisions, or published  Service rulings bearing
directly on certain features of the  Series M Preferred Stock. In addition,  the
Service  announced  during 1987  that  it was  studying  the federal  income tax
consequences of  stock that  has certain  voting and  liquidation rights  in  an
issuing  corporation, but whose  dividend rights are  determined by reference to
the earnings and profits  of a segregated portion  of the issuing  corporation's
assets, and that it would not issue any advance rulings regarding such stock. In
1995,   the  Service  withdrew  such  stock  from  its  list  of  matters  under
consideration and reiterated that it  would not issue advance rulings  regarding
such  stock. In the  absence of such a  ruling, it is  possible that the Service
could claim that  the Series M  Preferred Stock represents  property other  than
stock of the Company. While counsel recognizes that this matter cannot be viewed
as  free from doubt  because there is  no conclusive authority  dealing with the
precise facts presented by the Series  M Preferred Stock, counsel believes  that
if  the status  of the  Series M  Preferred Stock  as stock  of the  Company for
federal income tax purposes were challenged, a court would agree that the Series
M Preferred Stock is stock of the Company.
 
     Legislation has  recently been  proposed that  would require  taxpayers  to
recognize  gain upon a  constructive sale (i.e.,  the substantial elimination of
risk of loss and opportunity  for gain) of an  appreciated position in stock,  a
debt  instrument, or a partnership interest. Although the scope of the provision
is unclear in the  absence of Congressional committee  reports or other  further
elaboration,  the  Company believes  that such  proposed legislation  should not
apply to the Series M  Preferred Stock. Further, it is  not clear whether or  in
what form the proposed legislation will be enacted.
 
     If  the Series M  Preferred Stock is  not considered stock  of the Company,
then holders  might  be  considered  for federal  income  tax  purposes  to  own
interests  in  TWE. In  such event,  a holder  would be  treated as  receiving a
distributive share of the income, gain, loss, deductions, and credits of TWE and
would not be  eligible for  the dividends-received deduction.  In addition,  the
timing  of the items of income and  deduction holders would receive with respect
to such deemed interests  in TWE would  be uncertain and  most likely would  not
correspond  to the timing of the distributions  they would receive as holders of
the Series M Preferred Stock.
 
     If the Series M Preferred Stock is  not considered stock of the Company  or
the Company is treated as having constructively sold a portion of the TWE Series
B  Capital,  then  the  Company  would  recognize  substantial  taxable  gain in
connection with the issuance of the Series M Preferred Stock.
 
                                       55
 

 

     The discussion herein is based upon the foregoing opinion that the Series M
Preferred Stock is stock of the Company for federal income tax purposes.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS ON SERIES M PREFERRED STOCK OR SERIES L PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The amount of any distribution with respect to the Series M Preferred Stock
or Series L  Preferred Stock will  be equal to  the amount of  cash or the  fair
market  value of the  shares of Series  M Preferred Stock  or Series L Preferred
Stock distributed. A stockholder's initial tax basis in any additional shares of
Series M Preferred Stock or Series L Preferred Stock distributed by the  Company
will  be equal to  the fair market value  of such additional  shares of Series K
Preferred Stock  or Series  L Preferred  Stock on  the date  of distribution.  A
stockholder's  holding period for  such additional shares  of Series M Preferred
Stock or Series L Preferred Stock will commence on the day following the date of
distribution and  will not  include such  stockholder's holding  period for  the
shares  of Series M Preferred Stock or  Series L Preferred Stock with respect to
which the additional shares  of Series M Preferred  Stock or Series L  Preferred
Stock were distributed.
 
     The amount of any distribution with respect to the Series M Preferred Stock
or  Series L Preferred  Stock, whether paid  in cash or  in additional shares of
Series M  Preferred Stock  or Series  L  Preferred Stock,  will be  a  dividend,
taxable  as  ordinary income  to the  recipient  thereof, to  the extent  of the
Company's current or accumulated earnings  and profits ('earnings and  profits')
as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Under Section 243 of the
Code,  corporate shareholders generally will be able to deduct 70% of the amount
of  any  distribution  qualifying  as  a  dividend.  There  are,  however,  many
exceptions   and   restrictions   relating   to   the   availability   of   such
dividends-received deduction such  as restrictions relating  to (i) the  holding
period  of  stock  the  dividends  on which  are  sought  to  be  deducted, (ii)
debt-financed  portfolio  stock,  (iii)  dividends  treated  as   'extraordinary
dividends' for purposes of Section 1059 of the Code, and (iv) taxpayers that pay
alternative  minimum tax.  Corporate shareholders  should consult  their own tax
advisers regarding the extent, if any, to which such exceptions and restrictions
may apply to their particular factual situation. Additionally, recently proposed
legislation would reduce the applicable dividends-received deduction from 70% to
50% and  could also  affect  the availability  of  such deduction  to  corporate
shareholders  that do  not meet  applicable holding  period requirements.  It is
uncertain whether or  in what form  such legislation will  be enacted into  law.
Corporate  shareholders  should consult  their  own tax  advisers  regarding the
extent, if any, to which such legislation may apply to their particular  factual
situation.
 
     Additionally, the excess of the liquidation preference over the issue price
of  the Series M Preferred Stock or the Series L Preferred Stock, if more than a
de minimis amount, would  be accrued as  dividend income (to  the extent of  the
Company's  earnings and profits) by a holder  on a constant yield basis over its
term. Because the  issue price of  any additional shares  of Series M  Preferred
Stock  or Series L Preferred Stock distributed by  the Company in lieu of a cash
payment generally will equal the  fair market value of  such shares of Series  M
Preferred  Stock or Series  L Preferred Stock  on the date  of distribution, the
amount of any redemption premium, and the tax consequences thereof, may need  to
be  separately determined for  each such distribution. Further,  it is not clear
whether the issue  price of any  shares of  Series L Preferred  Stock issued  in
exchange  for shares of Series M Preferred Stock,  or any shares of stock of New
Time Warner  issued to  holders of  the Series  M Preferred  Stock or  Series  L
Preferred Stock in the TBS Transaction, will equal the issue price of the shares
so  exchanged or will equal the fair market  value of the shares received at the
time of such exchange. Holders should  consult their own tax advisers  regarding
the application of the redemption premium rules to their particular situation.
 
REDEMPTION, SALE, OR EXCHANGE
 
     No  gain or loss  will be recognized  by a holder  that exchanges shares of
Series M Preferred Stock for shares of  Series L Preferred Stock (except to  the
extent that such shares of Series L Preferred Stock are attributable to declared
dividends,  which will be treated in  the same manner as distributions described
above). The basis  of shares of  Series L  Preferred Stock so  received by  such
holder  in the  exchange will  be the  same as  that of  the shares  of Series M
Preferred Stock exchanged therefor. The holder's holding period for such  shares
of    Series   L   Preferred   Stock   will   include   the   holder's   holding
 
                                       56
 

 

period for the shares  of Series M Preferred  Stock so exchanged, provided  that
the  shares of Series M  Preferred Stock were held  as a capital asset. Recently
proposed legislation  would tax  gain  on an  exchange  of preferred  stock  for
preferred  stock unless the  new preferred stock is  comparable to the preferred
stock exchanged therefor and of a same or lesser value. It is uncertain  whether
or in what form such legislation will be enacted into law.
 
     A  sale or redemption of the shares of Series M Preferred Stock or Series L
Preferred Stock for cash by a holder who  will not continue to own stock of  the
Company,  actually or constructively, following the redemption will be a taxable
transaction on which  a holder  will generally  recognize capital  gain or  loss
(except  to the extent of amounts received on the exchange that are attributable
to declared dividends, which will be treated in the same manner as distributions
described above). The gain or loss recognized on such exchange will generally be
equal to  the difference  between the  amount realized  by the  holder and  such
holder's  adjusted tax basis in the shares of Series M Preferred Stock or shares
of Series L Preferred Stock surrendered  in the redemption. Different rules  may
apply  to  holders  that continue  to  own  stock of  the  Company,  actually or
constructively, following the redemption.
 
     A redemption of shares of Series  L Preferred Stock in exchange for  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures  will  be  subject  to  the  same  general  rules  as a
redemption for cash,  except that  the holder would  have capital  gain or  loss
equal  to  the difference  between the  issue price  of the  Senior Subordinated
Debentures received and the holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares of  Series
L  Preferred  Stock  redeemed.  The  issue  price  of  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures would be determined in the manner described below under ' -- Original
Issue Discount' for purposes of computing original issue discount on the  Senior
Subordinated Debentures.
 
     Depending upon a holder's particular circumstances, the tax consequences of
holding  Senior Subordinated  Debentures may be  less advantageous  than the tax
consequences of holding  Series M Preferred  Stock or Series  L Preferred  Stock
because, for example, payments of interest on the Senior Subordinated Debentures
will  not be eligible for any dividends-received deduction that may be available
to corporate  holders  and  because, as  discussed  below,  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures may be issued with original issue discount ('OID').
 
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
 
     If  the  Series  L Preferred  Stock  is exchanged  for  Senior Subordinated
Debentures at a time when the stated redemption price at maturity of the  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures exceeds  their issue  price by  more than  a de minimis
amount, the Senior Subordinated Debentures will  be treated as having OID  equal
to  the entire amount of such excess.  If the Senior Subordinated Debentures are
deemed to be traded on an established  securities market at any time during  the
60-day  period ending  30 days after  their issue  date, the issue  price of the
Senior Subordinated Debentures will be their fair market value as determined  as
of   their  issue  date.  Subject  to   certain  limitations  described  in  the
regulations, the Senior Subordinated Debentures will  be deemed to be traded  on
an  established securities market  if, among other  things, price quotations are
readily available from dealers, brokers, or traders. Similarly, if the Series  L
Preferred Stock, but not the Senior Subordinated Debentures issued and exchanged
therefor, is deemed to be traded on an established securities market at the time
of  the exchange,  then the  issue price  of each  Senior Subordinated Debenture
should be  the fair  market value  of the  shares of  Series L  Preferred  Stock
exchanged  therefor at the  time of the  exchange. The Series  L Preferred Stock
will generally be deemed to be traded on an established securities market if  it
appears  on a system of general circulation  that provides a reasonable basis to
determine fair market value  based either on recent  price quotations or  recent
sales  transactions. In the event that neither  the Series L Preferred Stock nor
the Senior Subordinated  Debentures is  deemed to  be traded  on an  established
securities market, the issue price of the Senior Subordinated Debentures will be
their  stated  principal  amount  or,  in  the  event  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures do not bear 'adequate stated interest' within the meaning of  Section
1274  of the Code, their 'imputed principal  amount,' which is generally the sum
of the  present  values  of  all payments  due  under  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures,  discounted from  the date  of payment  to their  issue date  at the
appropriate 'applicable federal rate.'
 
     The  stated  redemption  price  at  maturity  of  the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  would equal the total  of all payments required  to be made thereon,
other than payments of qualified stated interest.
 
                                       57
 

 

Qualified stated interest generally is  stated interest that is  unconditionally
payable in cash or other property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at
least annually at a single fixed rate. Therefore, Senior Subordinated Debentures
that  are issued when the  Company has the option  to pay interest in additional
Senior Subordinated  Debentures  will be  treated  as having  been  issued  with
interest  in excess of qualified stated interest. Accordingly, the excess of (x)
all interest  payable  pursuant to  the  stated  interest rate  on  such  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures over  (y) the qualified  stated interest,  in each case
determined over the  entire term, will  be treated  as OID and  accrued under  a
constant  yield method by the  holder, and the holder  should not also treat the
receipt of such excess stated interest on such Senior Subordinated Debentures as
interest for federal income tax purposes.
 
     An additional  Senior  Subordinated  Debenture  (a  'Secondary  Debenture')
issued  in  payment  of interest  with  respect  to an  initially  issued Senior
Subordinated Debenture  (an 'Initial  Debenture') will  not be  considered as  a
payment  made on the Initial  Debenture and will be  aggregated with the Initial
Debenture for purposes of computing and  accruing OID on the Initial  Debenture.
As  between the Initial Debenture and  the Secondary Debenture, the Company will
allocate the adjusted issue price of  the Initial Debenture between the  Initial
Debenture  and  the  Secondary  Debenture  in  proportion  to  their  respective
principal amounts. That  is, upon  its issuance  of a  Secondary Debenture  with
respect  to  an Initial  Debenture,  the Company  intends  to treat  the Initial
Debenture and  the Secondary  Debenture derived  from the  Initial Debenture  as
initially  having the same adjusted  issue price and inherent  amount of OID per
dollar of principal amount.  The Initial Debenture  and the Secondary  Debenture
derived  therefrom will be treated as having the same yield to maturity. Similar
treatment will be  applied when  additional Senior  Subordinated Debentures  are
issued on Secondary Debentures.
 
BOND PREMIUM ON SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE
 
     If,  at  the time  the Series  L  Preferred Stock  is exchanged  for Senior
Subordinated Debentures or  a holder purchases  Senior Subordinated  Debentures,
the  holder's tax  basis in any  such Senior Subordinated  Debenture exceeds the
amount payable at the maturity date, such excess may constitute amortizable bond
premium that  the holder  may elect  to amortize  over the  term of  the  Senior
Subordinated  Debenture  on a  constant  yield method.  A  holder who  elects to
amortize bond  premium must  reduce its  tax basis  in the  Senior  Subordinated
Debentures by the amount so amortized, and the amount amortized in any year will
be  treated  as  a  reduction  of interest  income  on  the  Senior Subordinated
Debentures. The election to amortize premium applies to all obligations owned or
acquired by the holder in the current  and all subsequent tax years and may  not
be  revoked  without  the consent  of  the  Service. Bond  premium  on  a Senior
Subordinated Debenture held by a holder that does not make such an election will
decrease the gain or  increase the loss otherwise  recognized on disposition  of
the Senior Subordinated Debenture.
 
ACQUISITION PREMIUM
 
     A  holder of a Senior Subordinated  Debenture issued with OID who purchases
such Senior Subordinated  Debenture for an  amount greater than  the sum of  all
amounts  payable on  the Senior Subordinated  Debenture after  the purchase date
other than qualified stated interest will not be required to include any OID  in
income.  A  holder  of  a  Senior Subordinated  Debenture  issued  with  OID who
purchases such Senior Subordinated Debenture for an amount that is greater  than
its  adjusted issue  price but  equal to  or less  than the  sum of  all amounts
payable on the Senior Subordinated Debenture after the purchase date other  than
payments  of qualified stated interest will be considered to have purchased such
Senior Subordinated Debenture at an 'acquisition premium.' Under the acquisition
premium rules, the amount of  OID that such holder  must include in income  with
respect  to  such Senior  Subordinated Debenture  for any  taxable year  will be
reduced by the portion  of such acquisition premium  properly allocable to  such
year.
 
MARKET DISCOUNT ON RESALE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     Holders   of  Senior  Subordinated  Debentures   should  be  aware  that  a
disposition of the Senior Subordinated Debentures may be affected by the  market
discount provisions of Sections 1276-78 of the
 
                                       58
 

 

Code.   These  rules  generally  provide  that,  if  a  holder  acquires  Senior
Subordinated Debentures at a market  discount that equals or exceeds  one-fourth
of  one  percent  of the  stated  redemption  price of  the  Senior Subordinated
Debentures at maturity multiplied by the  number of remaining years to  maturity
and  thereafter recognizes  gain upon a  disposition of  the Senior Subordinated
Debentures, the  lesser of  (i) such  gain or  (ii) the  portion of  the  market
discount  that accrued while the Senior  Subordinated Debenture was held by such
holder will be treated as  ordinary income at the  time of the disposition.  For
these  purposes,  market  discount  means  the excess  (if  any)  of  the stated
redemption price  at maturity  (or, if  an instrument  is issued  with OID,  the
instrument's  revised issue price,  which is the  sum of the  issue price of the
instrument and the aggregate amount of OID includible in the gross income of all
previous holders of the instrument) over  the basis of such Senior  Subordinated
Debenture  immediately after its acquisition by the holder. A holder of a Senior
Subordinated Debenture  may  elect to  include  any market  discount  in  income
currently  rather than  upon disposition  of the  Senior Subordinated Debenture.
This election once made applies to  all market discount obligations acquired  in
or  after the first  taxable year to which  the election applies  and may not be
revoked without the consent of the Service.
 
     A holder  of any  Senior Subordinated  Debenture who  acquired such  Senior
Subordinated  Debenture at a market discount generally will be required to defer
the deduction  of a  portion of  the interest  on any  indebtedness incurred  or
maintained  to purchase  or carry such  Senior Subordinated  Debenture until the
market discount  is recognized  upon  a subsequent  disposition of  such  Senior
Subordinated  Debenture. Such a deferral is not required, however, if the holder
elects to include accrued market discount in income currently.
 
REDEMPTION OR SALE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     Generally, any redemption or  sale of Senior  Subordinated Debentures by  a
holder  will result in taxable gain or  loss equal to the difference between the
amount of cash received (except to the extent the cash received is  attributable
to  accrued  interest)  and  the  holder's adjusted  tax  basis  in  such Senior
Subordinated Debentures. The adjusted  tax basis of a  holder who received  such
Senior Subordinated Debentures in exchange for the Series L Preferred Stock will
generally  be equal to  the issue price of  such Senior Subordinated Debentures,
increased by any OID  or market discount on  the Senior Subordinated  Debentures
included  in such holder's income prior to their sale or redemption, and reduced
by any bond premium previously allowed as an offset to interest payments on such
Senior Subordinated Debentures and any cash payments on the Senior  Subordinated
Debentures  other than  qualified stated  interest. Such  gain or  loss would be
capital gain  or loss  if the  Senior  Subordinated Debentures  were held  as  a
capital asset and would be long-term gain or loss if the holder's holding period
exceeded  one year. Cash received that  is attributable to accrued interest will
be included in income as ordinary income.
 
APPLICABLE HIGH YIELD DISCOUNT OBLIGATIONS
 
     Pursuant to  Section 163  of the  Code a  portion of  the OID  accruing  on
certain  debt  instruments  may  be  treated  as  a  dividend  eligible  for the
dividends-received deduction and  the corporation issuing  such debt  instrument
would  not be entitled to deduct the  'disqualified portion' of the OID accruing
on such debt instrument and would be allowed to deduct the remainder of the  OID
only when paid.
 
     This  treatment would apply to 'applicable high yield discount obligations'
('AHYDO'), that is, debt instruments that have  a term of more than five  years,
have  a yield to maturity that equals or exceeds five percentage points over the
'applicable federal  rate,' and  have 'significant'  OID. A  debt instrument  is
treated  as  having 'significant'  OID  if the  aggregate  amount that  would be
includible in gross  income with  respect to  such debt  instrument for  periods
before  the close of any accrual period ending after a date five years after the
date of issue exceeds the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of interest to be paid
in cash under the debt  instrument before the close  of such accrual period  and
(ii)  the product  of the initial  issue price  of such debt  instrument and its
yield to  maturity.  Because  the  amount of  OID  attributable  to  the  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures will be determined at the time such Senior Subordinated
Debentures are issued  and the applicable  federal rate at  the time the  Senior
Subordinated
 
                                       59
 

 

Debentures  are issued is not predictable, it  is impossible to determine at the
present time  whether a  Senior Subordinated  Debenture will  be treated  as  an
AHYDO.
 
     If  a Senior Subordinated Debenture is treated  as an AHYDO, a holder would
be treated as receiving dividend income (to the extent of the Company's earnings
and profits)  solely for  purposes  of the  dividends-received deduction  in  an
amount  equal to the 'dividend equivalent portion' of the 'disqualified portion'
of the OID of such AHYDO. The 'disqualified portion' of the OID is equal to  the
lesser  of (i) the amount of OID or  (ii) the portion of the 'total return' (the
excess of all payments to be made with respect to such obligation over its issue
price) on such obligation  that bears the same  ratio to the obligation's  total
return  as the 'disqualified yield'  (the extent to which  the yield exceeds the
applicable federal rate plus  6%) bears to the  obligation's yield to  maturity.
The  dividend equivalent portion  of the disqualified portion  is the portion of
such portion that would be  treated as a dividend  if distributed by the  issuer
with respect to its stock. The Company's deduction for OID will be substantially
deferred  with respect to a Senior Subordinated  Debenture that is treated as an
AHYDO. In addition, such deduction will be disallowed if and to the extent  that
the yield on such AHYDO exceeds the applicable federal rate by more than 6%.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
 
     In  general, a  noncorporate holder of  Series M Preferred  Stock, Series L
Preferred Stock, or  Senior Subordinated  Debentures will be  subject to  backup
withholding at the rate of 31% with respect to reportable payments of dividends,
interest,  or OID accrued with respect to,  or the proceeds of a sale, exchange,
or redemption of, Series M Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock, or  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures, as the case  may be, if the  holder fails to provide a
taxpayer identification  number  or certification  of  foreign or  other  exempt
status  or fails to report in full dividend and interest income. Amounts paid as
backup withholding do  not constitute  an additional  tax and  will be  credited
against the holder's federal income tax liabilities.
 
     THE  UNITED STATES FEDERAL  TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH  ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION  ONLY AND  MAY OR  MAY NOT  BE APPLICABLE  DEPENDING UPON  A
HOLDER'S  PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS  SHOULD CONSULT THEIR  TAX ADVISERS WITH
RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF  THE
SERIES  M  PREFERRED  STOCK,  THE  SERIES  L  PREFERRED  STOCK,  OR  THE  SENIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES,  INCLUDING THE  TAX  CONSEQUENCES UNDER  STATE,  LOCAL,
FOREIGN,  AND OTHER TAX LAWS  AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS  OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR
OTHER TAX LAWS.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINION
 
     Certain legal  matters in  connection with  the exchange  of the  Series  K
Preferred  Stock for the  Series M Preferred  Stock will be  passed upon for the
Company by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &  Garrison, New York, New York. As  of
May  20, 1996 certain members  of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind,  Wharton & Garrison, who
are participating  in the  representation of  the Company,  owned  approximately
14,050 shares of Common Stock.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The  consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and TWE
appearing in the  10-K, the  combined financial  statements of  the Time  Warner
Service  Partnerships incorporated  by reference  therein, and  the consolidated
financial statements and  schedule of Cablevision  Industries Corporation as  of
December 31, 1995, and for the year then ended incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus  from the May 15,  1996 8-K, have been audited  by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by  reference. Such financial  statements and schedules  are
incorporated  herein by reference  in reliance upon such  reports given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       60
 

 

     The  financial  statements  of  Newhouse  Broadcasting  Cable  Division  of
Newhouse Broadcasting Corporation and Subsidiaries as of July 31, 1994 and 1993,
and  for each  of the three  years in  the period ended  July 31,  1994, and the
financial statements of  Vision Cable Division  of Vision Cable  Communications,
Inc.  and  Subsidiaries  as  of  December 31, 1994 and 1993, and for each of the
three  years in the period ended December 31, 1994, incorporated by reference in
this  Prospectus  from the May 15, 1996 8-K, have  been audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, independent auditors, as set  forth  in  their   reports  thereon  included
therein  and  incorporated herein  by reference.  Such financial  statements are
incorporated herein  by reference in reliance  upon such reports given  upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial  statements  of  Paragon Communications  as  of December  31,
1994 and 1993, and for each of the three years in the period ended  December 31,
1994,  incorporated by reference  in this Prospectus  from  the  10-K,  and  the
consolidated  financial  statements  of Turner  Broadcasting  System, Inc. as of
December  31, 1995  and  1994,  and  for  the three years in  the  period  ended
December  31, 1995, incorporated  by reference  in this Prospectus from the  May
15,  1996  8-K,  have   been   audited  by   Price  Waterhouse  LLP, independent
accountants,  as  set  forth  in  their  reports  thereon  included  therein and
incorporated herein  by  reference. Such  financial statements are  incorporated
herein  by  reference in reliance upon  such reports given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The consolidated financial statements of Cablevision Industries Corporation
as of December  31, 1994,  and for each  of the  two years in  the period  ended
December 31, 1994, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from the May 15,
1996  8-K,  have  been  audited  by  Arthur  Andersen  LLP,  Independent  Public
Accountants,  as  set  forth  in  their  report  thereon  included  therein  and
incorporated  herein by  reference. Such consolidated  financial statements have
been incorporated herein by  reference in reliance upon  such report given  upon
the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The consolidated financial statements of KBLCOM Incorporated as of December
31,  1994 and 1993, and for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1994, incorporated  by reference in  this Prospectus from  the May 15,  1996
8-K,  have been audited by  Deloitte & Touche LLP,  Independent Auditors, as set
forth in  their  report thereon  included  therein and  incorporated  herein  by
reference.  Such consolidated financial statements have been incorporated herein
by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such  firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                            ------------------------
     The following information is being disclosed pursuant to Florida law and is
accurate  as of the date hereof: A subsidiary of Warner Communications Inc. pays
royalties to Artex,  S.A., a corporation  organized under the  laws of Cuba,  in
connection  with the distribution in the  United States of certain Cuban musical
recordings. Current information concerning this matter may be obtained from  the
State  of Florida  Department of  Banking &  Finance, The  Capital, Tallahassee,
Florida 32399-0350, 904-488-9805.
 
                                       61

 

                         GLOSSARY OF SIGNIFICANT TERMS
 
     As used in this Prospectus, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:
 
     'Change of Control' means:
 
          (i)  whenever, in any three-year period,  a majority of the members of
     the Board of Directors of the Company elected during such three-year period
     shall have been so elected against the recommendation of the management  of
     the  Company or the Board of Directors of the Company in office immediately
     prior to such election; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause
     (i) a  member of  such Board  of Directors  shall be  deemed to  have  been
     elected against the recommendation of such Board of Directors if his or her
     initial  election  occurs as  a result  of either  an actual  or threatened
     election contest (as such terms are  used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation  14A
     promulgated   under  the  Exchange  Act)  or  other  actual  or  threatened
     solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other  than
     such Board of Directors; or
 
          (ii)   whenever  any   person  shall   acquire  (whether   by  merger,
     consolidation, sale,  assignment,  lease,  transfer or  otherwise,  in  one
     transaction   or  any   related  series   of  transactions)   or  otherwise
     beneficially own voting securities of the Company that represent in  excess
     of  50% of  the voting  power of all  outstanding voting  securities of the
     Company generally entitled to vote for  the election of directors, if  such
     person  had  acquired  or  publicly announced  its  intention  to initially
     acquire ten percent or more of such voting securities in a transaction that
     had not been approved by the management of the Company within 30 days after
     the date of such acquisition or public announcement.
 
     'Included Tax  Distributions'  means,  with  respect  to  any  period,  Tax
Distributions  made by TWE during  such period with respect  to the TWE Series B
Capital, but only if the total distributions made by TWE during such period with
respect to the TWE Series B Capital exceed such Tax Distributions.
 
     'Initial Purchasers' means Bear,  Stearns & Co. Inc.  and Morgan Stanley  &
Co. Incorporated.
 
     'Insolvency of TWE' means:
 
          (i)  the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (a) a
     decree or order  for relief in  respect of  TWE in an  involuntary case  or
     proceeding  under any  applicable federal or  state bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization or other similar law or (b) a decree or order adjudging  TWE
     a  bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking
     reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect  of
     TWE  under any applicable federal or  state law, or appointing a custodian,
     receiver, liquidator,  assignee,  trustee, sequestrator  or  other  similar
     official of TWE or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the
     winding  up or liquidation of its affairs,  and the continuance of any such
     decree or order for relief or any  such other decree or order under  either
     clause  (a)  or  (b)  above unstayed  and  in  effect for  a  period  of 60
     consecutive days; or
 
          (ii) the commencement by TWE of  a voluntary case or proceeding  under
     any  applicable federal or state  bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
     other similar law or of  any other case or  proceeding to be adjudicated  a
     bankrupt  or insolvent, or  the consent by it  to the entry  of a decree or
     order for relief  in respect of  TWE in an  involuntary case or  proceeding
     under   any   applicable   federal   or   state   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
     reorganization  or  other  similar  law  or  to  the  commencement  of  any
     bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it
     of  a petition or answer or  consent seeking reorganization or relief under
     any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing  of
     such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian,
     receiver,  liquidator,  assignee,  trustee, sequestrator  or  other similar
     official of TWE or of any substantial  part of its property, or the  making
     by  it  of  a general  assignment  for  the benefit  of  creditors,  or the
     admission by it in writing of its  inability to pay its debts generally  as
     they  become  due,  or  the  adoption  of  a  resolution  by  the  Board of
     Representatives of TWE to take any of the foregoing actions.
 
     'Insolvency Distribution  Date' means  the date  of the  completion of  the
liquidation, winding up or dissolution of TWE upon the Insolvency of TWE.
 
                                      G-1
 

 

     'Insolvency  Redemption Amount' means an amount  equal to the lesser of (i)
the sum of (a) the  Pro Rata Percentage as  of the Insolvency Distribution  Date
multiplied  by the  sum of  cash distributions  and non-cash  distributions (the
value of  which shall  be determined  pursuant to  a TWE  Insolvency  Valuation)
received  by the Company (and its subsidiaries) with respect to its TWE Series B
Capital and  its  TWE  Junior  Capital  in  connection  with  such  liquidation,
winding-up or dissolution, in accordance with the TWE Partnership Agreement, and
(b)  an amount  equal to  dividends on  the outstanding  shares of  the Series M
Preferred Stock  for  four  quarters  and  one  day  and  (ii)  the  liquidation
preference  of the  Series M  Preferred Stock  plus accumulated  and accrued and
unpaid dividends thereon.
 
     'Insolvency Redemption Date' means the day following the first  anniversary
of the Insolvency Distribution Date.
 
     'Junior Stock' means the Common Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock and all
classes  of capital stock established after the initial issuance of the Series M
Preferred Stock by  the Company's  Board of Directors  that by  their terms  are
junior in right of payment to the Parity Stock.
 
     'Mandatory  Redemption Amount'  means an amount  equal to (i)  the Pro Rata
Percentage (determined as of June 30, 2015 without giving effect to the Series B
Redemption occurring on such date) multiplied by the amount (as determined by  a
TWE  Valuation) that the  Company (and its subsidiaries)  would have received in
accordance with the TWE Partnership Agreement  with respect to its TWE Series  B
Capital and its TWE Junior Capital had TWE sold all of its assets and liquidated
on  June 30,  2015, plus (ii)  dividends on  the outstanding shares  of Series M
Preferred Stock from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016.
 
     'Mandatory  Redemption  Price'  means  a  redemption  price  equal  to  the
liquidation  preference of  the Series  M Preferred  Stock to  be redeemed, plus
accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends thereon.
 
     'Material Contribution of Assets' means a  contribution to TWE in a  single
transaction  or a series of related  transactions of Relevant Assets (as defined
below) net of associated debt,  the fair market value of  which is in excess  of
$1,000,000,000  (as determined by the Board of  Directors of the Company in good
faith). For purposes of the foregoing definition, 'Relevant Assets' means filmed
entertainment or programming assets currently owned by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (other than TWE)  or which the Company  or any of its  subsidiaries
(other than TWE) currently has an agreement to acquire.
 
     'Nationally Recognized Investment Banking Firm' means an investment banking
firm  having  a  national  reputation  in the  United  States  which  shall have
experience in valuation or  securities rating matters, as  the case may be,  and
which  shall be approved by a majority of  the members of the Board of Directors
of the  Company  who  are not  officers  or  employees of  the  Company  or  its
subsidiaries, including TWE.
 
     'Parity  Stock'  means the  Company's Series  B  Preferred Stock,  Series C
Preferred Stock, Series D  Preferred Stock, Series E  Preferred Stock, Series  F
Preferred  Stock, Series G  Preferred Stock, Series H  Preferred Stock, Series I
Preferred Stock, Series  K Preferred  Stock, Series  M Preferred  Stock and  all
classes  of capital stock established after the initial issuance of the Series M
Preferred Stock by the Company's Board of Directors that by their terms are pari
passu with the Series  M Preferred Stock.  The terms of  any Series L  Preferred
Stock will provide that they are pari passu with the Series M Preferred Stock.
 
     'Preceding  Record  Date'  means (i)  with  respect to  the  First Dividend
Payment Date, the date twenty days prior  to the last dividend payment date  for
the  Series K Preferred  Stock prior to  the issuance of  the Series M Preferred
Stock and (ii) with respect to any other Dividend Payment Date, the Record  Date
applicable to the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date.
 
     'Pro  Rata Percentage' means, as of any  date, a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding shares of
Series M Preferred Stock as of such date, plus accumulated and unpaid  dividends
thereon,  and the denominator of which  shall be the Cumulative Priority Capital
of the  TWE Series  B  Capital as  of  such date;  provided  that the  Pro  Rata
Percentage as of any date prior to the issuance of the Series M Preferred Stock,
means  a fraction,  the numerator  of which  shall be  the aggregate liquidation
preference as of such date of the outstanding shares of Series K Preferred Stock
which Series  K Preferred  Stock have  been  exchanged for  shares of  Series  M
Preferred
 
                                      G-2
 

 

Stock  in the Exchange Offer, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, and
the denominator of  which shall be  the Cumulative Priority  Capital of the  TWE
Series  B Capital  as of such  date. In  calculating the Pro  Rata Percentage in
connection with the final mandatory redemption or upon an Insolvency of TWE, the
Cumulative Priority Capital of  the TWE Series B  Capital shall be increased  by
the sum of all Tax Distributions (other than Included Tax Distributions) made by
TWE to the Company (and its subsidiaries) following the issuance of the Series K
Preferred Stock with respect to the TWE Series B Capital.
 
     'Rating  Confirmation' means either (i) a confirmation from each of Moody's
Investors  Service,  Inc.  or  any  successor  to  its  rating  agency  business
('Moody's')  and Standard and Poor's Corporation  or any successor to its rating
agency business  ('S&P') that  any contemplated  redemption or  exchange by  the
Company  would not result in  a downgrade of its  rating of the Company's senior
unsecured long-term debt,  or (ii) a  good faith determination  by the Board  of
Directors  of the  Company or any  committee thereof (after  consultation with a
Nationally Recognized Investment Banking Firm) that any contemplated  redemption
or exchange by the Company should not result in a downgrade in the rating of the
Company's senior unsecured long-term debt by either Moody's or S&P.
 
     'Redeemable Number' means, with respect to any Mandatory Redemption Date, a
number  (rounded  down  to the  nearest  whole  number) of  shares  of  Series M
Preferred Stock equal to (i) the Pro Rata Percentage (determined as of the  June
30  occurring  one year  and one  day  prior to  such Mandatory  Redemption Date
without giving effect to the Series B Redemption occurring on such date) of  the
amount  of (a) cash distributions received by the Company (and its subsidiaries)
in respect of the Series B Redemption  occurring on such June 30, plus (b)  cash
distributions  received by the Company in respect of its TWE Junior Capital from
such June 30 to such Mandatory Redemption Date, divided by (ii) the  liquidation
preference of $1,000 per share plus accumulated and accrued and unpaid dividends
thereon;  provided, however, that in no event shall the Redeemable Number exceed
20%, 25%, 33 1/3% and  50% of the number of  shares of Series M Preferred  Stock
outstanding on the Mandatory Redemption Dates occurring on July 1 of 2012, 2013,
2014 and 2015, respectively.
 
     'Reorganization of TWE' means (i) any merger or consolidation of TWE or any
sale  of all or  substantially all of  the assets of  TWE, (ii) the liquidation,
winding up or dissolution  of TWE other  than as a result  of the Insolvency  of
TWE,  (iii) the making  of any distributions,  in cash or  other property (other
than cash distributions in  accordance with the  TWE Partnership Agreement),  on
the  partnership interests in TWE from and after the date of initial issuance of
the Series K  Preferred Stock having  an aggregate fair  market value  (together
with  any such prior  distributions) in excess of  $500,000,000 as determined by
the Board of Directors  of the Company  in good faith,  (iv) any transaction  or
series  of related transactions  which results in  a sale or  transfer of 10% or
more of the  total assets  of TWE (excluding  asset swaps  and contributions  to
subsidiaries  or joint  ventures, other  than joint  ventures with  any existing
partner of TWE  that is not  a subsidiary of  the Company) unless  such sale  or
transfer is made at fair market value, the net proceeds of such sale or transfer
are  substantially in cash and such cash is  used to repay debt or is reinvested
in the business of TWE, (v) any transfer in the beneficial ownership of a  class
of  partnership interests in TWE  that would result in  the Company (directly or
indirectly) owning (after giving  effect to any  reductions permitted by  clause
(a) or (b)) less than 90% or more than 110% of its percentage ownership interest
in any class as of the date of initial issuance of the Series K Preferred Stock,
other  than any change resulting from  (a) cash distributions in accordance with
the TWE Partnership Agreement or (b) the issuance of partnership interests  upon
exercise  of  the U  S WEST  Option, (vi)  any material  reduction in  voting or
management rights  of the  Company  (and its  subsidiaries)  in TWE,  (vii)  any
issuance of additional partnership interests which rank senior to the TWE Series
B  Capital (other than (a) the TWE Contingent Capital, (b) partnership interests
issued upon exercise of the U S WEST Option or (c) partnership interests  having
a  fair market value  (together with any  such prior issuances)  no greater than
$500,000,000, as determined  by the Board  of Directors of  the Company in  good
faith,  issued in connection with  any contribution of assets  to TWE), it being
understood that allocations of income or  accretion with respect to the  capital
accounts  associated  with the  outstanding partnership  interests shall  not be
considered issuances  of additional  partnership interests  in TWE,  (viii)  any
amendment (other than an amendment to effectuate an issuance permitted by clause
(vii)(c)  above) to  the TWE  Partnership Agreement  that adversely  affects the
allocation of income, payment of distributions, priority capital rate of  return
or the priority of the TWE Series B
 
                                      G-3
 

 

Capital  or (ix) the six month anniversary  of a Material Contribution of Assets
which does not otherwise result in the  occurrence of an event specified in  (i)
through (viii) above.
 
     'Reorganization  Redemption/Exchange  Date'  means,  with  respect  to  any
Reorganization of TWE, the  first Dividend Payment Date  following the 90th  day
after  such Reorganization of TWE; provided  that if such first Dividend Payment
Date occurs  on or  prior to  the 30th  day following  such 90th  day, then  the
Reorganization  Redemption/Exchange Date means the  second Dividend Payment Date
following the 90th day after such Reorganization of TWE.
 
     'Reorganization Redemption Price' means 110% of the liquidation  preference
of  the  Series  K Preferred  Stock,  plus  accumulated and  accrued  and unpaid
dividends, or, if the Series M Preferred Stock may be redeemed at the option  of
the Company at such time, the optional redemption price then in effect.
 
     'Series  B  Redemption' means  the distributions  with  respect to  the TWE
Series B Capital on June 30 of each of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
 
     'Tax Distributions'  means  cash  distributions to  the  Company  (and  its
subsidiaries)  required to  be made under  the TWE Partnership  Agreement to the
partners of TWE to permit them to pay taxes at assumed statutory rates on  their
allocations of income from TWE.
 
     'TWE  Insolvency Valuation' means the average  of the determinations of two
Nationally Recognized Investment Banking Firms  with respect to the fair  market
values,  as of the  Insolvency Distribution Date,  of any non-cash distributions
from TWE received  by the  Company (and  its subsidiaries)  upon a  liquidation,
winding  up or  distribution of TWE  as a result  of the Insolvency  of TWE. The
Nationally Recognized Investment Banking Firms shall be selected by the  Company
within 30 days following the Insolvency Distribution Date and shall render their
opinions  within  90  days  following  such  Insolvency  Distribution  Date. For
purposes  of  the  foregoing,  (i)  the  fair  market  value  of  such  non-cash
distributions  shall be based on the price  at which such property would be sold
in an arm's length transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller, and
to the extent such property comprises an operating business, it shall be  valued
on  a going concern basis; and (ii) such  value shall be increased by the sum of
all Tax Distributions other than Included  Tax Distributions made by TWE to  the
Company  (and its subsidiaries)  following the initial issuance  of the Series K
Preferred Stock with respect to the TWE Series B Capital.
 
     'TWE Valuation' means the average  of the determinations of two  Nationally
Recognized  Investment Banking Firms  with respect to the  fair market values of
the assets of TWE  as of June 30,  2015 (without giving effect  to the Series  B
Redemption  or any  distribution in respect  of TWE Junior  Capital occurring on
such date). The Nationally Recognized Investment Banking Firms shall be selected
by the Company within 90 days following  the final Series B Redemption Date  and
shall  render  their  opinions within  150  days  following the  final  Series B
Redemption Date. For purposes of the foregoing, (i) the fair market value of the
assets of TWE shall be determined on  a going concern basis, assuming that  each
division of TWE is sold in a separate arm's length transaction between a willing
buyer and a willing seller; and (ii) such value shall be increased by the sum of
all  Tax  Distributions  (other than  Included  Tax Distributions)  made  by TWE
following the issuance of the Series K  Preferred Stock with respect to the  TWE
Series B Capital.
 
                                      G-4



 

________________________________________________________________________________
 
     NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATIONS OTHER  THAN  THOSE  CONTAINED  OR
INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  IN CONNECTION  WITH THE OFFERING
COVERED  BY   THIS  PROSPECTUS.   IF  GIVEN   OR  MADE,   SUCH  INFORMATION   OR
REPRESENTATIONS  MUST  NOT  BE RELIED  UPON  AS  HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED  BY THE
COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY, THE SECURITIES  OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION IN  WHICH
SUCH  OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO  SO OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT  IS
UNLAWFUL  TO  MAKE SUCH  OFFER  OR SOLICITATION.  NEITHER  THE DELIVERY  OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE  MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,  UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,  CREATE
ANY  IMPLICATION THAT THERE  HAS NOT BEEN ANY  CHANGE IN THE  FACTS SET FORTH IN
THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
 
                                                                       
Available Information.....................................................     3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...........................     3
Prospectus Summary........................................................     5
Risk Factors..............................................................    15
The Company...............................................................    17
TWE Partnership Interests.................................................    19
Recent Developments.......................................................    22
Consolidated Capitalization...............................................    24
Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Information...................    28
Exchange Offer............................................................    33
Plan of Distribution......................................................    40
Description of Series M Preferred Stock...................................    40
Description of Series L Preferred Stock...................................    46
Description of Senior Subordinated Debentures.............................    47
Description of Outstanding Capital Stock..................................    52
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.................................    54
Legal Opinion.............................................................    60
Experts...................................................................    60
Glossary of Significant Terms.............................................   G-1

 
                                TIME WARNER INC.
 
                           --------------------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                           --------------------------
 
                                            , 1996
 
________________________________________________________________________________



 

                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     Section  102(b)(7) of  the Delaware  General Corporation  Law (the 'DGCL'),
enables a  corporation  in  its  original certificate  of  incorporation  or  an
amendment  thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to
the corporation or its stockholders for  monetary damages for violations of  the
director's  fiduciary duty, except (i) for any  breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its  stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions  not
in  good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii)  pursuant to  Section 174  of the  DGCL (providing  for liability  of
directors  for  unlawful payment  of dividends  or  unlawful stock  purchases or
redemptions) or  (iv) for  any  transaction from  which  a director  derived  an
improper  personal benefit. Section 1, Article X of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation eliminates the liability of  directors to the extent permitted  by
Section 102(b)(7).
 
     Section 145(a) of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any director
or  officer,  or  former director  or  officer, who  was  or  is a  party  or is
threatened to be made  a party to any  threatened, pending or completed  action,
suit  or proceeding,  whether civil,  criminal, administrative  or investigative
(other than an action by  or in the right of  the corporation) by reason of  the
fact  that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is
or was  serving  at the  request  of the  corporation  as a  director,  officer,
employee  or agent of another corporation,  partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in  settlement actually and  reasonably incurred in  connection
with  such action,  suit or  proceeding provided  that such  director or officer
acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to,
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal  action
or  proceeding, provided further that such director or officer had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
 
     Section 145(b) empowers a corporation to indemnify any director or officer,
or former director or officer, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
a party to  any threatened, pending  or completed action  or suit by  or in  the
right  of the corporation  to procure a judgment  in its favor  by reason of the
fact that such person acted  in any of the  capacities set forth above,  against
expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  actually  and  reasonably  incurred  in
connection with the defense or settlement  of such action or suit provided  that
such  director or  officer acted  in good  faith and  in a  manner he reasonably
believed to be in,  or not opposed  to, the best  interests of the  corporation,
except  that no indemnification  may be made  in respect of  any claim, issue or
matter as to  which such  director or  officer shall  have been  adjudged to  be
liable  to  the corporation  unless and  only to  the extent  that the  Court of
Chancery or that court in which such action or suit was brought shall  determine
upon  application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
of the  circumstances  of the  case,  such director  or  officer is  fairly  and
reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such  expenses which the Court of Chancery
or such other court shall deem proper.
 
     Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of  a
corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred  to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any claim, issue or
matter therein, he shall be  indemnified against expenses (including  attorneys'
fees)  actually and  reasonably incurred  by him  in connection  therewith; that
indemnification and  advancement  of  expenses  provided  for,  by,  or  granted
pursuant  to, Section 145 shall  not be deemed exclusive  of any other rights to
which the indemnified  party may be  entitled, and empowers  the corporation  to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director
or  officer of  the corporation,  or is  or was  serving at  the request  of the
corporation as a director,  officer, employee or  agent of another  corporation,
partnership,  joint  venture, trust  or other  enterprise against  any liability
asserted against him or incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out  of
his  status as  such, whether  or not  the corporation  would have  the power to
indemnify him against such liabilities under Section 145.
 
     Article VI of the Company's By-Laws requires indemnification to the fullest
extent permitted under applicable law of any person who is or was a director  or
officer  of the Company  or who is or  was involved or threatened  to be made so
involved  in  any   action,  suit  or   proceeding,  whether  criminal,   civil,
 
                                      II-1
 

 

administrative  or investigative, by reason  of the fact that  such person is or
was serving as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any predecessor
of the Company  or was  serving at  the request of  the Company  as a  director,
officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise.
 
     The   Company's  Directors'  and   Officers'  Liability  and  Reimbursement
Insurance Policy is designed to reimburse  the Company for any payments made  by
it  pursuant to the  foregoing indemnification. Such policy  has coverage of $50
million.
 
     The Purchase Agreement,  dated April 2,  1996 between the  Company and  the
Initial Purchasers, contains provisions by which the Initial Purchasers agree to
indemnify  the Company, the  Company's stockholders, the  Company's officers and
directors and each  person who controls  the Company within  the meaning of  the
Securities Act of 1933 against certain liabilities.
 
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
     Exhibits.
 

    
 4.1   --  Certificate of the Voting Powers, Designations, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional or Other
         Special Rights, and Qualifications, Limitations  or Restrictions thereof, of  10 1/4% Series K  Exchangeable
         Preferred  Stock of the Registrant filed with  the Secretary of State of the  State of Delaware on April 10,
         1996 (which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit  4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form  8-K
         dated April 11, 1996 (the 'April 11, 1996 8-K')).*
 4.2   --  Form of Certificate of the Voting  Powers, Designations, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional
         or Other  Special Rights,  and Qualifications,  Limitations or  Restrictions thereof,  of 10  1/4% Series  M
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock of the Registrant.
 4.3   --  Form of Certificate of the Voting  Powers, Designations, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional
         or Other  Special Rights,  and Qualifications,  Limitations or  Restrictions thereof,  of 10  1/4% Series  L
         Exchangeable Preferred Stock of the Registrant filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
         April  10, 1996 (which is incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit A of Exhibit 4.1 to the April 11, 1996
         8-K).*
 4.4   -- Form of Senior  Subordinated Indenture (which  is incorporated herein  by reference to  Exhibit 4.2 to  the
         April 11, 1996 8-K).*
 4.5   -- Specimen certificate of share of Series M Preferred Stock.
 4.6   -- Specimen certificate of share of Series L Preferred Stock.
 5     --  Opinion  of Paul,  Weiss, Rifkind,  Wharton  & Garrison  regarding the  legality  of the  securities being
         registered.
12.1   -- Statement re computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for Time Warner Inc.
12.2   -- Statement re  computation of ratio  of earnings  to fixed charges  and preferred stock  dividends for  Time
         Warner Inc.
12.3   -- Statement re computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
23.1   -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2   -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.
23.3   -- Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (included in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5).
23.4   -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
23.5   -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.6   -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.
24.1   -- Power of Attorney.
99.1   --  Registration Rights Agreement, dated April  11, 1996, among Time Warner Inc.  and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
         and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
99.2   -- Form of Letter of Transmittal.
99.3   -- Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
99.4   -- Form of Exchange Agency Agreement between the Exchange Agent and Time Warner Inc.

 
- ------------
 
*  Incorporated by reference
 
                                      II-2
 

 

ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers  and controlling persons of each of  the
registrants  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the  opinion of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and  is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of  expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the  registrant will,  unless  in the  opinion of  their  respective
counsel  the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question  whether such indemnification by it  is
against  public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
     The undersigned registrant  hereby undertakes  to respond  to requests  for
information  that is incorporated  by reference into  the Prospectus pursuant to
Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such
request, and to  send the incorporated  documents by first  class mail or  other
equally  prompt means.  This includes  information contained  in documents filed
subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement through the  date
of responding to the request.
 
     The  undersigned  registrant  hereby undertakes  to  supply by  means  of a
post-effective amendment  all  information  concerning a  transaction,  and  the
company  being acquired  or involved  therein, that was  not the  subject of and
included in the Registration Statement when it became effective.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
          (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or  sales are  being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
             (i)  To include any prospectus required  by section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act of 1933;
 
             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date  of the  registration statement (or  the most  recent
        post-effective   amendment  thereof)  which,   individually  or  in  the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change  in the information set  forth
        in the registration statement;
 
             (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously  disclosed in the registration  statement
        or   any  material  change  to  such  information  in  the  registration
        statement.
 
          (2) That,  for the  purpose  of determining  any liability  under  the
     Securities  Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be  a new  registration  statement relating  to the  Securities  offered
     therein,  and the offering of such Securities  at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any  of  the  Securities  being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at  the
     termination of the offering.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the
purpose  of determining the  eligibility of the trustee  to act under subsection
(a) of section 310 of the Trust  Indenture Act in accordance with the rules  and
regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
 
                                      II-3


 

                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly
caused   this  Registration  Statement  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of  New York, State of  New
York, on May 22, 1996.
 
                                          TIME WARNER INC.
 
                                          By      /s/ Peter R. Haje
                                              ..................................
                                                      PETER R. HAJE
                                                EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
                                              GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
 
     Pursuant  to  the requirements  of  the Securities  Act,  this Registration
Statement has been signed below by  the following persons in the capacities  and
on May 22, 1996.
 


                SIGNATURE                                                   TITLE
               ----------                                                   -----

                                         
                    *                       Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
 .........................................    (principal executive officer)
            (GERALD M. LEVIN)
 
                    *                       Director and President
 .........................................
           (RICHARD D. PARSONS)
 
      /s/  Richard J. Bressler              Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 .........................................    (principal financial officer)
          (RICHARD J. BRESSLER)
 
      /s/    John A. LaBarca               Vice President and Controller
 .........................................    (principal accounting officer)
            (JOHN A. LABARCA)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
              (MERV ADELSON)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
        (LAWRENCE B. BUTTENWIESER)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
        (BEVERLY SILLS GREENOUGH)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
             (CARLA A. HILLS)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
            (DAVID T. KEARNS)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
              (REUBEN MARK)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
            (MICHAEL A. MILES)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
            (J. RICHARD MUNRO)

 
                                      II-4
 

 

 


                SIGNATURE                                                   TITLE
                ---------                                                   ------

                                         
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
           (DONALD S. PERKINS)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
           (RAYMOND S. TROUBH)
 
                    *                       Director
 .........................................
        (FRANCIS T. VINCENT, JR.)
 
*By       /s/  Peter R. Haje
     .....................................
            (ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)

 
                                      II-5



 

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 


                                                                                                          LOCATION OF
                                                                                                          EXHIBIT IN
                                                                                                          SEQUENTIAL
EXHIBIT                                                                                                    NUMBERING
NUMBER                                      DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                                         SYSTEM
- ------                                      -----------------------                                       ----------

                                                                                                    
4.1     -- Certificate of the  Voting Powers, Designations,  Preferences and Relative, Participating,          *
           Optional or Other Special Rights,  and Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions  thereof,
           of  10 1/4% Series K Exchangeable Preferred Stock of the Registrant filed with the Secretary
           of State  of the  State of  Delaware on  April 10,  1996 (which  is incorporated  herein  by
           reference  to Exhibit 4.1 to the  Company's Current Report on Form  8-K dated April 11, 1996
           (the 'April 11, 1996 8-K')).*...............................................................
4.2     -- Form  of  Certificate  of  the  Voting  Powers,  Designations,  Preferences  and  Relative,
           Participating,  Optional  or  Other  Special  Rights,  and  Qualifications,  Limitations  or
           Restrictions thereof, of 10 1/4% Series M Exchangeable Preferred Stock of the Registrant.
4.3     -- Form  of  Certificate  of  the  Voting  Powers,  Designations,  Preferences  and  Relative,          *
           Participating,  Optional  or  Other  Special  Rights,  and  Qualifications,  Limitations  or
           Restrictions thereof, of  10 1/4% Series  L Exchangeable Preferred  Stock of the  Registrant
           filed  with the  Secretary of State  of the State  of Delaware  on April 10,  1996 (which is
           incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit A of Exhibit 4.1 to the April 11, 1996 8-K).*...
4.4     -- Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture (which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit          *
           4.2 to the April 11, 1996 8-K).*............................................................
4.5     -- Specimen certificate of share of Series M Preferred Stock.
4.6     -- Specimen certificate of share of Series L Preferred Stock.
5       -- Opinion  of  Paul,  Weiss, Rifkind,  Wharton  &  Garrison regarding  the  legality  of  the
           securities being registered.
12.1    -- Statement re computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for Time Warner Inc.
12.2    -- Statement  re  computation of  ratio  of earnings  to  fixed charges  and  preferred stock
           dividends for Time Warner Inc.
12.3    -- Statement  re  computation  of  ratio  of  earnings  to  fixed  charges  for  Time  Warner
           Entertainment Company, L.P.
23.1    -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2    -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.
23.3    -- Consent of Paul,  Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &  Garrison (included in  their opinion filed as
           Exhibit 5).
23.4    -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
23.5    -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.6    -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.
24.1    -- Power of Attorney.
99.1    -- Registration Rights  Agreement, dated  April 11,  1996, among  Time Warner  Inc. and  Bear,
           Stearns & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
99.2    -- Form of Letter of Transmittal.
99.3    -- Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
99.4    -- Form of Exchange Agency Agreement between the Exchange Agent and Time Warner Inc.

 
- ------------
 
* Incorporated by reference.
 
                                      II-6