Shaw Communications has filed a preliminary prospectus and registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to issue US$400 million in senior notes to be sold in the U.S. The notes will be issued through an underwriting syndicate with co-lead managers Merrill Lynch & Co. and TD Securities (USA) Inc. Shaw says it intends to file a similar prospectus with securities authorities in Canada for cdn$250 million of senior notes due 2005.

A recent Shaw release states the company intends to use the net proceeds from the offerings ‘to redeem the senior private indebtedness of Shaw and for general corporate purposes.’

Although the registration statement regarding the US$ notes has been filed, it is not yet effective at Playback press time, which means the notes are not yet eligible to be sold.