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 Monday December 24 2001
UPC board to court
The board of US cable company UPC has started judicial proceedings at the Enterprise Chamber in Amsterdam. The board disagrees with the execution of a current reorganisation programme at the Dutch arm of the cable company, and doubts if customer service can still be guaranteed. According to the board, the restructuring programme at UPC Netherlands, where 650 jobs are being axed, differs from previous agreements with the management.

Monday December 17 2001
PrimaCom and UPC end EWT merger talks
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. and PrimaCom reported on Monday that they agreed not to extend the Business Combination Agreement to merge Elektro- und Nachrichtentechnik GmbH, Augsburg (EWT) with PrimaCom beyond December 15, 2001

Monday December 10 2001
UPC: Poland: merger agreement completed
Less than four months after first announcing their alliance, Canal+ Group, the TV & Film division of Vivendi Universal, and United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. (UPC) have signed the definitive agreement to merge their Cyfra+ and Wizja TV satellite television platforms in Poland, as well as the CANAL+ Polska premium channel.

Thursday December 6 2001
UPC scraps 650 jobs in the Netherlands
UPC will scrap 650 jobs in the Netherlands. The first 450 jobs will be cut before the end of this year. The remaining 200 jobs will be cut in mid-2002 at the latest. It is not clear how many forced redundancies there will be. The job cuts are part of an earlier announced reorganisation in which between 1,000 and 1,500 jobs will be cut in Europe.

Tuesday December 4 2001
UnitedGlobalCom (UPC) and Liberty Media sign definitive agreements
UnitedGlobalCom,. and Liberty Media Corporation on Tuesday announced that they have signed definitive agreements relating to their previously announced transaction. The Transaction has been amended in certain respects from the agreement announced in May 2001 (the "May Agreement") and is summarized below.

Wednesday November 14 2001
Results Q3 2001 of UPC
The ownership structure of United Pan-Europe Communications, the Dutch cable group, was yesterday in doubt after it announced it was overhauling its balance sheet and reviewing long-range strategy. The news - which triggered a 34% share price slide - came as Liberty Media, the US conglomerate that owns 11% of UPC's parent, United GlobalCom, moved to rewrite the terms of a deal that would have seen it increase its holding in UGC.

Thursday November 1 2001
UPC and Primacom are continuing discussions
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. ("UPC"), subsidiary of UnitedGlobalCom, and PrimaCom ("PrimaCom") (Neuer Markt Frankfurt, WKN: 625910; Nasdaq: "PCAG") announced on Thursday that they are continuing their discussions regarding the proposed combination of UPC's EWT asset and PrimaCom, which had been scheduled to be voted on at PrimaCom's Annual General Meeting on August 28, 2001. The parties have now extended the time for their discussions until December 15, 2001.

Tuesday October 30 2001
UPC announces half a million chellobroadband internet subscribers
UPC and Chello broadband nv on Tuesday announce that the chello broadband internet service now serves over half a million customers. This milestone strengthens chello's position as one of Europe's leading broadband internet service providers. chello, which launched in March 1999, provides always on, broadband internet access for a fixed price, enabling fast and easy access to rich entertainment and information available on the internet.

Tuesday October 2 2001
Moody's lowers UPC's rating
Moody's, the debt rating agency, on Tuesday lowered United Pan-Europe Communications' senior debt and bank debt ratings because of the terms of the cable company's recent capital increase. Also affecting the decision was the additional capital UPC was forced to provide for the flotation of a subsidiary.

Friday September 21 2001
UPC's Priority to list Thursday
Priority Telecom, a unit of ailing cable group UPC, will be listed on the Amsterdam bourse on September 27, UPC reported on Friday. The issue price will be set at euro 6.50. UPC will place almost four million shares, 15% of Priority's total share capital, and hold onto another 65%. Following an agreement dating back to last year, UPC would have been forced to pay USD 200 mln to Priority minority shareholders if it failed to list the unit before October 1.

Friday September 7 2001
UPC President John Riordan appointed to the additional positio CEO
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. on Friday announced that John F. Riordan, currently President of UPC, has been appointed to the additional position of Chief Executive Officer. Mark Schneider, who previously held the CEO position, recently decided to return with his family to the United States after five years in Europe.

Wednesday September 5 2001
UPC: shareholders approve amendments of Articles of Association
Today at the Annual General Meeting of Priority Telecom N.V. ("Priority"), subsidiary of United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. ("UPC"), the shareholders approved the amendments of the Articles of Association. This amendments is one of the pre-conditions to allow Priority to apply for a listing of the ordinary shares of Priority on Euronext Amsterdam.

Friday August 31 2001
UPC passes on Deutsche Bank deal
UPC reported on Friday it was not exercising its option to take over part of Deutsche Bank subsidiary Telecolumbus, which would have made it the second biggest cable firm in Germany. UPC would have paid euro 340 mln for 500,000 subscribers. Spokesman Bert Holtkamp declined to say what the decision meant for UPC's strategy in Germany.

Monday August 27 2001
UPC and Primcom agree to postpone shareholder vote on EWT/PrimaCom merger
UPC and PrimaCom have agreed to postpone shareholder vote on proposed EWT/PrimaCom merger United Pan-Europe Communications N.V., subsidiary of UnitedGlobalCom, and PrimaCom ("PrimaCom") (Neuer Markt Frankfurt, WKN 625910;Nasdaq: PCAG) announced on Monday that they have agreed to postpone the PrimaCom shareholders' vote on the proposed combination of UPC's EWT asset into PrimaCom, which had been scheduled to take place at PrimaCom's Annual General Meeting on August 28, 2001.

Tuesday August 14 2001
Adjusted EBITDA UPC Q2, 2001 - EUR 54 mln
The net loss for the second quarter, 2001 before impairment charges amounted to EUR 563 mln compared to EUR 368 mln for the second quarter, 2000 and EUR 556 mln for the first quarter, 2001. The net loss for the second quarter 2001 included non-cash charges for the three months including depreciation and amortisation charges of EUR 260 mln, foreign exchange losses and other income/expense of EUR 64 mln, non cash interest charges of EUR 91 mln and UPC's share in results of affiliated companies of EUR 16 mln.

UPC-Europe announces Management change
UPC on Tuesday announced that Mark Schneider, Chairman and Chief Executive of UPC, after five years in Europe, has decided to return with his family to the United States. The Company is initiating a search, internally and externally, for a replacement CEO candidate. Mr. Schneider has agreed to stay on as CEO until a replacement is identified.

Friday August 10 2001
Canal Plus in UPC TV deal
Canal Plus and United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) sealed an agreement on Friday to merge their Polish television assets to create a joint digital platform. The two companies, which have been negotiating for several months, will merge their Polish satellite TV businesses - Canal Plus's Cyfra Plus and UPC's Wizja TV - and premium TV channel Canal Plus Polska to form a new group dubbed TKP with a combined subscriber base of over 700,000.

Tuesday August 7 2001
Canal Plus and UPC nerge in Poland
After Italy and Scandinavia, French television broadcaster Canal Plus has completed the restructuring of its loss making international activities with an operation in Poland. The Vivendi Universal subsidiary is to sign an agreement with Dutch cable operator UPC to merge their satellite television activities in Poland.

Monday August 6 2001
Canal+ and UPC merge in Poland
French pay-TV channel Canal Plus is preparing to restructure its non-profitmaking activities abroad. As part of this plan it recently signed a merger agreement in Poland with Dutch cable operator UPC. The merger operation is expected to be complete next week, and will create Poland's largest digital TV company.

Monday July 16 2001
UPC leads tech sector decline
Technology companies continued to slide. By far the worst hit was pan-European cable company UPC, which fell 37% to a record low of Euros 0.95. At the height of the bubble last year the shares were more than Euros 80. Even before the bubble they had stood at a steady Euros 20. Lossmaking UPC recently received Euros 1bn via a rights issue underwritten by its US parent group UnitedGlobalCom, which Liberty Media took control of in February.

Thursday July 5 2001
Dutch competition authority approves UPC takeover of PrimaCom
The Dutch competition authority NMa said it approved the takeover of PrimaCom by United Pan-Europe Communications. Following the takeover, UPC will control 39% of all cable connections in the Netherlands. Energy company Essent follows with 25%, while France Telecoms's Casema has 20%, the NMa said.

Thursday June 28 2001
UPC, Vivendi plan to merge TV operations in Poland
United Pan-Europe Communications and Vivendi Universal are in talks about joining their digital satellite TV operations in Poland, Associated Press reported quoting the UPC spokesmen as saying. The companies consider this step as a way of making Poland's digital TV market more profitable. "The only thing I can say is that we are in talks with Vivendi", said Bert Holtkamp, a spokesman for United Pan-Europe Communications in Amsterdam.

Friday June 22 2001
UPC to face USD 200 mln liability if Priority not listed before Oct 1
United Pan-Europe Communications will face a USD 200 mln liability claim if the company does not float its Priority Telecom unit by Oct 1, analysts at Merrill Lynch said, citing UPC filings with the US Securities & Exchange Commission. As part of Priority's acquisition of Cignal Global Communications last year, UPC agreed to compensate Cignal shareholders if Priority is not listed by Oct 1.

Wednesday June 20 2001
UPC tries to calm staff over share collapse
United Pan-Europe Com-munications (UPC) has attempted to reassure staff concerned at its financial prospects in the light of a dramatic share price collapse. Its shares yesterday shed 16%, closing at Euros 2.69, less than a third of its flotation price. That followed a 12% fall on Tuesday and compares with a peak of more than Euros 80 last year.

Thursday May 17 2001
UPC shareholders approve new members Supervisory Board
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. (UPC), announces that at today's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), the shareholders have approved of UPC's proposal to appoint three new members to its Supervisory Board. The shareholders also agreed with the proposal to set the financial compensation of the members of the Supervisory Board.

Tuesday May 15 2001
Net loss Q1 2001 UPC EUR 556 mln
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V.("UPC" or the "Company") (EURONEXT Amsterdam: UPC; NASDAQ: UPCOY) on Tuesday announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2001 which showed strong revenue growth in the quarter and improving Adjusted EBITDA. Quarter 1, 2001 versus Quarter 1, 2000 ú Total revenue for the first quarter 2001 increased 67% from EUR 200 mln for the first quarter 2000 to EUR 333 mln ú Total revenue generating units (RGUs) increased 22% from 6,989,500 as at March 31, 2000 to 8,509,800 as at March 31, 2001 ú New Services revenues for the first quarter 2001 grew 104% from EUR 48 mln for the first quarter 2000 to EUR 97 mln ú New Services RGUs increased by 84% from 734,000 as at March 31, 2000 to 1,348,000 as at March 31, 2001 ú Average revenue per RGU per month ("ARPU") for the first quarter 2001 increased by 20% from EUR 9.58 for the first quarter 2000 to EUR 11.50 ú Group Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2001 of EUR (61) million compared to EUR (57) million for the first quarter 2000.

Friday March 9 2001
UPC facing EUR 4.5 mln damages claim from Dutch marketing group LSMG
United Pan-Europe Communications faces a damage claim of EUR 4.5 mln brought against it by Dutch marketing group LSMG Media Holding, LSMG said in a statement. LSMG claims that UPC did not live up to a telecom marketing agreement that one of its subsidiaries made with LSMG unit 123 Bel Services. Bel Services signed an agreement in 1999 with Eneco Call Services to promote the use of names or slogans in place of numbers when calling businesses.

Friday February 23 2001
UPC: replacement Telewest transaction backstopped by UnitedglobalCom
UPC announces that it plans to launch a Eur 1.0 billion rights offering to its shareholders to strengthen its capital base and to contribute to the full funding of its business plan. Under the terms of the rights offering the Company would distribute, on a pro rata basis, to all of its class A stockholders of record as of a date to be determined, transferable rights to purchase additional class A shares to be newly issued at a price of EUR 8.00 per share.

Tuesday February 20 2001
UPC continues plunge after UGC vote
Shares of UPC fell for a third day on Tuesday, bringing its total drop since Thursday to 18.4%, after bondholders last week rejected a deal between its parent UGC and Liberty Media. In Amsterdam, UPC, Europe's biggest broadband company, closed at EUR 10.85, down 2.7%, after having set a low at EUR 10.51.

Monday February 12 2001
UPC to create new division to manage internet and media operations
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. (UPC), announced on Monday that it will combine the management of its chello broadband operations with its UPCtv operations into a powerful new content division to be called UPC Media. In addition, UPC Media confirmed the appointment of UPC executive Andrew Barron to head the combined operation.

Friday February 2 2001
Pension funds question UPC supervisory board
Dutch pension funds are questioning the independence of the supervisory board of cable company UPC. The Dutch foundation for the corporate governance investigation of pension funds will raise this issue at the next shareholders' meeting. The foundation wonders if the supervisory board has been composed in a well-balanced way. Minority shareholders should feel confident that the supervisory directors will defend and secure their interests, the foundation states.

Thursday February 1 2001
UPC announces further extension of expiration time for its subsidiaries
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. on Thursday announced that its wholly owned subsidiaries, UPC Polska,. and Poland Communications,., are extending until 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on February 7, 2001, the expiration time for the consent solicitations announced on January 16, 2001, for the following debt securities (the "Notes"): UPC Polska: 14 1/2% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 and 14 1/2% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2008 Series C Senior Discount Notes 14 1/2% Senior Discount Notes due 2009 and 14 1/2% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2009 PCI: 9 7/8% Senior Notes due 2003 and 9 7/8 Series B Senior Notes due 2003

Tuesday January 30 2001
UPC: extension of expiration time for its subsidiaries consent solicitations
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. on Tuesday announced that its wholly owned subsidiaries, UPC Polska,. and Polan Communications,., are extending until 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on January 31, 2001, the expiration time for the consent solicitations announced on January 16, 2001, for the following debt securities (the "Notes"): UPC Polska 14 1/2% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 and 14 1/2% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2008 Series C Senior Discount Notes 14 1/2% Senior Discount Notes due 2009 and 14 1/2% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2009 PCI: 9 7/8% Senior Notes due 2003 and 9 7/8% Series B Senior Notes due 2003 This announcement is not a solicitation of consents with respects to any securities.

Friday January 26 2001
Deminor ceases hunt for UPC
Deminor, the Dutch consultancy firm, is ending its quest to win the support of minority shareholders in Dutch cable company UPC. The firm said yesterday that reports in the press make it appear as if Deminor is not independent. Deminor wanted to gain the support of 1% of the shareholders so that it could ask questions during the shareholders' meeting of the cable company.

Monday January 22 2001
UPC and Cisco Systems announce intent to roll out 'Voice over IP'
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V., and Cisco Systems announced the signing of a letter of intent to build the first cable Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications network in the European Union. Furthermore, the parties intend to extend their strategic co-operation on the design, development and deployment of IP-centric services, built on end-to-end IP infrastructure including, core networks, optical systems and call agents.

UPC shoots up
The United Pan-European Communications (UPC) share shot up on the Amsterdam exchange this morning. The US, Dutch-listed cable company's rate climbed by almost 7% in the first hour after the cable company had announced a far-reaching form of co-operation with Cisco Systems. The two partners are to set up a separate cable network for speech applications via the internet. UPC was the fastest climber on the AEX index, followed by automation company Getronics, which gained 3.8%.

Thursday January 18 2001
UPC outlines plan to cut cash burn rate
Shares in UPC slid nearly 14% on Thursday as the pan-European cable communications company trimmed its ambition to roll out high-value broadband services. The Amsterdam-based group told investors it expected to have only 250,000 set-top boxes installed in its nearly 7m subscriber homes by the end of the year.

Tuesday January 16 2001
UPC cutbacks hint at revamp
United Pan-Europe Communications on Monday gave what investors saw as a hint that it might prune back its operations when it suspended deployment of its wireless local loop services in Switzerland. The company, Europe's biggest cable operator in terms of subscriber numbers, refused to comment on whether the decision foreshadowed a freeze on similar services in Spain, Norway, Finland and France.

Minority shareholders to challenge UPC
A group representing minority shareholders in Dutch-based cable network operator United Pan-Europe Communications said on Tuesday it will convene a meeting to discuss the management of the loss-making company. The group has scheduled a meeting of minority shareholders in Amsterdam at 1300 GMT on Wednesday.

Monday January 15 2001
UPC to outline plan to tackle 'Cash-burn' rate
United Pan-Europe Communications, the Netherlands-based cable company, will this week set out details of a new budget, which aims to dramatically reduce monthly cash-burn. While shares perked up last week in anticipation of good news - closing 8.1% high at E16.0 on Friday after a 21% gain on Thursday - analysts were cautious.

Thursday January 11 2001
UPC director resigns
Managing director H. Koning of Dutch cable company UPC Nederland has resigned for personal reasons as from 1 January. Mr Koning was involved in the integration of A2000, Telekabel and Gelrevision, which were absorbed by UPC. UPC Nederland has been criticised recently by customers for badly functioning internet and phone services. Mr Koning will be replaced by Mr B. Wilson from the US. The American joined the UPC board in September 2000

Tuesday December 12 2000
UPC clients compensated falls in November
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said the number of Dutch clients requiring compensation for problems with its internet service Chello fell to 2,500 in November from more than 10,000 in October. Following numerous complaints, UPC agreed with the local consumers association to give Chello users a 15 nfl reduction in the monthly subscription cost until the problems were resolved.

Monday December 11 2000
UPC closes 1.43 bn EUR prefs deal
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Monday it had completed a EUR 1.43 bno convertible preference share financing to pay for its expansion. The financing plans were originally announced on September 12, when UPC said the equity injection would strengthen its balance sheet for about a year.

Thursday December 7 2000
European cable industry faces confidence crisis
The European cable industry is facing a crisis of confidence that threatens to wipe out its lead on new, nimbler rivals. Cable companies are burdened with heavy debt and their sliding share prices have fuelled concerns about future funding. Sector share prices have fallen by an average of 70% since March, as investors question whether cable can deliver on its promises.

Wednesday December 6 2000
UPC shake-up to follow failure of Dollars 5 bn Excite merger
United Pan-Europe Communications, the cable television group, said yesterday it would merge its high-speed internet unit with its television programming unit following the collapse of a planned Dollars 5bn merger with Excite@Home, the US broadband concern. The announcement came as shares in UPC fell 12% to 11.20 amid disappointment at its failure to pull off the merger of Chello, its internet broadband business, with Excite's international assets.

Tuesday December 5 2000
UPC hit by Excite pull-out
United Pan-European Communications, the Dutch cable operator, said on Tuesday it would merge its high-speed internet arm Chello with its interactive television division, after the break-up of talks between Excite@Home and Chello. Shares in UPC fell more than 13% after Excite@Home, the broadband group conrolled by AT&T, said it was abandoning a deal with Chello, amid signs that the two companies had fallen out about the funding of the new venture.

Friday December 1 2000
Share price of Macintosh fall after warning
Macintosh saw its share price fall 16.1% to EUR 20.30 after issuing a full-year profit warning. The company said it would not achieve 7% turnover growth, as earlier forecast, due to disappointing fashion retail sales. Managemenet board secretary said ther were problems eith the group's Superconfex unit in Belgium.

UPC monopolistic position in Czech Republic?
The anti-cartel authority in the Czech Republic is investigating whether cable UPC has abused its monopolistic position with its planned subscription rate hike. UPC has almost 50% of the Czech market. The company plans to raise subscription rates by 10% next year.

Wednesday November 29 2000
UPC: Primacom mulls merger
Primacom, Germany's third biggest independent cable network operator, has opened the door to a possible merger with the German assets of United Pan-Europe Communications, Europe's second largest cable group. Paul Thomason, Primacom chief financial officer, said: "From a business standpoint it makes a lot of sense and it would make a lot of sense for us to look at.

Tuesday November 28 2000
UPC gains after finance move
Shares in United Pan-Europe Communications, the Netherlands-based cable group, gained more than 19% on Monday after shareholders approved a measure that should smooth its path to fresh financial backing. An extraordinary general meeting agreed a change to its articles of association, enabling UPC to issue preference shares.

Monday November 27 2000
Amendment of articles of association approved by UPC shareholders
At the Extraordinary Meeting of the Shareholders of United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. held on Monday, November 27, 2000 in Amsterdam, the proposal to change the Articles of Association of UPC to create the possibility for UPC to issue preference shares A with a nominal value of EUR 1,-- each was approved. The specific terms and conditions for these shares will be determined in the resolution to issue shares.

Tuesday November 21 2000
UPC clarifies details od EUR 4 bn facility
United Pan-Europe Communications N.V. (UPC) has issued the following statement: The EUR 4 bn Facility for a subsidiary of UPC (UPC Distribution) is a highly structured credit facility that was used to refinance existing indebtedness and fund the future roll-out of the triple play and digital services of UPC Distribution.

Wednesday November 15 2000
UPC predicts lower deficit
United Pan-Europe Communications, the Netherlands-based cable company, said on Wednesday it had reached the lowest point in a loss-making cycle and expected to narrow its deficit next year. Announcing third-quarter results, Charles Bracken, chief financial officer, said: "I am very cautious about issuing forward-looking statements, but this will be the year with the biggest loss.

Friday October 20 2000
UPC signs distribution deal with Eurosport, Discovery Channel
United Pan-Europe Communications NV's UPC Nederland said it signed a distribution agreement with Eurosport and The Discovery Channel under which their programmes will be added to UPC's digital starter package. The package, UPC Digital, will be available in Amsterdam from Nov 1 and will offer customers extra theme and movie channels, digital music channels, access to Near-Video-On-Demand and an electronic TV guide via a set-top computer, UPC said.

Monday October 16 2000
UPC fights its corner over share-price concerns
Before catching his evening flight out of Amsterdam on Friday, Mark Schneider, chairman and chief executive of UPC, had one final appointment. On the Amsterdam stock exchange, just a few doors away, the cable company's shares fell to their lowest level for 17 months, ending at E15.80 on Friday after a three-day fall of nearly 30%.

Thursday October 12 2000
UPC opens digital media centre and launches set top computer
This morning, United Pan-European Communications N.V. officially marked the start of a new digital media era by opening the Digital Media Centre in Amsterdam. The Digital Media Centre is the most advanced centre for the distribution of video services in Europe. UPC will use the Centre for the distribution of a number of new interactive television and internet services.

UPC 'is not for sale'
United Pan-Europe Communications, Europe's second largest cable company, on Thursday dismissed speculation that its share price volatility made it a likely takeover candidate, by insisting it was not for sale. Despite a share price slide of more than 20% in two days, Mark Schneider, UPC chairman, said: "It is ugly out there and everyone is having problems.

Tuesday October 10 2000
Open TV confirms it has signed an agreement with UPC
OpenTV on Tuesday confirmed that it has signed an agreement to provide United Pan-European Communications with software solutions to support UPC's Direct-To-Home satellite television service subsidiary. Interactive television service launches are planned by UPC throughout Central Europe, initially launching to Wizja TV subscribers in Poland, followed by Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic during 2001.

Monday October 9 2000
UPC in Tele-Columbus talks
UPC, the Netherlands-based cable communications operator, on Monday confirmed it was in talks with Deutsche Bank to acquire Tele-Columbus, Germany's second largest cable television company. The deal is believed to be worth at least DM3bn (E1.5bn, USD 1.3 bn). Such a deal would greatly strengthen UPC's position in Germany, the largest cable market outside the US.

Tuesday September 12 2000
UPC to raise EUR 1.43 bn to fund expansion
United Pan-Europe Communications said on Tuesday it would sell EUR 1.43 bn worth of convertible preference shares to a group of investors to finance its expansion. The issue comes as Europe's largest cable TV company continues an acquisition spree, with Germany in focus, and needs to roll out and upgrade its network and services.

Monday September 11 2000
UPC selects Liberate for Vienna network
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Saturday it had chosen software from Liberate for its digital interactive TV on the Vienna network. The deal indicated that UPC shareholder Microsoft had failed to gain the contract to supply software for one of the largest networks in the UPC system. Microsoft failed to deliver its Microsoft TV platform in time for the planned September roll-out of digital TV in Amsterdam.

UPC, Liberate deal blow for Microsoft
UPC and Liberate Technologies, a California-based maker of set-top box software, said they had reached an agreement to begin offering an interactive TV service, beginning with UPC's customers in Vienna. The move by UPC means a blow to Microsoft's ambitions to dominate the market for interactive TV software.

Friday September 8 2000
UPC, Liberty Digital buy Xtra Music
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Friday it and Liberty Digital had jointly agreed to buy the outstanding stock Xtra Music. UPC and Liberty Digital's DMX Music will each own 50% of Xtra Music which distributes 80 channels of DMX Music programming to 25 European countries via satellite and to the Middle East.

Tuesday August 29 2000
UPC launches service in Hungary
UPC announced on Tuesday the launch of Hungary's first extensive local language satellite television service, providing a wide range of local and international TV channels. Next month this service will also be announced for the first time in the Czech and Slovak Republics. There are currently no significant DTH services available in these countries.

Wednesday August 16 2000
UPC remains interested in tie-up with Canal+
United Pan-Europe Communications remains interested in negotiating a tie-up with Canal+ despite three earlier failures to reach an agreement, according to a report in Les Echos business daily. The report cited UPC chief executive Mark Schneider who said previous discussions broke down because of fundamental differences in the two companies' approach to business. Les Echos said a major sticking point was over who would control the combined businesses' networks.

UPC optimistic about Deutsche Telekom deal
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) is optimistic that it will close a deal to buy part of Deutsche Telekom AG's cable network in the next few weeks. "We are very optimistic that we can close a 'deal' with Telekom in a few weeks", UPC chief executive Mark Schneider said in an interview with daily Boersen Zeitung.

Tuesday August 15 2000
UPC says might drop Microsoft as supplier
Mark Schneider, chief executive of United Pan-Europe Communications, said UPC will switch to a different provider for its set-top boxes if Microsoft Corp is not able to perfect the needed technology on time. "It's true Microsoft's slow, but that doesn't mean we have to be", Schneider said in a conference call on the company's second-quarter results.

UPC to form technology board
United Pan-Europe Communications announced a round of management changes including the formation of a technology board and a new chief executive for its Priority Telecom subsidiary. Sudhir Ispahani, currently chief technology officer at UPC's internet unit Chello, will head the new technology board.

UPC Q2 net loss narrows
United Pan-Europe Communications said its net loss for the second quarter narrowed to EUR 368.2 mln compared to a loss of EUR 467 mln in the first quarter as revenues accelerated from its "triple play" offering of residential cable, internet and telephony services. Second-quarter EBITDA came in at a negative EUR 78 mln, widening from a negative 57 mln in the first quarter due to continuing investments in new services and subscriber acquisition costs.

UPC sees deal on buysing Deutsche network
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Tuesday it expected to quickly wrap up a deal to buy one of nine regional cable networks from Deutsche Telekom. UPC Chief Executive Mark Schneider said on a conference call that one deal will close "soon" and two more were expected. Deutsche Telekom's nine cable systems need upgrading before they can be used for two-way communications, such as Internet, telephony and interactive digital TV.

Monday August 14 2000
Microsoft expected to miss deadline for TV software
Microsoft is expected to miss the September deadline for its high-profile European introduction of TV software. The delay would force Microsoft's first customer, Europe's largest cable TV operator, United Pan-Europe Communications, to introduce its digital set-top boxes with only bare-bones functionality.

Monday July 31 2000
Opta cuts UPC charges to Canal Plus
Dutch telecoms watchdog OPTA said on Monday it had cut by 60% the fee Dutch-based cable TV operator UPC had charged Canal Plus after 1998 for distributing the French firm's two channels in Amsterdam. United Pan-Europe Pan-Europe Communications (UPC), and previous Amsterdam operators Kabeltelevisie Amsterdam and A2000, had charged Canal Plus four million guilders for per year its two analogue feeds.

UPC out of Suez Lyonnaise bid process
Cable network operator UPC withdrew from bidding for a 49% stake in French Suez Lyonnaise's Lyonnaise Cable, after being unable to reach favorable conditions, UPC said on Monday. United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC), the fourth largest cable company in France, will instead pursue other avenues for expansion there, UPC said.

Thursday July 27 2000
UPC takes over Czech cable operator
UPC has acquired full control over leading Czech cable operator Dattelkabel in a stock only deal, the selling party said on Thursday. Telecommunications company Global TeleSystem (GTS), told Reuters that its sale of 42% stake in Dattelkabel to UPC was part of a complex deal which gave it ownership of Dattelkabel's parent company Dattel, a data transmission company.

Tuesday July 18 2000
Chello deal leads to end of IPO plan
Chello, the broadband portal business, announced a merger on Tuesday with the international assets of ExciteAtHome, the high-speed internet provider, to create one of the largest global gateways to future broadband networks. Excite Chello, which aims to be the leading broadband portal outside the US, is being valued by market analysts at about Euros 5.5bn (Dollars 5.1bn).

Wednesday July 12 2000
UPC's Priority wins French licence
United Pan-Europe Communications said that its unit Priority Wireless won a fixed wireless licence in France. The company noted that eight companies competed in a beauty contest for the two wireless local loop licences on offer by France's telecom authority, ART. The licence offers access to 3.5 and 26 GHz spectrum in France.

Tuesday July 11 2000
UPC's PrimaCom in Dutch talks
PrimaCom, the German cable television company that is part-owned by United Pan-Europe Communications, said yesterday it was in exclusive talks to buy Multikabel, a Dutch network operator, for Dollars 360m to Dollars 390m. Analysts said the deal could be a way for UPC, Europe's second biggest cable company, which owns 25.1% of the German operator, to increase its 37% domestic market share without facing competition issues.

Monday June 26 2000
UPC buys 25% in TeleWest
United Pan-Europe Communications said on Monday it would take a 25% stake in British cable company Telewest Communications, marking its entry into Britain. The all-stock deal, part of a complex arrangement with parent company UnitedGlobalCom (UGC), is worth about EUR 3.8 bn at UPC's Friday closing share price, analysts said.

Thursday June 15 2000
UPC launches arts and design channel
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Thursday its Expo 24x7 arts and design channel would start test transmissions on Thursday. The channel will be broadcast via the Telstar 12 satellite and will be available across Europe 24 hours a day. Its programmes will cover architecture, interior design, fashion, graphic and industrial design, visual and contemporary art, sculpture and photography.

Tuesday June 13 2000
Microsoft agrees to exercise warrants in UPC to buy 5.7 mln shares
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) announced on Tuesday that Microsoft Corporation has agreed to exercise warrants held in UPC to purchase 5.7 million shares at USD9.334 per share, resulting in net proceeds of USD53.2 million. The original warrants were issued as part of a technology relationship agreement between Microsoft and UPC and became exercisable in February 2000. The shares purchased will increase Microsoft's total shareholding in UPC to approximately 8%.

Friday June 9 2000
UPC in talks with possible partners
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Friday it was in talks with two potential partners and that it was still in the bidding to buy Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux's French cable network. UPC delayed on Wednesday the flotation of its high-speed Internet provider chello for a second time saying it would wait until it wraps up various alliance talks.

Microsoft increases UPC stake
Microsoft has raised its stake in Dutch-based cable television operator United Pan-Europe Communications, UPC said on Friday. UPC Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Schneider told a news conference Microsoft had exercised half its warrants to increase its stake to around 8% from 7%. Microsoft took the decision in the last few days, Schneider said. Europe's largest cable operator in terms of number of customers, UPC is 51% owned by UnitedGlobalCom.

UPC gets USD 53.2 mln from Microsoft stake
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Monday it would get net proceeds of USD 53.2 mln from Microsoft's move to increase its stake in the firm. On Friday, UPC Chief Executive Mark Schneider said the US software giant had raised its stake in UPC to about 8% from 7%. Monday's statement from UPC said Microsoft exercised a warrant to purchase 5.7 million shares at USD 9.334 per share.

Thursday June 8 2000
Joint marketing UPC Nederland and Dutchtone
Dutchtone, subsidiary of France Telecom (recently the owner of Orange) and UPC Nederland are announcing a co-operation in the field of sales and marketing. The mobile operator and the cable company will launch a combined product in the Dutch market under a new name: Take 2. Take 2 consists of a fixed and a mobile telephony subscription.

Wednesday June 7 2000
UPC says Chello Float delayed
UPC said on Wednesday the float of its high-speed Internet provider, Chello broadband, would be delayed. UPC chairman and chief executive Schneider, speaking to reporters at an industry conference in London, said he could not comment on speculation that the dialogue involved UK cable TV company Telewest.

Monday June 5 2000
Chello may open network
Chello, the European broadband internet provider, could be forced within months to open its network to competition in the Netherlands, its main market, the Dutch government warned on Monday. The warning by Annemarie Jorritsma, economic affairs minister, comes as United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC), Chello's parent, prepares this week to float a 10% stake in the company.

Wednesday May 31 2000
UPC rises on Chello talks
Shares in United Pan-Europe Communications, the cable operator, rose almost 9% on Wednesday as investors responded positively to the possibility of a link-up between Chello, its broadband internet service, and UK cable group Telewest. Shares in UPC closed up E2.26 in Amsterdam at E27.77, recovering some of the ground lost amid the recent sell-off in technology and media stocks.

Tuesday May 30 2000
Chello and Telewest in talks
Telewest, the UK cable operator, is in talks with, UPC's internet subsidiairy Chello about a potential partnership that would give the pan-European internet group access to the British market for the first time. If successful, the talks would see Telewest take an equity stake in Chello in return for offering the company's broadband portal to its cable subscribers in the UK.

Chello postphones IPO
Chello, the high-speed internet access provider, on Tuesday postponed its planned initial public offering by a week after revealing talks with a strategic partner, which it claimed would be important for future shareholders. The company refused to comment on the nature of the discussions or the identity of its partner.

Monday May 29 2000
UPC misses out on Telenet stake
UPC and NTL joint bid for a stake in Belgian cable and telecoms company TElenet has been beaten by US investment company Callahan Associates International, it emerged yesterday. Telenet said it had entered exclusive talks with Callahan to sell 55% of Telenet and the network it operates for an undisclosed sum.

Monday May 22 2000
UPC cancels SBS takeover
United Pan-Europe Communications said on Monday weakness in its share price had caused it to scrap its planned USD 2.8 bn takeover of SBS Broadcasting. UPC Chairman Mark Schneider attributed "continuing turmoil in the financial markets" for the "reluctant" decision not to proceed with the takeover. "Given current share price levels it is simply not practical to complete the transaction", he said in a statement.

Friday May 19 2000
Chello IPO at low end of price range
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) on Friday priced the sale of shares in its Internet service arm, chello, at the lower end of market expectations, valuing the unit at up to EUR 4.6 bn. UPC, Europe's largest broadband cable operator, said it would sell around 10% of chello's equity, 26.9 million shares, at between EUR 13 and EUR 17 a share, with listings in Amsterdam and on Nasdaq.

UPC bonds fall as Chello float thrashes stock
The junk bonds of United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) fell on Friday after the company said it would float equity in its chello Internet service provider at a lower-than-expected price, an announcement that caused UPC stock to plunge. Amsterdam-based UPC, which has more customers than any other European cable operator and is one of the biggest junk bond issuers, said it will float about 10% of chello's equity on May 31 at a price of 13 to EUR 17 per share (USD 11.57 to USD 15.13), at the low end of analysts' estimates.

Thursday May 18 2000
UPC no comment on Microsoft Chello option
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Thursday it had no comment on speculation Microsoft will take up to 10% in UPC's Internet service provider chello broadband. Microsoft, which holds a 7% stake in UPC, has an option which would allow it to take up to 10% of chello. UPC will float approximately 10% of chello on the Amsterdam bourse by month's end. Europe's largest cable operator in terms of number of customers, UPC is 51% owned by UnitedGlobalCom.

Tuesday May 16 2000
Chello to start IPO road show
Chello broadband, the Internet service provider (ISP) owned by Europe's largest cable company United Pan-Europe Communications, is to start the road show on Wednesday to gain investor support for its initial public offering, according to media reports. The float of 10% of the ISP, due on the Amsterdam bourse before the end of the first half, is likely to value it at between four billion and seven billion euros (USD 6.3 bn), industry sources said.

Monday May 15 2000
UPC Q1 loss widens
United Pan-Europe Communications reported on Monday its first quarter loss widened to EUR 467.4 mln from EUR 63.8 mln in the first quarter of 1999. First-quarter sales more than tripled from a year ago and were up 17% from the fourth quarter to EUR 200.3 mln. Cable subscribers rose to 6.256 mln in the first quarter from 5.324 mln at the end of 1999, helped by the acquisition of cable networks in Rotterdam and Haarlem, Netherlands.

UPC waits to talk about SBS terms
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) chairman and chief executive officer Mark Schneider said it is premature to talk about renegotiating the terms and conditions of the acquisition of SBS Broadcasting SA. Instead, the company will wait until the US Securities and Exchange Commission has given its verdict on the takeover documents filed last Friday.

Thursday May 11 2000
UPC, NTL in joint bid for Telenet
United Pan-Europe Communications and NTL Group have launched a joint bid for Telenet Holding, a UPC spokesperson said. He declined to comment on the size of the bid. Telenet Holding said it expects to make a decision within the next couple weeks among takeover bids for the company. Belgian daily De Standaard reported on Thursday that Telenet had narrowed the candidates down to a bid of BEF 70-80 bn from US investment group Callahan Associates and a joint bid by United Pan-Europe Communication and NTL Group of BEF 150 bn, which includes the acquisition of Telenet's cable network infrastructure.

Thursday May 4 2000
UPC launches channels in Romania, Bulgaria
United Pan-Europe Communications's unit UPCtv said three of its 'special interest' channels were launched in Romania and Bulgaria. The company is to offer Extreme Sports Channel, Club and Avante through Genius Network and Pellin Cable Network in Romania, and via Evrotur in Bulgaria, reaching 50,000 households and 70,000 households respectively. The company already transmits in Poland and Hungary. No financial details were disclosed.

Wednesday May 3 2000
UPC in internet deal in Chile
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said on Wednesday it will roll out its high speed chello Internet service in Chile with cable TV company VTR GlobalCom. The pair will also create chello's first Latin American portal site in Chile. UPC announced in February plans to introduce its service throughout Latin America. Santiago de Chile-based VTR, also owned by UnitedGlobalCom, controls 60% of the cable market in Chile, UPC said.

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