0001193125-19-150701.txt : 20190517 0001193125-19-150701.hdr.sgml : 20190517 20190517172432 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-19-150701 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20190517 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20190517 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Liberty Global plc CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001570585 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES [4841] IRS NUMBER: 981112770 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-87508 FILM NUMBER: 19836900 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 161 HAMMERSMITH ROAD CITY: HAMMERSMITH STATE: X0 ZIP: W6 8BS BUSINESS PHONE: 303-220-6600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1550 WEWATTA ST, STREET 2: SUITE 1000 CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80202 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Liberty Global Corp Ltd DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20130227 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Lynx Europe Ltd. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20130226 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRIES MICHAEL T CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001058725 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: C/O LIBERTY GLOBAL, INC. STREET 2: 12300 LIBERTY BOULEVARD CITY: ENGLEWOOD STATE: CO ZIP: 80112 SC 13D/A 1 d751550dsc13da.htm SC 13D/A SC 13D/A

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D/A

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3)*

 

 

LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC

(Name of lssuer)

Liberty Global Class A Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.01 per share

Liberty Global Class B Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

Liberty Global Class A Ordinary Shares: G5480U 104

Liberty Global Class B Ordinary Shares: G5480U 112

(CUSIP Numbers)

Michael T. Fries

c/o Liberty Global plc

1550 Wewatta Street, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 220-6600

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

May 15, 2019

(Date of Event(s) Which Require(s) Filing of this Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box.  ☐

 

 

Note. Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

*

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Exchange Act, but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Exchange Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 


CUSIP No.    G5480U 104 (Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares)    13D/A
   G5480U 112 (Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares)   

 

  1    

  NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS

  I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

  Michael T. Fries

  2    

  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

 

  (a)  ☐        (b)  ☒

  3    

  SEC USE ONLY

 

  4    

  SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

  OO

  5    

  CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)

 

  ☐

  6    

  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

  U.S.

NUMBER OF

SHARES

  BENEFICIALLY  

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

    7     

  SOLE VOTING POWER

 

  Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares: 2,839,102 (1),(2),(3),(4)

  Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares: 2,060,295 (4),(5)

  8     

  SHARED VOTING POWER

 

  0

  9     

  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

  Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares: 2,839,102 (1),(2),(3),(4)

  Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares: 2,060,295 (4),(5)

  10     

  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

  0

11    

  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

  Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares: 2,839,102 (1),(2),(3),(4)

  Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares: 2,060,295 (4),(5)

12    

  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

  ☒

13    

  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

 

  Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares: 1.38% (1),(2),(3),(4),(6)

  Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares: 16.94% (5),(6)

14    

  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

  IN

 

 

(1)

Includes 2,060,295 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares that are issuable upon conversion of Mr. Fries’ Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares.

 

(2)

Includes 46,200 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares held by a trust (the “Fries Trust”) managed by an independent trustee, of which the beneficiaries are Mr. Fries’ adult children. Mr. Fries has no pecuniary interest in the Fries Trust, but he retains the right to substitute the assets held by the Fries Trust, as to which shares Mr. Fries disclaims beneficial ownership.


(3)

Includes 1,977 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares held in the Liberty Global 401(k) Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of Mr. Fries.

 

(4)

Each Liberty Global Class B ordinary share is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one Liberty Global Class A ordinary share. Each Liberty Global Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, whereas each Liberty Global Class B ordinary share is entitled to ten votes. These classes of ordinary shares generally vote together as a single class on all matters. Accordingly, assuming Mr. Fries does not convert his Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares, Mr. Fries may be deemed to beneficially own voting equity securities representing approximately 6.5% of the voting power with respect to the general election of directors of Liberty Global plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Issuer”) based on the outstanding shares noted in note (6) below. The number of Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares reported in this filing excludes ordinary shares that are subject to the letter agreement discussed in Item 6 of the Original Statement (as defined below) and owned by the Malone Trust (as defined in Item 6 of the Original Statement).

 

(5)

Includes 670,000 restricted Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares issued pursuant to his employment agreement with the Issuer.

 

(6)

Based on 205,223,842 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 12,159,888 Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of April 30, 2019, adjusted for the issuance of the Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares on May 15, 2019.


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE

COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D/A

(Amendment No. 3)

Statement of

MICHAEL T. FRIES

Pursuant to Section 13(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934

in respect of

LIBERTY GLOBAL plc

This Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13D (this “Amendment”) amends and supplements the Statement on Schedule 13D originally filed by Michael T. Fries (“Mr. Fries”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 24, 2017 (the “Original Statement”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018 (“Amendment No. 1”) and Amendment No. 2 thereto filed with the SEC on April 5, 2019 (“Amendment No. 2”), and relates to (i) the Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares, nominal value $0.01 per share, of the Issuer, and (ii) the Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares, nominal value $0.01 per share, of the Issuer (together with the Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares, nominal value $0.01 per share, the “Liberty Global Ordinary Shares”). The Original Statement, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and this Amendment are collectively referred to as the “Statement.” Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Statement. This Amendment is being filed by Mr. Fries to report his acquisition of beneficial ownership, on May 15, 2019, of restricted Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, between the Issuer, Liberty Global Inc. and Mr. Fries (the “Employment Agreement”). Except as set forth herein, the Statement is unmodified.

 

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

Item 3 of the Statement is hereby amended and supplemented to incorporate by reference the information contained in Item 4 of the Statement.

 

Item 4.

Purpose of the Transaction.

Item 4 of the Statement is hereby amended and supplemented to include the following information:

Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, the Issuer agreed to grant Mr. Fries an award of ordinary shares of the Issuer under the Liberty Global 2014 Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated effective February 24, 2015) (the “Plan”). On May 15, 2019, he was granted an installment of this award consisting of 670,000 restricted Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares, subject to clawback rights of the Issuer in the event that Mr. Fries’ employment is terminated by the Issuer for cause or voluntarily by Mr. Fries before December 31, 2019. Future installments are governed by the terms of the Employment Agreement.

Mr. Fries reviews his holdings in the Issuer from time to time. Depending on various factors, including, without limitation: the Issuer’s operations, prospects and strategic direction; actions taken by the board of directors; other business and investment opportunities available to Mr. Fries; estate planning and tax considerations; and market conditions (including the trading prices of the Liberty Global Ordinary Shares) and general economic and industry conditions; Mr. Fries may take such actions with respect to his investments in the Issuer as he deems appropriate, including, without limitation: purchasing or otherwise acquiring additional Liberty Global Ordinary Shares or other financial instruments related to the Issuer in open market or privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to the exercise of share appreciation rights or under other compensatory stock plans of the Issuer; and selling or otherwise disposing of some or all of his beneficial or economic holdings, or otherwise changing his intention with respect to any and all matters relating to the Issuer.

Other than as provided herein, and except as contained in the agreements previously filed as exhibits to the Statement or as has been publicly announced by the Issuer, Mr. Fries does not have any plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions set forth in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4.


Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Item 5 of the Statement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

(a) Mr. Fries may be deemed to own Liberty Global Ordinary Shares as follows:

 

    

Actual Ownership

  

Deemed Beneficial Ownership

Class

  

Number

  

Class Percentage (6)

  

Number

  

Class Percentage (6)

Liberty Global Class A    

   778,807 (2)(3)    Less than 1%    2,839,102 (1)(2)(3)    1.38%

Liberty Global Class B

   2,060,295 (4)(5)    16.94%    2,060,295 (4)(5)    16.94%

Liberty Global Class C

   1,327,841 (2)(3)    Less than 1%    1,327,841 (2)(3)    Less than 1%

 

  (1)

Includes 2,060,295 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares that are issuable upon conversion of Mr. Fries’ Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares.

 

  (2)

Includes 46,200 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 283,360 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares held by the Fries Trust, managed by an independent trustee, of which the beneficiaries are Mr. Fries’ adult children. Mr. Fries has no pecuniary interest in the Fries Trust, but he retains the right to substitute the assets held by the Fries Trust, as to which shares Mr. Fries disclaims beneficial ownership.

 

  (3)

Includes 1,977 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 13,061 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares held in the Liberty Global 401(k) Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for the benefit of Mr. Fries.

 

  (4)

Each Liberty Global Class B ordinary share is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one Liberty Global Class A ordinary share. Each Liberty Global Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, whereas each Liberty Global Class B ordinary share is entitled to ten votes. These classes of ordinary shares generally vote together as a single class on all matters. Accordingly, assuming Mr. Fries does not convert his Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares, Mr. Fries may be deemed to beneficially own voting equity securities representing approximately 6.5% of the voting power with respect to the general election of directors of the Issuer based on the outstanding shares noted in note (6) below. The number of Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares reported in this filing excludes ordinary shares that are subject to the letter agreement discussed in Item 6 of the Original Statement and owned by the Malone Trust (as defined in Item 6 of the Original Statement).

 

  (5)

Includes 670,000 restricted Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares issued pursuant to his Employment Agreement with the Issuer.

 

  (6)

Based on 205,223,842 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares, 12,159,888 Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares and 520,930,134 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares outstanding as of April 30, 2019, adjusted for the issuance of the Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares on May 15, 2019.

(b) Mr. Fries has the sole power to vote, or to direct the voting of, his Liberty Global Ordinary Shares. Mr. Fries has the sole power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, his Liberty Global Ordinary Shares. The Fries Trust holds 46,200 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 283,360 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares, which Mr. Fries has no pecuniary interest in and disclaims beneficial ownership thereof. To Mr. Fries’ knowledge, the Fries Trust has the sole power to vote and to dispose of, or to direct the voting or disposition of, the Liberty Global Ordinary Shares held by the Fries Trust.

(c) In addition to the transaction reported in this Amendment, the compensation committee of the Issuer determined that Mr. Fries earned approximately 82.3% of performance share units granted to him in 2016, resulting in an award of time vested restricted share units for 186,914 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 373,829 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares in February 2019. Pursuant to the terms of the restricted share units 50% vested on April 1, 2019, resulting in Mr. Fries receiving an additional 52,307 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 104,615 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares in each case after giving effect to a net settlement in respect of applicable withholding requirements. On May 1, 2019, share appreciation rights based on Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares held by Mr. Fries were exercised automatically upon expiration of their term, resulting in Mr. Fries receiving an additional 6,418 Liberty Global Class A ordinary shares and 19,504 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares, in each case after giving effect to a net settlement in respect of applicable withholding requirements. On May 15, 2019 and May 16, 2019, Mr. Fries sold 156,397 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares and 146,854 Liberty Global Class C ordinary shares, respectively. Mr. Fries used the proceeds from these sales to pay the applicable withholding requirements on the restricted Liberty Global Class B ordinary shares reported in Item 4 above. To his knowledge, the Fries Trust has not executed any transactions in respect of the Liberty Global Ordinary Shares within the last sixty (60) days.

(d) None.

(e) On December 29, 2017, as a result of the Split-Off (as defined in Item 4 of Amendment No. 1), Mr. Fries ceased to be the beneficial owner of any LiLAC Class A ordinary shares, LiLAC Class B ordinary shares or LiLAC Class C ordinary shares (each as defined in the Original Statement).

 

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

The information set forth in Items 3, 4 and 5 of this Amendment is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Item 6.


Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and correct.

 

      /s/ Michael T. Fries
Dated: May 17, 2019       Michael T. Fries