Exhibit
(a)(1)(E)
Offer
to Purchase for Cash
Up to 30,000,000 Shares of
its Common Stock
At a Purchase Price Not Greater Than $22.00
Nor Less Than $18.50 Per Share
by
Expedia,
Inc.
THE TENDER OFFER, PRORATION
PERIOD AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW
YORK CITY TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2007 UNLESS EXPEDIA
EXTENDS THE TENDER OFFER.
December 11, 2006
To Our Clients:
Enclosed for your consideration are the offer to purchase, dated
December 11, 2006, and the letter of transmittal, in
connection with the tender offer by Expedia, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (Expedia), to purchase up to
30,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value
$.001 per share (the shares). Pursuant to the
offer to purchase and the letter of transmittal, which together
(as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time)
constitute the tender offer, Expedia will purchase the shares at
a price, specified by tendering stockholders, not greater than
$22.00 nor less than $18.50 per share, net to the seller in
cash, without interest, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the offer to purchase.
Expedia will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
the tender offer, determine a single per share price, not
greater than $22.00 nor less than $18.50 per share (the
Purchase Price), that it will pay for shares
properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the
terms of the tender offer, taking into account the number of
shares so tendered and the prices specified by tendering
stockholders. Expedia will select the lowest Purchase Price that
will allow it to purchase 30,000,000 shares, or such fewer
number of shares as are properly tendered and not properly
withdrawn, at prices not greater than $22.00 nor less than
$18.50 per share, under the tender offer.
All shares properly tendered before the expiration date (as
specified in Section 1 of the offer to purchase) at prices
at or below the Purchase Price and not properly withdrawn will
be purchased by Expedia at the Purchase Price, net to the seller
in cash, without interest, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the tender offer, including the odd
lot, proration and conditional tender provisions thereof.
All shares tendered at prices in excess of the Purchase Price
and all shares that Expedia does not accept for purchase because
of proration or conditional tenders will be returned at
Expedias expense to the stockholders that tendered such
shares as promptly as practicable after the expiration date.
Expedia expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
purchase more than 30,000,000 shares under the tender
offer, subject to applicable law.
We are the owner of record of shares held for your account. As
such, we are the only ones who can tender your shares, and then
only pursuant to your instructions. We are sending you the
letter of transmittal for your information only. You cannot use
the letter of transmittal to tender shares we hold for your
account. The letter of transmittal must be completed and
executed by us, according to your instructions.
Please instruct us as to whether you wish us to tender, on
the terms and subject to the conditions of the tender offer, any
or all of the shares we hold for your account, by completing and
signing the Instruction Form enclosed herein.
Please note carefully the following:
1. You may tender shares at prices not greater than $22.00
nor less than $18.50 per share as indicated in the enclosed
Instruction Form, net to you in cash, without interest.
2. You should consult with your broker
and/or your
tax advisor as to whether (and if so, in what manner) you should
designate the priority in which you want your tendered shares to
be purchased in the event of proration.
3. The tender offer is not conditioned upon any minimum
number of shares being tendered. The tender offer is, however,
subject to certain other conditions set forth in Section 7
of the offer to purchase, which you should read carefully.
4. The tender offer, the proration period and the
withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on Wednesday, January 10, 2007, unless Expedia
extends the tender offer.
5. The tender offer is for 30,000,000 shares,
constituting approximately 9.8% of the shares of common stock
outstanding as of December 1, 2006.
6. Tendering stockholders who are registered stockholders
or who tender their shares directly to The Bank of New York will
not be obligated to pay any brokerage commissions or fees,
solicitation fees, or (except as set forth in the offer to
purchase and Instruction 9 to the letter of transmittal)
stock transfer taxes on Expedias purchase of shares under
the tender offer.
7. If you (i) own beneficially or of record an
aggregate of fewer than 100 shares, (ii) instruct us
to tender on your behalf ALL of the shares you own at or
below the Purchase Price before the expiration date and
(iii) check the box captioned Odd Lots in the
attached Instruction Form, then Expedia, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the tender offer, will accept all
of your tendered shares for purchase regardless of any proration
that may be applied to the purchase of other shares properly
tendered but not meeting the above conditions.
8. If you wish to condition your tender upon the purchase
of all shares tendered or upon Expedias purchase of a
specified minimum number of the shares that you tender, you may
elect to do so and thereby avoid (in full or in part) possible
proration of your tender. Expedias purchase of shares from
all tenders which are so conditioned will be determined, to the
extent necessary, by random lot. To elect such a condition
complete the section captioned Conditional Tender in
the attached Instruction Form.
9. If you wish to tender portions of your shares at
different prices, you must complete a SEPARATE
Instruction Form for each price at which you wish to
tender each such portion of your shares. We must and will submit
separate letters of transmittal on your behalf for each price
you will accept.
10. The Board of Directors of Expedia has approved the
tender offer. However, neither Expedia nor its Board of
Directors makes any recommendation to stockholders as to whether
to tender or refrain from tendering their shares for purchase,
or as to the price or prices at which stockholders should choose
to tender their shares. Stockholders must make their own
decisions as to whether to tender their shares and, if so, how
many shares to tender and the price or prices at which they
should tender such shares. Expedias directors and
executive officers and Liberty Media Corporation have advised
Expedia that they do not intend to tender any shares in the
tender offer.
If you wish to have us tender any or all of your shares, please
instruct us to that effect by completing, executing, and
returning to us the enclosed Instruction Form. A
pre-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. If you
authorize us to tender your shares, we will tender all of the
shares that we hold beneficially for your account unless you
specify otherwise on the enclosed Instruction Form.
Please forward your completed Instruction Form to us in a
timely manner to give us ample time to permit us to submit the
tender on your behalf before the expiration date of the tender
offer. The tender offer, proration period and withdrawal rights
will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Wednesday,
January 10, 2007, unless Expedia extends the tender offer.
As described in the offer to purchase, if more than
30,000,000 shares, or such greater number of shares as
Expedia may elect to purchase in accordance with applicable law,
are properly tendered at or below the Purchase Price and not
properly withdrawn before the expiration date, then Expedia will
accept shares for purchase at the Purchase Price in the
following order of priority:
1. First, Expedia will purchase all shares properly
tendered at or below the Purchase Price and not properly
withdrawn before the expiration date by any odd lot
holder who:
(a) tenders ALL of the shares owned beneficially or of
record by such odd lot holder at or below the Purchase Price
before the expiration date (partial tenders will not qualify for
this preference); AND
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(b) completes the section captioned Odd Lots on
the letter of transmittal and, if applicable, on the notice of
guaranteed delivery, without regard to any proration that would
otherwise be applicable to such odd lot shares.
2. Second, after Expedia has purchased all properly
tendered (and not validly withdrawn) odd lot shares,
Expedia will purchase all other shares properly tendered at or
below the Purchase Price before the expiration date (and not
properly withdrawn) on a pro rata basis if necessary,
subject to the conditional tender provisions described in
Section 6 of the offer to purchase, and with adjustments to
avoid purchases of fractional shares, all as provided in the
offer to purchase.
3. Third, and only if necessary to permit Expedia to
purchase 30,000,000 shares (or such greater number of
shares as Expedia may elect to purchase subject to applicable
law), Expedia will purchase properly tendered shares from
holders who have tendered shares conditionally (and for whom the
condition was not initially satisfied) by random lot to the
extent feasible. To be eligible for purchase by random lot,
stockholders whose shares are conditionally tendered (and for
whom the condition was not initially satisfied) must have
tendered all of their shares.
The tender offer is being made solely under the offer to
purchase and the letter of transmittal and is being made to all
record holders of shares. The tender offer is not being made to,
nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of
shares residing in any jurisdiction in which the making of the
tender offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance
with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.
YOUR PROMPT ACTION IS REQUESTED. PLEASE FORWARD
YOUR COMPLETED INSTRUCTION FORM TO US IN AMPLE TIME TO PERMIT US
TO SUBMIT THE TENDER ON YOUR BEHALF BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE
TENDER OFFER.
3
Instruction Form with Respect to
Expedia, Inc.
Offer to Purchase for Cash
Up to 30,000,000 Shares of its Common Stock
At a Purchase Price Not Greater Than $22.00
Nor Less Than $18.50 Per Share
The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter in
connection with the tender offer by Expedia, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (Expedia), to purchase up to
30,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value
$.001 per share (the shares), at a price
specified by the undersigned and not greater than $22.00 nor
less than $18.50 per share, net to the seller in cash, without
interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in the enclosed offer to purchase, dated December 11, 2006
and the letter of transmittal, which together (as each maybe
amended and supplemented from time to time) constitute the
tender offer.
The undersigned understands that Expedia will, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of the tender offer,
(i) determine a single per share price not greater than
$22.00 nor less than $18.50 per share (the Purchase
Price) and (ii) purchase the shares properly tendered
and not properly withdrawn under the tender offer, taking into
account the number of shares so tendered and the prices
specified by tendering stockholders. Expedia will select the
lowest Purchase Price that will allow it to purchase
30,000,000 shares, or such lesser number of shares as are
properly tendered and not properly withdrawn, at prices not
greater than $22.00 nor less than $18.50 per share under the
tender offer. Expedia will purchase all shares properly tendered
at prices at or below the Purchase Price and not properly
withdrawn at the Purchase Price, net to the seller in cash,
without interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
of the tender offer, including the odd lot, proration and
conditional tender provisions described in the offer to
purchase. All other shares, including shares tendered at prices
in excess of the Purchase Price and shares that Expedia does not
accept for purchase because of proration or conditional tenders
will be returned at Expedias expense to the stockholders
that tendered such shares as promptly as practicable.
The undersigned hereby instruct(s) you to tender to Expedia the
number of shares indicated below or, if no number is indicated,
all shares you hold for the account of the undersigned, at the
price per share indicated below, in accordance with the terms
and subject to the conditions of the tender offer.
NUMBER OF SHARES TO BE TENDERED BY YOU FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF THE UNDERSIGNED:
SHARES*
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SHARES TENDERED
AT PRICE DETERMINED PURSUANT TO THE TENDER OFFER
(See Instruction 5 of the letter of transmittal)
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The undersigned wants to maximize the chance of having Expedia
purchase all shares the undersigned is tendering (subject to the
possibility of proration). Accordingly, by checking this ONE
box INSTEAD OF ONE OF THE PRICE BOXES BELOW, the
undersigned hereby tenders shares and is willing to accept the
purchase price determined by Expedia pursuant to the tender
offer (the Purchase Price). This action could result
in receiving a price per share of as low as $18.50.
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OR
SHARES TENDERED
AT PRICE DETERMINED BY STOCKHOLDER
(See Instruction 5 of the letter of transmittal)
By checking ONE of the boxes below INSTEAD OF THE BOX
ABOVE, the undersigned hereby tenders shares at the price
checked. This action could result in none of the shares being
purchased if the Purchase Price is less than the price checked
below. A stockholder who desires to tender shares at more
than one price must complete a separate letter of transmittal
for each price at which the stockholder tenders shares. You
cannot tender the same shares at more than one price, unless you
have previously validly withdrawn those shares at a different
price in accordance with Section 4 of the offer to purchase.
Price (in
Dollars) Per Share at Which Shares Are Being
Tendered
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$18.50
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o $
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19.50
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o $
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20.50
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o $
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21.50
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$18.75
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o $
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19.75
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o $
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20.75
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o $
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21.75
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$19.00
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o $
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20.00
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o $
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21.00
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o $
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22.00
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$19.25
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o $
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20.25
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o $
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21.25
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You WILL
NOT have validly tendered your shares
unless you check ONE AND ONLY ONE BOX IN THIS PAGE.
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Unless you indicate otherwise, we will assume that you are
instructing us to tender all of the shares held by us for your
account. |
CHECK ONE AND ONLY ONE BOX. IF YOU CHECK
MORE THAN ONE BOX, OR IF YOU DO NOT CHECK ANY BOX, YOU WILL HAVE
FAILED TO VALIDLY TENDER ANY SHARES.
5
ODD
LOTS
(See Instruction 6 of the letter of transmittal)
To be completed only if shares are being tendered by or
on behalf of a person owning, beneficially or of record, an
aggregate of fewer than 100 shares.
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By checking this box, the undersigned represents that the
undersigned owns beneficially or of record an aggregate of fewer
than 100 shares and is instructing the holder to tender all
such shares.
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In addition, the undersigned is tendering shares either
(check ONE box):
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at the Purchase Price, which will be determined by Expedia in
accordance with the terms of the tender offer (persons checking
this box should check the first box on the previous page, under
the heading Shares Tendered at Price Determined
Pursuant to the Tender Offer); OR
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at the price per share indicated on the previous page under
Price (in Dollars) Per Share at Which Shares Are
Being Tendered.
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CONDITIONAL
TENDER
(See Instruction 11 of the letter of transmittal)
A tendering stockholder may condition such stockholders
tender of any shares upon the purchase by Expedia of a specified
minimum number of the shares such stockholder tenders, as
described in Section 6 of the offer to purchase. Unless
Expedia purchases at least the minimum number of shares you
indicate below pursuant to the terms of the tender offer,
Expedia will not purchase any of the shares tendered below. It
is the tendering stockholders responsibility to calculate
that minimum number, and we urge each stockholder to consult his
or her own tax advisor in doing so. Unless you check the box
immediately below and specify, in the space provided, a minimum
number of shares that Expedia must purchase if Expedia purchases
any shares, Expedia will deem your tender unconditional.
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The minimum number of shares that Expedia must purchase if
Expedia purchases any shares, is:
shares.
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If, because of proration, Expedia will not purchase the minimum
number of shares that you designate, Expedia may accept
conditional tenders by random lot, if necessary. However, to be
eligible for purchase by random lot, the tendering stockholder
must have tendered all of his or her shares. To certify that you
are tendering all of the shares you own, check the box below.
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The tendered shares represent all shares held by the undersigned.
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THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS DOCUMENT IS AT THE OPTION AND
RISK OF THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, WE
RECOMMEND REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED,
PROPERLY INSURED. IN ALL CASES, PLEASE ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO
ASSURE DELIVERY.
PLEASE
SIGN ON THE NEXT PAGE
6
SIGNATURE
Please Print
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| Taxpayer Identification or
Social Security Number:
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(include zip code)
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| Area Code & Phone
Number(s):
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