body.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
or
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from ________ to _________
Commission
file number: 000-27927
Charter Communications,
Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
43-1857213
|
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
12405
Powerscourt Drive
St. Louis, Missouri
63131
(Address of principal executive
offices including zip code)
(314)
965-0555
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [ ]
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer,” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer þ Accelerated
filer o Non-accelerated
filer o Smaller
reporting company o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act). Yes oNo þ
Number of
shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2008:
407,829,551
Number of
shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2008:
50,000
Charter
Communications, Inc.
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the Period ended March 31, 2008
Table
of Contents
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
Page
|
|
|
Item
1. Financial Statements - Charter
Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2008
|
|
and
December 31, 2007
|
4
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three
|
|
months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
5
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
|
|
three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
6
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
7
|
|
|
Item
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
18
|
|
|
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market
Risk
|
28
|
|
|
Item
4. Controls and Procedures
|
29
|
|
|
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
|
30
|
|
|
Item
1A. Risk Factors
|
30
|
|
|
Item
6. Exhibits
|
33
|
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
S-1
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
|
E-1
|
This
quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three months ended March 31,
2008. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") allows us
to "incorporate by reference" information that we file with the SEC, which means
that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to
those documents. Information incorporated by reference is considered
to be part of this quarterly report. In addition, information that we
file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede
information contained in this quarterly report. In this quarterly
report, "we," "us" and "our" refer to Charter Communications, Inc., Charter
Communications Holding Company, LLC and their subsidiaries.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This
quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and
prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the
forward-looking statements set forth in the "Results of Operations" and
"Liquidity and Capital Resources" sections under Part I, Item 2. "Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in
this quarterly report. Although we believe that our plans, intentions
and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements
are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these
plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are
inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without
limitation, the factors described under "Risk Factors" under Part II, Item 1A
and the factors described under “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of our most
recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Many of the forward-looking
statements contained in this quarterly report may be identified by the use of
forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should,"
"planned," "will," "may," "intend," "estimated," "aim," "on track," "target,"
"opportunity," and "potential," among others. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly
report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the
SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
|
·
|
the
availability, in general, of funds to meet interest payment obligations
under our debt and to fund our operations and necessary capital
expenditures, either through cash flows from operating activities, further
borrowings or other sources and, in particular, our ability to fund debt
obligations (by dividend, investment or otherwise) to the applicable
obligor of such debt;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit
facilities, any violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could
trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default
provisions;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to pay or refinance debt prior to or when it becomes due and/or
refinance that debt through new issuances, exchange offers or otherwise,
including restructuring our balance sheet and leverage
position;
|
|
·
|
the
impact of competition from other distributors, including incumbent
telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite operators, wireless
broadband providers, and digital subscriber line (“DSL”)
providers;
|
|
·
|
difficulties
in growing, further introducing, and operating our telephone services,
while adequately meeting customer expectations for the reliability of
voice services;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to adequately meet demand for installations and customer
service;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flows from operating
activities by offering video, high-speed Internet, telephone and other
services, and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the
face of increasingly aggressive
competition;
|
|
·
|
our
ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to adequately raise
prices to offset the effects of higher programming
costs;
|
|
·
|
general
business conditions, economic uncertainty or slowdown, including the
recent significant slowdown in the new housing sector and overall economy;
and
|
|
·
|
the
effects of governmental regulation on our
business.
|
All
forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf
are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the
forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report.
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements.
|
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE
DATA)
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
467 |
|
|
$ |
75 |
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Accounts
receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$17
and $18, respectively
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
36 |
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
786 |
|
|
|
336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INVESTMENT
IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
5,114 |
|
|
|
5,103 |
|
Franchises,
net
|
|
|
8,941 |
|
|
|
8,942 |
|
Total
investment in cable properties, net
|
|
|
14,055 |
|
|
|
14,045 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
NONCURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
316 |
|
|
|
285 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
15,157 |
|
|
$ |
14,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
$ |
1,408 |
|
|
$ |
1,332 |
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
1,408 |
|
|
|
1,332 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LONG-TERM
DEBT
|
|
|
20,575 |
|
|
|
19,908 |
|
NOTE
PAYABLE – RELATED PARTY
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
65 |
|
DEFERRED
MANAGEMENT FEES – RELATED PARTY
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
OTHER
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
|
|
|
1,237 |
|
|
|
1,035 |
|
MINORITY
INTEREST
|
|
|
201 |
|
|
|
199 |
|
PREFERRED
STOCK – REDEEMABLE; $.001 par value; 1 million
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares
authorized; 36,713 shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SHAREHOLDERS’
DEFICIT:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
A Common stock; $.001 par value; 10.5 billion shares
authorized;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
407,829,551
and 398,226,468 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Class
B Common stock; $.001 par value; 4.5 billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares
authorized; 50,000 shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Preferred
stock; $.001 par value; 250 million shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
authorized;
no non-redeemable shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
5,331 |
|
|
|
5,327 |
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(13,454 |
) |
|
|
(13,096 |
) |
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(227 |
) |
|
|
(123 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
shareholders’ deficit
|
|
|
(8,350 |
) |
|
|
(7,892 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and shareholders’ deficit
|
|
$ |
15,157 |
|
|
$ |
14,666 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
financial statements.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS
(DOLLARS
IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Unaudited
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES
|
|
$ |
1,564 |
|
|
$ |
1,425 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COSTS
AND EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
(excluding depreciation and amortization)
|
|
|
681 |
|
|
|
631 |
|
Selling,
general and administrative
|
|
|
346 |
|
|
|
303 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
321 |
|
|
|
331 |
|
Other
operating expenses, net
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,359 |
|
|
|
1,269 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
from operations
|
|
|
205 |
|
|
|
156 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense, net
|
|
|
(465 |
) |
|
|
(464 |
) |
Change
in value of derivatives
|
|
|
(37 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
Other
expense, net
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(505 |
) |
|
|
(468 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income taxes
|
|
|
(300 |
) |
|
|
(312 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME
TAX EXPENSE
|
|
|
(58 |
) |
|
|
(69 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$ |
(358 |
) |
|
$ |
(381 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS
PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$ |
(0.97 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.04 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
370,085,187 |
|
|
|
366,120,096 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
financial statements.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS
IN MILLIONS)
Unaudited
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$ |
(358 |
) |
|
$ |
(381 |
) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
321 |
|
|
|
331 |
|
Noncash
interest expense
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Change
in value of derivatives
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
Other,
net
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from
dispositions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
Accounts
payable, accrued expenses and other
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
192 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash flows from operating activities
|
|
|
204 |
|
|
|
266 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases
of property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
(334 |
) |
|
|
(298 |
) |
Change
in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures
|
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
(32 |
) |
Purchases
of short-term investments
|
|
|
(74 |
) |
|
|
-- |
|
Other,
net
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows from investing activities
|
|
|
(436 |
) |
|
|
(321 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings
of long-term debt
|
|
|
1,765 |
|
|
|
911 |
|
Repayments
of long-term debt
|
|
|
(1,102 |
) |
|
|
(691 |
) |
Payments
for debt issuance costs
|
|
|
(39 |
) |
|
|
(20 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
624 |
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
|
392 |
|
|
|
145 |
|
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
|
|
$ |
467 |
|
|
$ |
205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH
PAID FOR INTEREST
|
|
$ |
323 |
|
|
$ |
304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NONCASH
TRANSACTIONS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative
adjustment to Accumulated Deficit for the adoption of FIN
48
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
56 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
financial statements.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
|
Organization
and Basis of Presentation
|
Charter
Communications, Inc. ("Charter") is a holding company whose principal assets at
March 31, 2008 are the 55% controlling common equity interest (52% for
accounting purposes) in Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC ("Charter
Holdco") and "mirror" notes which are payable by Charter Holdco to Charter and
have the same principal amount and terms as those of Charter’s convertible
senior notes. Charter Holdco is the sole owner of CCHC, LLC ("CCHC"),
which is the sole owner of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter
Holdings"). The consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Charter, Charter Holdco, CCHC, Charter Holdings and all of their
subsidiaries where the underlying operations reside, which are collectively
referred to herein as the "Company." Charter has 100% voting control
over Charter Holdco and consolidates Charter Holdco as a variable interest
entity under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation
("FIN") 46(R) Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities. Charter Holdco’s limited liability
company agreement provides that so long as Charter’s Class B common stock
retains its special voting rights, Charter will maintain a 100% voting interest
in Charter Holdco. Voting control gives Charter full authority and
control over the operations of Charter Holdco. All significant
intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been
eliminated.
The
Company is a broadband communications company operating in the United
States. The Company offers to residential and commercial customers
traditional cable video programming (analog and digital video), high-speed
Internet services, and telephone services, as well as advanced broadband
services such as high definition television, Charter OnDemand™ (“OnDemand”), and
digital video recorder service. The Company sells its cable video
programming, high-speed Internet, telephone, and advanced broadband services on
a subscription basis. The Company also sells local advertising on
cable networks.
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have
been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Accordingly,
certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in Charter’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly
report. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements
are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory
authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial
statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods
presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results
for a full year.
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments
and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs; depreciation
and amortization costs; impairments of property, plant and equipment, franchises
and goodwill; income taxes; and contingencies. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications. Certain
prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2008
presentation.
2. Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company incurred net losses of $358 million and $381 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company’s net
cash flows from operating activities were $204 million and $266 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
The
Company has a significant amount of debt. The Company's long-term
debt as of March 31, 2008 totaled $20.6 billion, consisting of $7.3 billion of
credit facility debt, $12.8 billion accreted value of high-yield notes, and $406
million accreted value of convertible senior notes. For the remainder
of 2008, $53 million of the Company’s debt matures. As of March 31,
2008, the Company’s 2009 debt maturities totaled $307 million. In
2010 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become due under the
Company’s remaining long-term debt obligations.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
The
Company requires significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital
expenditures and ongoing operations. The Company has historically
funded these requirements through cash flows from operating activities,
borrowings under its credit facilities, proceeds from sales of assets, issuances
of debt and equity securities, and cash on hand. However, the mix of
funding sources changes from period to period. For the three months
ended March 31, 2008, the Company generated $204 million of net cash flows from
operating activities, after paying cash interest of $323 million. In
addition, the Company used $408 million for purchases of property, plant and
equipment and short-term investments. Finally, the Company generated
net cash flows from financing activities of $624 million, as a result of
refinancing transactions completed during the quarter.
The
Company expects that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, and the
amounts available under the Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter
Operating”) credit facilities will be adequate to fund its projected cash needs,
including scheduled maturities, through 2009. The Company believes
that cash flows from operating activities, and the amounts available under the
Charter Operating credit facilities will not be sufficient to fund projected
cash needs in 2010 (primarily as a result of the CCH II, LLC (“CCH II”) $2.2
billion of senior notes maturing in September 2010) and
thereafter. The Company’s projected cash needs and projected sources
of liquidity depend upon, among other things, its actual results, the timing and
amount of its capital expenditures, and ongoing compliance with the Charter
Operating credit facilities, including obtaining an unqualified audit opinion
from its independent accountants. Although the Company has been able
to refinance or otherwise fund the repayment of debt in the past, it may not be
able to access additional sources of refinancing on similar terms or pricing as
those that are currently in place, or at all, or otherwise obtain other sources
of funding. A continuation of the recent turmoil in the credit
markets and the general economic downturn could adversely impact the terms
and/or pricing when the Company needs to raise additional liquidity.
No assurances can be given that the Company will not experience liquidity
problems if it does not obtain sufficient additional financing on a timely basis
as the Company’s debt becomes due or because of adverse market conditions,
increased competition, or other unfavorable events.
If, at
any time, additional capital or borrowing capacity is required beyond amounts
internally generated or available under the Company’s credit facilities, the
Company would consider issuing equity, issuing convertible debt or some other
securities, further reducing the Company’s expenses and capital expenditures,
selling assets, or requesting waivers or amendments with respect to the
Company’s credit facilities.
If the
above strategies were not successful, the Company could be forced to restructure
its obligations or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In
addition, if the Company needs to raise additional capital through the issuance
of equity or finds it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar
transaction, the Company’s shareholders could suffer significant dilution,
including potential loss of the entire value of their investment, and in the
case of a recapitalization or other similar transaction, the Company’s
noteholders might not receive principal and interest payments to which they are
contractually entitled.
Credit
Facility Availability
The
Company’s ability to operate depends upon, among other things, its continued
access to capital, including credit under the Charter Operating credit
facilities. The Charter Operating credit facilities, along with the
Company’s indentures and the CCO Holdings, LLC (“CCO Holdings”) credit facility,
contain certain restrictive covenants, some of which require the Company to
maintain specified leverage ratios, meet financial tests, and provide annual
audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from the Company’s
independent accountants. As of March 31, 2008, the Company was in
compliance with the covenants under its indentures and credit facilities, and
the Company expects to remain in compliance with those covenants for the next
twelve months. As of March 31, 2008, the Company’s potential
availability under Charter Operating’s revolving credit facility totaled
approximately $1.4 billion, none of which was limited by covenant
restrictions. Continued access to the Company’s revolving credit
facility is subject to the Company remaining in compliance with these covenants,
including covenants tied to Charter Operating’s leverage ratio and first lien
leverage ratio. If any event of non-compliance were to occur, funding
under the revolving credit facility may not be available and defaults on some or
potentially all of the Company’s debt obligations could occur. An
event of default under any of the Company’s debt instruments could result in the
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
acceleration
of its payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in
cross-defaults under its other debt obligations, which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of
operations.
Limitations
on Distributions
As long
as Charter’s convertible senior notes remain outstanding and are not otherwise
converted into shares of common stock, Charter must pay interest on the
convertible senior notes and repay the principal amount. Charter’s
ability to make interest payments on its convertible senior notes, and to repay
the outstanding principal of its convertible senior notes will depend on
its ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or
distributions from Charter Holdco and its subsidiaries. As of March 31,
2008, Charter Holdco was owed $127 million in intercompany loans from Charter
Operating and had $63 million in cash and short-term investments, which amounts
were available to pay interest and principal on Charter's convertible senior
notes. In April 2008, Charter Holdco used $66 million to repurchase
Charter convertible notes and Charter Holdings notes. (See “Recent
Financing Transactions” below.)
Distributions
by Charter’s subsidiaries to a parent company (including Charter, Charter Holdco
and CCHC) for payment of principal on parent company notes, are restricted under
the indentures governing the CCH I Holdings, LLC (“CIH”) notes, CCH I, LLC (“CCH
I”) notes, CCH II notes, CCO Holdings notes, Charter Operating notes, and under
the CCO Holdings credit facility, unless there is no default under the
applicable indenture and credit facilities, and unless each applicable
subsidiary’s leverage ratio test is met at the time of such
distribution. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, there was no
default under any of these indentures or credit facilities. However,
certain of the Company’s subsidiaries did not meet their applicable leverage
ratio tests based on March 31, 2008 financial results. As a result,
distributions from certain of the Company’s subsidiaries to their parent
companies would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be
restricted unless those tests are met. Distributions by Charter
Operating for payment of principal on parent company notes are further
restricted by the covenants in the Charter Operating credit
facilities.
Distributions
by CIH, CCH I, CCH II, CCO Holdings, and Charter Operating to a parent company
for payment of parent company interest are permitted if there is no default
under the aforementioned indentures and CCO Holdings credit
facility.
The
indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make
distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on
Charter’s convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the
distribution, Charter Holdings can incur additional debt under the leverage
ratio of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures,
and other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended March 31,
2008, there was no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures, and the other
specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings did not meet the
leverage ratio test of 8.75 to 1.0 based on March 31, 2008 financial results.
As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter
Holdco would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be
restricted unless that test is met. During periods in which
distributions are restricted, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings
notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments
(that are not restricted payments) in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount
determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the
indentures.
Recent
Financing Transactions
In March
2008, Charter Operating issued $546 million principal amount of 10.875% senior
second-lien notes due 2014 and borrowed $500 million principal amount of
incremental term loans under the Charter Operating credit facilities (see Note
5). In April 2008, Charter Holdco repurchased, in private
transactions, from a small number of institutional holders, a total of
approximately $35 million principal amount of various Charter Holdings notes due
2009 and 2010 and approximately $35 million principal amount of Charter’s 5.875%
convertible senior notes due 2009, for approximately $66 million of
cash. Charter Holdco continues to hold the Charter Holdings
notes. The purchased
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
5.875%
convertible senior notes were cancelled resulting in approximately $14 million
principal amount of such notes remaining outstanding.
3. Franchises
and Goodwill
Franchise
rights represent the value attributed to agreements with local authorities that
allow access to homes in cable service areas acquired through the purchase of
cable systems. Management estimates the fair value of franchise
rights at the date of acquisition and determines if the franchise has a finite
life or an indefinite life as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets. Franchises that qualify for indefinite-life treatment
under SFAS No. 142 are tested for impairment annually each October 1 based
on valuations, or more frequently as warranted by events or changes in
circumstances. Franchises are aggregated into essentially inseparable
asset groups to conduct the valuations. The asset groups generally
represent geographical clustering of the Company’s cable systems into groups by
which such systems are managed. Management believes such grouping
represents the highest and best use of those assets.
As of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, indefinite-lived and finite-lived
intangible assets are presented in the following table:
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
December 31,
2007
|
|
|
|
Gross
Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
|
Net
Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
Gross
Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
|
Net
Carrying
Amount
|
|
Indefinite-lived
intangible assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franchises
with indefinite lives
|
|
$ |
8,934 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
8,934 |
|
|
$ |
8,929 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
8,929 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,001 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
9,001 |
|
|
$ |
8,996 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
8,996 |
|
Finite-lived
intangible assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franchises
with finite lives
|
|
$ |
15 |
|
|
$ |
8 |
|
|
$ |
7 |
|
|
$ |
23 |
|
|
$ |
10 |
|
|
$ |
13 |
|
Franchise
amortization expense represents the amortization relating to franchises that did
not qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142, including costs
associated with franchise renewals. During the three months ended
March 31, 2008, approximately $5 million of franchises that were previously
classified as finite-lived were reclassified to indefinite-lived, based on these
franchises migrating to state-wide franchising. Franchise amortization
expense for each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was
approximately $1 million. The Company expects that amortization
expense on franchise assets will be approximately $2 million annually for each
of the next five years. Actual amortization expense in future periods
could differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset
acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives and other relevant
factors.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
4. Accounts
Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses consist of the following as of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007:
|
|
March
31,
2008
|
|
|
December 31,
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable - trade
|
|
$ |
129 |
|
|
$ |
127 |
|
Accrued
capital expenditures
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
Accrued
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
541 |
|
|
|
418 |
|
Programming
costs
|
|
|
284 |
|
|
|
273 |
|
Compensation
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
116 |
|
Franchise-related
fees
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
Other
|
|
|
247 |
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,408 |
|
|
$ |
1,332 |
|
Long-term
debt consists of the following as of March 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007:
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
December
31, 2007
|
|
|
|
Principal
Amount
|
|
|
Accreted
Value
|
|
|
Principal
Amount
|
|
|
Accreted
Value
|
|
Long-Term
Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charter
Communications, Inc.:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.875%
convertible senior notes due November 16, 2009
|
|
$ |
49 |
|
|
$ |
49 |
|
|
$ |
49 |
|
|
$ |
49 |
|
6.50%
convertible senior notes due October 1, 2027
|
|
|
479 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
|
479 |
|
|
|
353 |
|
Charter
Communications Holdings, LLC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.000%
senior notes due April 1, 2009
|
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
88 |
|
10.750%
senior notes due October 1, 2009
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
9.625%
senior notes due November 15, 2009
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
10.250%
senior notes due January 15, 2010
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
11.750%
senior discount notes due January 15, 2010
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
11.125%
senior notes due January 15, 2011
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
13.500%
senior discount notes due January 15, 2011
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
9.920%
senior discount notes due April 1, 2011
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
10.000%
senior notes due May 15, 2011
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
11.750%
senior discount notes due May 15, 2011
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
54 |
|
12.125%
senior discount notes due January 15, 2012
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
CCH
I Holdings, LLC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.125%
senior notes due January 15, 2014
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
151 |
|
13.500%
senior discount notes due January 15, 2014
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
581 |
|
|
|
581 |
|
9.920%
senior discount notes due April 1, 2014
|
|
|
471 |
|
|
|
471 |
|
|
|
471 |
|
|
|
471 |
|
10.000%
senior notes due May 15, 2014
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
299 |
|
11.750%
senior discount notes due May 15, 2014
|
|
|
815 |
|
|
|
815 |
|
|
|
815 |
|
|
|
815 |
|
12.125%
senior discount notes due January 15, 2015
|
|
|
217 |
|
|
|
217 |
|
|
|
217 |
|
|
|
217 |
|
CCH
I, LLC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.000%
senior notes due October 1, 2015
|
|
|
3,987 |
|
|
|
4,080 |
|
|
|
3,987 |
|
|
|
4,083 |
|
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
|
December
31, 2007
|
|
|
|
Principal
Amount
|
|
|
Accreted
Value
|
|
|
Principal
Amount
|
|
|
Accreted
Value
|
|
CCH
II, LLC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.250%
senior notes due September 15, 2010
|
|
|
2,198 |
|
|
|
2,192 |
|
|
|
2,198 |
|
|
|
2,192 |
|
10.250%
senior notes due October 1, 2013
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
260 |
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
260 |
|
CCO
Holdings, LLC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
3/4% senior notes due November 15, 2013
|
|
|
800 |
|
|
|
796 |
|
|
|
800 |
|
|
|
795 |
|
Credit
facility
|
|
|
350 |
|
|
|
350 |
|
|
|
350 |
|
|
|
350 |
|
Charter
Communications Operating, LLC:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.000%
senior second-lien notes due April 30, 2012
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
8
3/8% senior second-lien notes due April 30, 2014
|
|
|
770 |
|
|
|
770 |
|
|
|
770 |
|
|
|
770 |
|
10.875%
senior second-lien notes due September 15, 2014
|
|
|
546 |
|
|
|
525 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
Credit
facilities
|
|
|
6,984 |
|
|
|
6,984 |
|
|
|
6,844 |
|
|
|
6,844 |
|
|
|
$ |
20,625 |
|
|
$ |
20,575 |
|
|
$ |
19,939 |
|
|
$ |
19,908 |
|
The
accreted values presented above generally represent the principal amount of the
notes less the original issue discount at the time of sale, plus the accretion
to the balance sheet date. However, certain of the notes are recorded
for financial reporting purposes at values different from the current accreted
value for legal purposes and notes indenture purposes (the amount that is
currently payable if the debt becomes immediately due). As of March
31, 2008, the accreted value of the Company’s debt for legal purposes and notes
indenture purposes is $20.6 billion.
In March
2008, Charter Operating issued $546 million principal amount of 10.875% senior
second-lien notes due 2014, guaranteed by CCO Holdings and certain other
subsidiaries of Charter Operating, in a private transaction. Net
proceeds from the senior second-lien notes were used to reduce borrowings, but
not commitments, under the revolving portion of the Charter Operating credit
facilities.
The
Charter Operating 10.875% senior second-lien notes may be redeemed at the option
of Charter Operating on or after varying dates, in each case at a premium, plus
the Make-Whole Premium. The Make-Whole Premium is an amount equal to the
excess of (a) the present value of the remaining interest and principal payments
due on an 10.875% senior second-lien note due 2014 to its final maturity date,
computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate on such date plus
0.50%, over (b) the outstanding principal amount of such note. The Charter
Operating 10.875% senior second-lien notes may be redeemed at any time on or
after March 15, 2012 at specified prices. In the event of specified change
of control events, Charter Operating must offer to purchase the Charter
Operating 10.875% senior second-lien notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of
the total principal amount of the Charter Operating notes repurchased plus any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
In
addition, Charter Operating borrowed $500 million principal amount of
incremental term loans (the "Incremental Term Loans") under the Charter
Operating credit facilities. The Incremental Term Loans have a final maturity of
March 6, 2014 and prior to this date will amortize in quarterly principal
installments totaling 1% annually beginning on June 30, 2008. The
Incremental Term Loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 5.0%, with a LIBOR floor of
3.5%, and are otherwise governed by and subject to the existing terms of the
Charter Operating credit facilities. Net proceeds from the Incremental
Term Loans were used for general corporate purposes.
6. Minority
Interest and Equity Interest of Charter Holdco
Charter
is a holding company whose primary assets are a controlling equity interest in
Charter Holdco, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems, and $528
million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 of mirror notes payable by
Charter Holdco to Charter, and which have the same principal amount and terms as
those of Charter’s 5.875% and 6.50% convertible senior
notes. Minority interest on the Company’s condensed consolidated
balance sheets represents Mr. Allen’s, Charter’s chairman and controlling
shareholder, 5.6% preferred membership interests in CC VIII, LLC ("CC VIII"), an
indirect subsidiary of Charter Holdco, of $201 million and $199 million as of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
The
Company reports changes in the fair value of interest rate agreements designated
as hedging the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate debt
obligations, that meet the effectiveness criteria of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, in accumulated other comprehensive
loss. Comprehensive loss was $462 million and $387 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
8.
|
Accounting
for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities
|
The
Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage its interest costs and
reduce the Company’s exposure to increases in floating interest
rates. The Company’s policy is to manage its exposure to fluctuations
in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt within a
targeted range. Using interest rate swap agreements, the Company
agrees to exchange, at specified intervals through 2013, the difference between
fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon
notional principal amounts.
The
Company’s hedging policy does not permit it to hold or issue derivative
instruments for speculative trading purposes. The Company does,
however, have certain interest rate derivative instruments that have been
designated as cash flow hedging instruments. Such instruments
effectively convert variable interest payments on certain debt instruments into
fixed payments. For qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows derivative
gains and losses to offset related results on hedged items in the consolidated
statement of operations. The Company has formally documented,
designated and assessed the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge
accounting. For each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, there was no cash flow hedge ineffectiveness on interest rate swap
agreements.
Changes
in the fair value of interest rate agreements that are designated as hedging
instruments of the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate debt
obligations, and that meet the effectiveness criteria specified by SFAS No. 133
are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss. For the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, losses of $104 million and $2 million,
respectively, related to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges,
were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The amounts
are subsequently reclassified as an increase or decrease to change in value of
derivatives in the same periods in which the related interest on the
floating-rate debt obligations affects earnings (losses).
Certain
interest rate derivative instruments are not designated as hedges as they do not
meet the effectiveness criteria specified by SFAS No. 133. However,
management believes such instruments are closely correlated with the respective
debt, thus managing associated risk. Interest rate derivative
instruments not designated as hedges are marked to fair value, with the impact
recorded as a change in value of derivatives in the Company’s consolidated
statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, change in value of derivatives includes losses of $30 million and
$1 million, respectively, resulting from interest rate derivative instruments
not designated as hedges.
As of
March 31,
2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had $4.3 billion in notional
amounts of interest rate swaps outstanding. The notional amounts of
interest rate instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and,
thus, are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts
exchanged are determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms
of the contracts.
Certain
provisions of the Company’s 5.875% and 6.50% convertible senior notes issued in
November 2004 and October 2007, respectively, were considered embedded
derivatives for accounting purposes and were required to be accounted for
separately from the convertible senior notes. In accordance with SFAS
No. 133, these derivatives are marked to market with gains or losses recorded as
the change in value of derivatives on the Company’s consolidated statement of
operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company
recognized $7 million in losses related to these derivatives, as compared to no
gains or losses for the same period in 2007. At March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, $40 million and $33 million, respectively, is recorded on the
Company’s balance sheets related to these derivatives.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
The Company adopted SFAS
157, Fair
Value
Measurements, on its financial assets and liabilities effective January
1, 2008, and has an established process for determining fair
value. The Company has deferred adoption of SFAS 157 on its
nonfinancial assets and liabilities including fair value measurements under SFAS
142 and SFAS 144 of franchises, goodwill, property, plant, and equipment, and
other long-term assets until January 1, 2009 as permitted by FASB Staff Position
(“FSP”) 157-2. Fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where
available. If such valuation methods are not available, fair value is
based on internally or externally developed models using market-based or
independently-sourced market parameters, where available. Fair value
may be subsequently adjusted to ensure that those assets and liabilities are
recorded at fair value. The Company’s methodology may produce a fair
value that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future
fair values, but the Company believes its methods are appropriate and consistent
with other market peers. The use of different methodologies or
assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could
result in a different fair value estimate as of the Company’s reporting
date.
SFAS 157
establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements,
based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability
as of the measurement date, as follows:
·
|
Level
1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for
identical assets or liabilities in active
markets.
|
·
|
Level
2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar
assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable
for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for
substantially the full term of the financial
instrument.
|
·
|
Level
3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant
to the fair value measurement.
|
Interest
rate derivatives are valued using a present value calculation based on an
implied forward LIBOR curve (adjusted for Charter Operating’s credit risk)
classified within level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. The fair values
of the embedded derivatives within Charter’s 5.875% and 6.50% convertible senior
notes issued in November 2004 and October 2007, respectively, are derived from
valuations using a simulation technique with market based inputs, including
Charter’s Class A common stock price, implied volatility of Charter’s Class A
common stock, Charter’s credit risk and costs to borrow Charter’s Class A common
stock. These valuations are classified within level 3 of the
valuation hierarchy.
As of
March 31, 2008, Charter had $74 million of available-for-sale investments in
commercial paper with initial maturities of between three and six
months. The investments were valued using quoted prices classified
within level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. In April 2008, $61 million
of the investments were liquidated.
The
Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are accounted for at
fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the table below:
|
|
Fair
Value As of March 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
Level
1
|
|
|
Level
2
|
|
|
Level
3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Short-term
investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Available-for-sale
investments
|
|
$ |
74 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
74 |
|
|
|
$ |
74 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
74 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
long-term liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
rate swap agreements
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
303 |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
303 |
|
Embedded
derivatives
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
303 |
|
|
$ |
40 |
|
|
$ |
343 |
|
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
9. Other
Operating Expenses, Net
Other
operating expenses, net consist of the following for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007:
|
|
Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
on sale of assets, net
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
3 |
|
Special
charges, net
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
11 |
|
|
$ |
4 |
|
Special
charges, net for the three months ended March 31, 2008 primarily represent
severance charges and litigation settlements. Special charges, net
for the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily represent severance
charges.
Other
expense, net consists of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007:
|
|
Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
on extinguishment of debt
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
$ |
(1 |
) |
Minority
interest
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
Other,
net
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(3 |
) |
|
$ |
(3 |
) |
All
operations are held through Charter Holdco and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries. Charter Holdco and the majority of its subsidiaries are
generally limited liability companies that are not subject to income
tax. However, certain of these limited liability companies are
subject to state income tax. In addition, the subsidiaries that are
corporations are subject to federal and state income tax. All of the
remaining taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of Charter
Holdco are passed through to its members: Charter, Charter Investment, Inc.
(“CII”) and Vulcan Cable III Inc. ("Vulcan Cable"). Charter is
responsible for its share of taxable income or loss of Charter Holdco allocated
to Charter in accordance with the Charter Holdco limited liability company
agreement (the "LLC Agreement") and partnership tax rules and
regulations. Charter also records financial statement deferred tax
assets and liabilities related to its investment in Charter Holdco.
During the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company recorded $58 million and $69 million
of income tax expense, respectively. Income tax expense was
recognized through increases in deferred tax liabilities related to Charter’s
investment in Charter Holdco, and certain of Charter’s subsidiaries, in addition
to current federal and state income tax expense.
As of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had net deferred income tax
liabilities of approximately $723 million and $665 million,
respectively. Included in these deferred tax liabilities is
approximately $228 million and $226 million of deferred tax liabilities at March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, relating to certain indirect
subsidiaries of Charter Holdco that file separate income tax returns. The
remainder of the Company’s deferred
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
tax
liability arises from Charter’s investment in Charter Holdco, and is largely
attributable to the characterization of franchises for financial reporting
purposes as indefinite-lived.
As of
March 31, 2008, the Company has deferred tax assets of $5.2 billion, which
include $1.9 billion of financial losses in excess of tax losses allocated to
Charter from Charter Holdco. The deferred tax assets also include
$3.3 billion of tax net operating loss carryforwards (generally expiring in
years 2008 through 2028) of Charter and its indirect
subsidiaries. Valuation allowances of $4.9 billion exist with respect
to these deferred tax assets. In assessing the realizability of
deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not
that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be
realized. Because of the uncertainties in projecting future taxable
income of Charter Holdco, valuation allowances have been established except for
deferred benefits available to offset certain deferred tax liabilities that will
reverse over time.
The
amount of any benefit from the Company’s tax net operating losses is dependent
on: (1) Charter and its subsidiaries’ ability to generate future taxable income
and (2) the unexpired amount of net operating loss carryforwards available to
offset amounts payable on such taxable income. Any future “ownership
changes” of Charter's common stock, as defined in the applicable federal income
tax rules, would place significant limitations, on an annual basis, on the use
of such net operating losses to offset any future taxable income the Company may
generate. Such limitations, in conjunction with the net operating
loss expiration provisions, could effectively eliminate the Company’s ability to
use a substantial portion of its net operating losses to offset future taxable
income. Although the Company has adopted the Rights Plan as an
attempt to protect against an “ownership change,” certain transactions and the
timing of such transactions could cause such an ownership change including, but
not limited to, the following: the issuance of shares of
common stock upon future conversion of Charter’s convertible senior notes;
reacquisition of the shares borrowed under the share lending agreement by
Charter (of which 24.8 million were outstanding as of March 31, 2008); or
acquisitions or sales of shares by certain holders of Charter’s shares,
including persons who have held, currently hold, or accumulate in the future,
five percent or more of Charter’s outstanding stock (including upon an exchange
by Mr. Allen or his affiliates, directly or indirectly, of membership units of
Charter Holdco into CCI common stock). Many of the foregoing
transactions, including whether Mr. Allen exchanges his Charter Holdco units,
are beyond management’s control.
The
deferred tax liability for Charter’s investment in Charter Holdco is largely
attributable to the characterization of franchises for financial reporting
purposes as indefinite lived. If certain exchanges, as described
above, were to take place, Charter would likely record for financial reporting
purposes additional deferred tax liability related to its increased interest in
Charter Holdco and the related underlying indefinite lived franchise
assets.
Charter
and Charter Holdco are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue
Service for the tax years ending December 31, 2004 and
2005. Management does not expect the results of these
examinations to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated
financial condition or results of operations.
In
January 2007, the Company adopted FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, which provides
criteria for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of
uncertain tax positions. A tax benefit from an uncertain position may be
recognized only if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable
based on its technical merits. The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in a
deferred tax benefit of $56 million related to a settlement with Mr. Allen
regarding ownership of the CC VIII preferred membership interests, which was
recognized as a cumulative adjustment to the accumulated deficit in the first
quarter of 2007. The Company does not believe it has taken any
significant positions that would not meet the “more likely than not” criteria
and require disclosure.
12. Contingencies
The
Company is a defendant or co-defendant in several unrelated lawsuits claiming
infringement of various patents relating to various aspects of its
businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in
certain of these cases, and, in many cases, the Company expects that any
potential liability would be the responsibility of its equipment vendors
pursuant to applicable contractual indemnification provisions. In the event that
a court ultimately determines
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars
in millions, except per share amounts and where
indicated)
that the
Company infringes on any intellectual property rights, it may be subject to
substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require the Company or its
vendors to modify certain products and services the Company offers to its
subscribers. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without
merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, the lawsuits could be
material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations of any one period,
and no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to
the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or
liquidity.
Charter
is a party to lawsuits and claims that arise in the ordinary course of
conducting its business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal
matters pending against the Company or its subsidiaries cannot be predicted, and
although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a
material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition,
results of operations or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate,
a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition,
results of operations or liquidity.
13. Stock
Compensation Plans
The
Company has stock compensation plans (the “Plans”) which provide for the grant
of non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent
rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock
and/or shares of restricted stock (not to exceed 20.0 million shares of Charter
Class A common stock), as each term is defined in the
Plans. Employees, officers, consultants and directors of the Company
and its subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to receive grants under the
Plans. Options granted generally vest over four years from the grant
date, with 25% generally vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and
ratably thereafter. Generally, options expire 10 years from the
grant date. Restricted stock vests annually over a one to three-year
period beginning from the date of grant. The 2001 Stock Incentive
Plan allows for the issuance of up to a total of 90.0 million shares of Charter
Class A common stock (or units convertible into Charter Class A common
stock). In March 2008, the Company adopted an incentive program to
allow for performance cash. Under the incentive program, performance
units under the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and performance cash are deposited
into a performance bank of which one-third of the balance is paid out each
year. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, Charter granted
9.9 million shares of restricted stock, 11.7 million performance units, and $8
million of performance cash under Charter’s 2008 incentive
program.
The
Company recorded $8 million and $5 million of stock compensation expense for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, which is included in
selling, general, and administrative expense.
14. Recently
Issued Accounting Standards
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No.
133, which requires companies to disclose their objectives and strategies
for using derivative instruments, whether or not designated as hedging
instruments under SFAS 133. SFAS 161 is effective for interim periods
and fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company will
adopt SFAS 161 effective January 1, 2009. The Company is currently
assessing the impact of SFAS 161 on its financial statements.
The
Company does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective
accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material effect on its
accompanying financial statements.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
|
General
Charter
Communications, Inc. ("Charter") is a holding company whose principal assets at
March 31, 2008 are the 55% controlling common equity interest (52% for
accounting purposes) in Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC ("Charter
Holdco") and "mirror" notes that are payable by Charter Holdco to Charter and
have the same principal amount and terms as Charter’s convertible senior
notes.
We are a
broadband communications company operating in the United States with
approximately 5.6 million customers at March 31, 2008. Through our
hybrid fiber and coaxial cable network, we offer our customers traditional cable
video programming (analog and digital, which we refer to as “video” service),
high-speed Internet access, and telephone services, as well as, advanced
broadband services (such as OnDemand high definition television service, and
DVR).
The
following table summarizes our customer statistics for basic video, digital
video, residential high-speed Internet, and telephone as of March 31, 2008 and
2007:
|
|
Approximate
as of
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
(a)
|
|
|
2007
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Video
Cable Services:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
Video:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
(non-bulk) basic video customers (b)
|
|
|
4,949,100 |
|
|
|
5,146,700 |
|
Multi-dwelling
(bulk) and commercial unit customers (c)
|
|
|
258,900 |
|
|
|
268,700 |
|
Total
basic video customers (b)(c)
|
|
|
5,208,000 |
|
|
|
5,415,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Digital
Video:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Digital
video customers (d)
|
|
|
3,023,200 |
|
|
|
2,862,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Video
Cable Services:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential
high-speed Internet customers (e)
|
|
|
2,768,200 |
|
|
|
2,525,900 |
|
Telephone
customers (f)
|
|
|
1,085,000 |
|
|
|
572,600 |
|
After
giving effect to sales and acquisitions of cable systems in 2007, basic video
customers, digital video customers, high-speed Internet customers and telephone
customers would have been 5,353,300, 2,835,400, 2,517,300, and 573,300,
respectively, as of March 31, 2007.
(a)
|
"Customers"
include all persons our corporate billing records show as receiving
service (regardless of their payment status), except for complimentary
accounts (such as our employees). At March 31, 2008 and 2007,
"customers" include approximately 30,600 and 31,700 persons whose accounts
were over 60 days past due in payment, approximately 4,700 and 4,100
persons whose accounts were over 90 days past due in payment, and
approximately 3,200 and 2,000 of which were over 120 days past due in
payment, respectively.
|
(b
|
"Basic
video customers" include all residential customers who receive video cable
services.
|
(c)
|
Included
within "basic video customers" are those in commercial and multi-dwelling
structures, which are calculated on an equivalent bulk unit ("EBU")
basis. EBU is calculated for a system by dividing the bulk
price charged to accounts in an area by the most prevalent price charged
to non-bulk residential customers in that market for the comparable tier
of service. The EBU method of estimating basic video customers
is consistent with the methodology used in determining costs paid to
programmers and has been used
consistently.
|
(d)
|
"Digital
video customers" include all basic video customers that have one or more
digital set-top boxes or cable cards
deployed.
|
(e)
|
"Residential
high-speed Internet customers" represent those residential customers who
subscribe to our high-speed Internet
service.
|
(f)
|
"Telephone
customers" include all customers receiving telephone
service.
|
Overview
For the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, our income from operations was $205
million and $156 million, respectively. We had operating margins of
13% and 11% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The increase in income from operations and operating
margins for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months
ended March 31, 2007 was principally due to an increase in revenue over cash
expenses as a result of increased customers for high-speed Internet, digital
video, and telephone, as well as overall rate increases.
We have a
history of net losses. Further, we expect to continue to report net
losses for the foreseeable future. Our net losses are principally
attributable to insufficient revenue to cover the combination of operating
expenses and interest expenses we incur because of our high amounts of debt, and
depreciation expenses resulting from the capital investments we have made and
continue to make in our cable properties. We expect that these
expenses will remain significant.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
For a
discussion of our critical accounting policies and the means by which we develop
estimates therefore, see "Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2007 Annual Report on Form
10-K.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The
following table sets forth the percentages of revenues that items in the
accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations constituted for the
periods presented (dollars in millions, except per share data):
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES
|
|
$ |
1,564 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
1,425 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COSTS
AND EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
(excluding depreciation
and
amortization)
|
|
|
681 |
|
|
|
44 |
% |
|
|
631 |
|
|
|
44 |
% |
Selling,
general and administrative
|
|
|
346 |
|
|
|
22 |
% |
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
21 |
% |
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
321 |
|
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
331 |
|
|
|
24 |
% |
Other
operating expenses, net
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,359 |
|
|
|
87 |
% |
|
|
1,269 |
|
|
|
89 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
from operations
|
|
|
205 |
|
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
156 |
|
|
|
11 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense, net
|
|
|
(465 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(464 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Change
in value of derivatives
|
|
|
(37 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Other
expense, net
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(505 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(468 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income taxes
|
|
|
(300 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(312 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INCOME
TAX EXPENSE
|
|
|
(58 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(69 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$ |
(358 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(381 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOSS
PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$ |
(0.97 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1.04 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
370,085,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
366,120,096 |
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues. Average
monthly revenue per basic video customer increased to $100 for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 from $88 for the three months ended March 31,
2007. Average monthly revenue per basic video customer represents
total quarterly revenue, divided by three, divided by the average number of
basic video customers during the respective period. Revenue growth
primarily reflects increases in the number of telephone, high-speed Internet,
and digital video customers, price increases, and incremental video revenues
from OnDemand, DVR, and high-definition television services offset by a decrease
in basic video customers. Cable system sales, net of acquisitions, in
2007 reduced the increase in revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008
as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 by approximately $9
million.
Revenues
by service offering were as follows (dollars in millions):
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
over 2007
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
%
of
Revenues
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
%
of
Revenues
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
%
Change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Video
|
|
$ |
858 |
|
|
|
55 |
% |
|
$ |
838 |
|
|
|
59 |
% |
|
$ |
20 |
|
|
|
2 |
% |
High-speed
Internet
|
|
|
328 |
|
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
294 |
|
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
12 |
% |
Telephone
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
92 |
% |
Commercial
|
|
|
93 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
81 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
Advertising
sales
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
8 |
% |
Other
|
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
86 |
|
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,564 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
1,425 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
$ |
139 |
|
|
|
10 |
% |
Video
revenues consist primarily of revenues from basic and digital video services
provided to our non-commercial customers. Basic video customers
decreased by 207,400 customers from March 31, 2007, 62,100 of which was related
to asset sales, net of acquisitions, compared to March 31,
2008. Digital video customers increased by 160,300, reduced by the
sale, net of acquisitions, of 27,500 customers. The increases in
video revenues are attributable to the following (dollars in
millions):
|
|
Three
months ended
March
31, 2008
compared
to
three
months ended
March
31, 2007
Increase
/ (Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incremental
video services and rate adjustments
|
|
$ |
29 |
|
Increase
in digital video customers
|
|
|
15 |
|
Decrease
in basic video customers
|
|
|
(17 |
) |
System
sales, net of acquisitions
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
20 |
|
High-speed
Internet customers grew by 242,300 customers, reduced by system sales, net of
acquisitions, of 8,600 customers, from March 31, 2008 to March 31,
2007. The increase in high-speed Internet revenues from our
residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in
millions):
|
|
Three
months ended
March
31, 2008
compared
to
three
months ended
March
31, 2007
Increase
/ (Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase
in high-speed Internet customers
|
|
$ |
33 |
|
Rate
adjustments and service upgrades
|
|
|
2 |
|
System
sales, net of acquisitions
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
34 |
|
Revenues
from telephone services increased primarily as a result of an increase of
512,400 telephone customers from March 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008.
Commercial
revenues consist primarily of revenues from services provided to our commercial
customers. Commercial revenues increased primarily as a result of
increases in commercial high-speed Internet and telephone
customers.
Advertising
sales revenues consist primarily of revenues from commercial advertising
customers, programmers, and other vendors. Advertising sales revenues
increased primarily as a result of an increase in political advertising
sales offset by
decreased revenues from the automotive and furniture
sectors. For each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, we received $4 million in advertising sales revenues from
vendors.
Other
revenues consist of franchise fees, equipment rental, customer installations,
home shopping, late payment fees, wire maintenance fees and other miscellaneous
revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
franchise fees represented approximately 52% and 51%, respectively, of total
other revenues. The increase was primarily the result of increases in
universal service fund revenues, wire maintenance fees, and late payment
fees.
Operating
expenses. The increase in
operating expenses is attributable to the following (dollars in
millions):
|
|
Three
months ended
March
31, 2008
compared
to
three
months ended
March
31, 2007
Increase
/ (Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Labor
costs
|
|
$ |
20 |
|
Programming
costs
|
|
|
20 |
|
Maintenance
costs
|
|
|
4 |
|
Costs
of providing high-speed Internet and telephone services
|
|
|
2 |
|
Other,
net
|
|
|
9 |
|
System
sales, net of acquisitions
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
Programming
costs were approximately $409 million and $393 million, representing 60% and 62%
of total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to
programmers for analog, premium, digital, OnDemand, and pay-per-view
programming. The increase in programming costs is primarily a result
of annual contractual rate adjustments. Programming costs were also
offset by the amortization of payments received from programmers in support of
launches of new channels of $5 million for each of the three months ended March
31, 2008 and 2007. We expect programming expenses to continue to
increase due to a variety of factors, including annual increases imposed by
programmers, amounts paid for retransmission consent, and additional
programming, including high-definition and OnDemand programming, being provided
to our customers.
Labor
costs increased primarily due to an increased headcount to support improved
service levels and telephone deployment.
Selling, general
and administrative expenses. The increase in
selling, general and administrative expenses is attributable to the following
(dollars in millions):
|
|
Three
months ended
March
31, 2008
compared
to
three
months ended
March
31, 2007
Increase
/ (Decrease)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee
costs
|
|
$ |
16 |
|
Bad
debt and collection costs
|
|
|
8 |
|
Marketing
costs
|
|
|
7 |
|
Stock
compensation costs
|
|
|
3 |
|
Other,
net
|
|
|
10 |
|
System
sales, net of acquisitions
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
43 |
|
Depreciation and
amortization. Depreciation and
amortization expense decreased by $10 million for the three months ended March
31, 2008 compared to March 31, 2007, and was primarily the result of certain
assets becoming fully depreciated and the impact to changes in the useful lives
of certain assets during 2007, offset by depreciation on capital
expenditures.
Other operating
expenses, net. For the three months ended March 31, 2008
compared to March 31, 2007, the increase in other operating expenses, net is
primarily attributable to an $8 million increase in special
charges. For more information, see Note 9 to the accompanying
condensed consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial
Statements.”
Interest expense,
net. For
the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March
31, 2007, net interest expense increased by $1 million, which was a result of
average debt outstanding increasing from $19.2 billion for the first quarter of
2007 to $20.3 billion for the first quarter of 2008, offset by a decrease in our
average borrowing rate from 9.5% in the first quarter of 2007 to 8.8% in the
first quarter of 2008.
Other expense,
net. Other expense remained consistent between
quarters. For more information, see Note 10 to the accompanying
condensed consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial
Statements.”
Change in value
of derivatives. Interest rate swaps are
held to manage our interest costs and reduce our exposure to increases in
floating interest rates. Additionally, certain provisions of our
5.875% and 6.50% convertible senior notes issued in November 2004 and October
2007, respectively, were considered embedded derivatives for accounting purposes
and were required to be accounted for separately from the convertible senior
notes and marked to fair value at the end of each reporting
period. Change in value of derivatives consists of the following for
the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:
|
|
Three
months ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
rate swaps
|
|
$ |
(30 |
) |
|
$ |
(1 |
) |
Embedded
derivatives from convertible senior notes
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(37 |
) |
|
$ |
(1 |
) |
Income tax
expense. Income tax expense was
recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, through increases
in deferred tax liabilities related to our investment in Charter Holdco and
certain of our subsidiaries, in addition to current federal and state income tax
expense. Income tax expense included $18 million of deferred tax
expense related to asset sales occurring in the three months ended March 31,
2007.
Net
loss. Net
loss decreased by $23 million, or 6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2008
compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 as a result of the factors
described above.
Loss per common
share. During the three months
ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, net loss
per common share decreased by $0.07, or 7%, as a result of the factors described
above.
Liquidity and Capital
Resources
Introduction
This
section contains a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including
a discussion of our cash position, sources and uses of cash, access to credit
facilities and other financing sources, historical financing activities, cash
needs, capital expenditures and outstanding debt.
We have
significant amounts of debt. Our long-term debt as of March 31, 2008
totaled $20.6 billion, consisting of $7.3 billion of credit facility debt, $12.8
billion accreted value of high-yield notes, and $406 million accreted value of
convertible senior notes. For the remainder of 2008, $53 million of
our debt matures. As of March 31, 2008, our 2009 debt maturities
totaled $307 million. In 2010 and beyond, significant additional
amounts will become due under our remaining long-term debt
obligations.
Our
business requires significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital
expenditures and ongoing operations. We have historically funded
these requirements through cash flows from operating activities, borrowings
under our credit facilities, proceeds from sales of assets, issuances of debt
and equity securities, and cash on hand. However, the mix of funding
sources changes from period to period. For the three months ended
March 31, 2008, we generated $204 million of net cash flows from operating
activities after paying cash interest of $323 million. In addition,
we used $408 million for purchases of property, plant and equipment and
short-term investments. Finally, we generated net cash flows from
financing activities of $624 million, as a result of refinancing transactions
completed during the quarter. We expect that our mix of sources of
funds will continue to change in the future based on overall needs relative to
our cash flow and on the availability of funds under the credit facilities of
our subsidiaries, our access to the debt and equity markets, the timing of
possible asset sales, and based on our ability to generate cash flows from
operating activities.
We expect
that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, and the amounts
available under Charter Operating’s credit facilities will be adequate to fund
our projected cash needs, including scheduled maturities, through
2009. We believe that cash flows from operating activities and the
amounts available under Charter Operating’s credit facilities will not be
sufficient to fund projected cash needs in 2010 (primarily as a result of the
CCH II, LLC (“CCH II”) $2.2 billion of senior notes maturing in September 2010)
and thereafter. Our projected cash needs and projected sources of
liquidity depend upon, among other things, our actual results, the timing and
amount of our capital expenditures, and ongoing compliance with the Charter
Operating credit facilities, including obtaining an unqualified audit opinion
from our independent accountants. Although we have been able to
refinance or otherwise fund the repayment of debt in the past, we may not be
able to access additional sources of refinancing on similar terms or pricing as
those that are currently in place, or at all, or otherwise obtain other sources
of funding. A continuation of the recent turmoil in the credit
markets and the general economic downturn could adversely impact the terms
and/or pricing when we need to raise additional liquidity.
Access
to Capital
Our
significant amount of debt could negatively affect our ability to access
additional capital in the future. Additionally, our ability to incur
additional debt may be limited by the restrictive covenants in our indentures
and credit facilities. No assurances can be given that we will not
experience liquidity problems if we do not obtain sufficient additional
financing on a timely basis as our debt becomes due or because of adverse market
conditions, increased competition or other unfavorable events. If, at
any time, additional capital or borrowing capacity is required beyond amounts
internally generated or available under our credit facilities, we would
consider:
|
•
|
issuing
equity that would significantly dilute existing
shareholders;
|
|
•
|
issuing
convertible debt or some other securities that may have structural or
other priority over our existing notes and may also, in the case of
convertible debt, significantly dilute Charter’s existing
shareholders;
|
|
•
|
further
reducing our expenses and capital expenditures, which may impair our
ability to increase revenue and
|
|
|
grow
operating cash flows;
|
|
•
|
selling
assets; or
|
|
•
|
requesting
waivers or amendments with respect to our credit facilities, which may not
be available on acceptable terms, and cannot be
assured.
|
If the
above strategies were not successful, we could be forced to restructure our
obligations or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In
addition, if we need to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity
or find it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar
transaction, our shareholders could suffer significant dilution, including
potential loss of the entire value of their investment, and in the case of a
recapitalization or other similar transaction, our noteholders might not receive
the full principal and interest payments to which they are contractually
entitled.
Credit
Facility Availability
Our
ability to operate depends upon, among other things, our continued access to
capital, including credit under the Charter Operating credit
facilities. The Charter Operating credit facilities, along with our
indentures and the CCO Holdings, LLC (“CCO Holdings”) credit facility, contain
certain restrictive covenants, some of which require us to maintain specified
leverage ratios and meet financial tests, and provide annual audited financial
statements with an unqualified opinion from our independent
accountants. As of March 31, 2008, we were in compliance with the
covenants under our indentures and credit facilities, and we expect to remain in
compliance with those covenants for the next twelve months. As of
March 31, 2008, our potential availability under Charter Operating’s revolving
credit facility totaled approximately $1.4 billion, none of which was limited by
covenant restrictions. Continued access to our revolving credit
facility is subject to our remaining in compliance with these covenants,
including covenants tied to Charter Operating’s leverage ratio and first lien
leverage ratio. If any event of non-compliance were to occur, funding
under the revolving credit facility may not be available and defaults on some or
potentially all of our debt obligations could occur. An event of
default under any of our debt instruments could result in the acceleration of
our payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in
cross-defaults under our other debt obligations, which could have a material
adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of
operations.
Limitations
on Distributions
As long
as Charter’s convertible senior notes remain outstanding and are not otherwise
converted into shares of common stock, Charter must pay interest on the
convertible senior notes and repay the principal amount. Charter’s
ability to make interest payments on its convertible senior notes and to repay
the outstanding principal of its convertible senior notes will depend on its
ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or
distributions from Charter Holdco and its subsidiaries. As of March 31,
2008, Charter Holdco was owed $127 million in intercompany loans from Charter
Operating and had $63 million in cash and short-term investments, which amounts
were available to pay interest and principal on Charter's convertible senior
notes. In April 2008, Charter Holdco used $66 million to repurchase
Charter convertible notes and Charter Holdings notes. (See “Recent
Financing Transactions” below.)
Distributions
by Charter’s subsidiaries to a parent company (including Charter, Charter Holdco
and CCHC, LLC (“CCHC”)) for payment of principal on parent company notes, are
restricted under the indentures governing the CCH I Holdings, LLC (“CIH”) notes,
CCH I, LLC (“CCH I”) notes, CCH II notes, CCO Holdings notes, Charter Operating
notes, and under the CCO Holdings credit facility, unless there is no default
under the applicable indenture and credit facilities, and unless each applicable
subsidiary’s leverage ratio test is met at the time of such
distribution. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, there was no
default under any of these indentures or credit facilities. However,
certain of our subsidiaries did not meet their applicable leverage ratio tests
based on March 31, 2008 financial results. As a result, distributions
from certain of our subsidiaries to their parent companies would have been
restricted at such time and will continue to be restricted unless those tests
are met. Distributions by Charter Operating for payment of principal
on parent company notes are further restricted by the covenants in the Charter
Operating credit facilities.
Distributions
by CIH, CCH I, CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating to a parent company
for payment of parent company interest are permitted if there is no default
under the aforementioned indentures and CCO Holdings credit
facility.
The
indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make
distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on
Charter’s convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the
distribution, Charter Holdings can incur additional debt under the leverage
ratio of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures,
and other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended March 31,
2008, there was no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures, and the other
specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings did not meet its
leverage ratio test of 8.75 to 1.0 based on March 31, 2008 financial results.
As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter
Holdco would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be
restricted unless that test is met. During periods in which
distributions are restricted, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings
notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments
(that are not restricted payments) in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount
determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the
indentures.
In
addition to the limitation on distributions under the various indentures
discussed above, distributions by our subsidiaries may be limited by applicable
law. See “Risk Factors — Because of our holding company structure,
our outstanding notes are structurally subordinated in right of payment to all
liabilities of our subsidiaries. Restrictions in our subsidiaries’
debt instruments and under applicable law limit their ability to provide funds
to us or our various debt issuers.”
Recent Financing
Transactions
On March
19, 2008, Charter Operating issued $546 million principal amount of 10.875%
senior second-lien notes due 2014 (the “Notes"), guaranteed by CCO Holdings and
certain other subsidiaries of Charter Operating, in a private transaction.
The net proceeds of this issuance were used to repay, but not permanently
reduce, the outstanding debt balances under the existing revolving credit
facility of Charter Operating. The Notes were sold to qualified
institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A and outside the United States to
non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S.
On March
20, 2008, Charter Operating borrowed $500 million principal amount of
incremental term loans (the "Incremental Term Loans") under the Charter
Operating credit facilities. The net proceeds were used for general
corporate purposes. The Incremental Term Loans have a final maturity of
March 6, 2014 and prior to this date will amortize in quarterly principal
installments totaling 1% annually beginning on June 30, 2008. The
Incremental Term Loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 5.0%, with a LIBOR floor of
3.5%, and are otherwise governed by and subject to the existing terms of the
Charter Operating credit facilities.
In April
2008, Charter Holdco repurchased, in private transactions, from a small number
of institutional holders, a total of approximately $35 million principal amount
of various Charter Holdings notes due 2009 and 2010 and approximately $35
million principal amount of Charter’s 5.875% convertible senior notes due 2009,
for $66 million of cash. Charter Holdco continues to hold the Charter
Holdings notes. The purchased 5.875% convertible senior notes were
cancelled resulting in approximately $14 million principal amount of such notes
remaining outstanding.
Historical
Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
Cash and Cash
Equivalents. We held $467 million in cash and cash equivalents
as of March 31, 2008 compared to $75 million as of December 31,
2007. The increase in cash and cash equivalents is primarily the
result of the borrowing of $500 million of Incremental Term Loans under the
Charter Operating credit facility in March 2008.
Operating
Activities. Net cash provided by
operating activities decreased $62 million, or 23%, from $266 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2007 to $204 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2008, primarily as a result
of changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided $104 million less
cash during the three months ended March 31, 2008 than the corresponding period
in 2007, offset by revenues increasing at a faster rate than cash
expenses.
Investing
Activities. Net cash used in
investing activities was $436 million and $321 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase is
primarily due to an increase of $36 million in cash used for the purchase of
property, plant, and equipment and $74 million used to purchase short-term
investments.
Financing
Activities. Net cash provided by
financing activities was $624 million and $200 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in cash
provided during the three months ended
March
31, 2008 as compared to the corresponding period in 2007, was primarily the
result of increased borrowings of long-term debt.
Capital
Expenditures
We have
significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements. Capital
expenditures were $334 million and $298 million for the three months ended March
31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Capital expenditures increased as a
result of spending on customer premise equipment and support capital to meet
increased digital, high-speed Internet, and telephone customer
growth. See the table below for more
details.
Our
capital expenditures are funded primarily from cash flows from operating
activities, the issuance of debt, and borrowings under our credit
facilities. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007, our liabilities related to capital expenditures decreased $31 million
and $32 million, respectively.
During
2008, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $1.2
billion. We expect the nature of these expenditures will continue to
be composed primarily of purchases of customer premise equipment related to
telephone and other advanced services, support capital, and scalable
infrastructure. We have funded and expect to continue to fund capital
expenditures for 2008 primarily from cash flows from operating activities and
borrowings under our credit facilities. The actual amount of our capital
expenditures depends on the deployment of advanced broadband services and
offerings. We may need additional capital if there is accelerated
growth in high-speed Internet, telephone or digital customers or there is an
increased need to respond to competitive pressures by expanding the delivery of
other advanced services.
We have
adopted capital expenditure disclosure guidance, which was developed by eleven
then publicly traded cable system operators, including Charter, with the support
of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association
("NCTA"). The disclosure is intended to provide more consistency in
the reporting of capital expenditures among peer companies in the cable
industry. These disclosure guidelines are not required disclosures
under GAAP, nor do they impact our accounting for capital expenditures under
GAAP.
The
following table presents our major capital expenditures categories in accordance
with NCTA disclosure guidelines for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007 (dollars in millions):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer
premise equipment (a)
|
|
$ |
165 |
|
|
$ |
161 |
|
Scalable
infrastructure (b)
|
|
|
81 |
|
|
|
49 |
|
Line
extensions (c)
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
Upgrade/Rebuild
(d)
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Support
capital (e)
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
capital expenditures
|
|
$ |
334 |
|
|
$ |
298 |
|
(a)
|
Customer
premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer residence to
secure new customers, revenue units and additional bandwidth
revenues. It also includes customer installation costs in
accordance with SFAS No. 51, Financial Reporting by Cable
Television Companies, and customer premise equipment (e.g., set-top
boxes and cable modems, etc.).
|
(b)
|
Scalable
infrastructure includes costs, not related to customer premise equipment
or our network, to secure growth of new customers, revenue units and
additional bandwidth revenues or provide service enhancements (e.g.,
headend equipment).
|
(c)
|
Line
extensions include network costs associated with entering new service
areas (e.g., fiber/coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment,
make-ready and design engineering).
|
(d)
|
Upgrade/rebuild
includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks,
including betterments.
|
(e)
|
Support
capital includes costs associated with the replacement or enhancement of
non-network assets due to technological and physical obsolescence (e.g.,
non-network equipment, land, buildings and
vehicles).
|
Interest Rate
Risk
We are
exposed to various market risks, including fluctuations in interest
rates. We use interest rate swap agreements to manage our interest
costs and reduce our exposure to increases in floating interest
rates. Our policy is to manage our exposure to fluctuations in
interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt within a
targeted range. Using interest rate swap agreements, we agree to
exchange, at specified intervals through 2013, the difference between fixed and
variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional
principal amounts.
As of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, our long-term debt totaled approximately
$20.6 billion and $19.9 billion, respectively. As of March 31, 2008
and December 31, 2007, the weighted average interest rate on the credit facility
debt was approximately 6.3% and 6.8%, respectively; the weighted average
interest rate on the high-yield notes was approximately 10.3% and 10.3%;
respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on the convertible senior
notes was approximately 6.4% and 6.4%, respectively, resulting in a blended
weighted average interest rate of 8.9% and 9.0%, respectively. The
interest rate on approximately 85% of the total principal amount of our debt was
effectively fixed, including the effects of our interest rate swap agreements,
as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. The fair value of our
high-yield notes was $9.7 billion and $10.3 billion at March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, respectively. The fair value of our convertible
senior notes was $244 million and $332 million at March 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007, respectively. The fair value of our credit facilities was
$6.3 billion and $6.7 billion at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively. The fair value of high-yield and convertible notes was
based on quoted market prices, and the fair value of the credit facilities was
based on dealer quotations.
We do not
hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. We do,
however, have certain interest rate derivative instruments that have been
designated as cash flow hedging instruments. Such instruments
effectively convert variable interest payments on certain debt instruments into
fixed payments. For qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows derivative
gains and losses to offset related results on hedged items in the consolidated
statement of operations. We have formally documented, designated and
assessed the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge
accounting. For the each of three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, there was no cash flow hedge ineffectiveness on interest rate swap
agreements.
Changes
in the fair value of interest rate agreements that are designated as hedging
instruments of the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate debt
obligations, and that meet the effectiveness criteria of SFAS No. 133 are
reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss. For the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, losses of $104
million and $2 million, respectively, related to derivative instruments
designated as cash flow hedges, were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive
loss. The amounts are subsequently reclassified as an increase or
decrease to change in value of derivatives in the same periods in which the
related interest on the floating-rate debt obligations affects earnings
(losses).
Certain
interest rate derivative instruments are not designated as hedges as they do not
meet the effectiveness criteria specified by SFAS No. 133. However,
management believes such instruments are closely correlated with the respective
debt, thus managing associated risk. Interest rate derivative
instruments not designated as hedges are marked to fair value, with the impact
recorded as a change in value of derivatives in our statements of
operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, change in value of derivatives included losses of $30 million and
$1 million, respectively, resulting from interest rate derivative instruments
not designated as hedges.
The table
set forth below summarizes the fair values and contract terms of financial
instruments subject to interest rate risk maintained by us as of March 31, 2008
(dollars in millions):
|
2008
|
|
2009
|
|
2010
|
|
2011
|
|
2012
|
|
2013
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
Total
|
|
Fair
Value at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed
Rate
|
$ |
--
|
|
$ |
237
|
|
$
|
2,232
|
|
$
|
281
|
|
$
|
1,654
|
|
$
|
1,050
|
|
$
|
7,837
|
|
$
|
13,291
|
|
$
|
9,937
|
|
|
|
|
Average
Interest Rate
|
|
--
|
|
|
9.29%
|
|
|
10.26%
|
|
|
11.25%
|
|
|
7.75%
|
|
|
9.11%
|
|
|
10.93%
|
|
|
10.25%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Variable
Rate
|
$
|
53
|
|
$
|
70
|
|
$
|
70
|
|
$
|
70
|
|
$
|
70
|
|
$
|
70
|
|
$
|
6,931
|
|
$
|
7,334
|
|
$
|
6,251
|
|
|
|
|
Average Interest
Rate
|
|
5.22%
|
|
|
5.04%
|
|
|
5.76%
|
|
|
6.36%
|
|
|
6.72%
|
|
|
6.99%
|
|
|
6.75%
|
|
|
6.71%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Rate Instruments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Variable
to Fixed Swaps
|
$
|
--
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
$
|
300
|
|
$
|
2,500
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
$
|
--
|
|
$
|
4,300
|
|
$
|
(303)
|
|
|
|
|
Average Pay
Rate
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
7.02%
|
|
|
7.20%
|
|
|
7.16%
|
|
|
7.15%
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
7.14%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Receive
Rate
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
5.92%
|
|
|
6.07%
|
|
|
6.88%
|
|
|
6.90%
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
6.72%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
notional amounts of interest rate instruments do not represent amounts exchanged
by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of our exposure to credit
loss. The amounts exchanged are determined by reference to the
notional amount and the other terms of the contracts. The estimated
fair value approximates the costs (proceeds) to settle the outstanding
contracts. Interest rates on variable debt are estimated using the
average implied forward LIBOR for the year of maturity based on the yield
curve in effect at March 31, 2008 including applicable bank spread.
At March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had $4.3 billion in notional amounts of
interest rate swaps outstanding. The notional amounts of interest
rate instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus,
are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged
are determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the
contracts.
Item
4. Controls
and Procedures.
As of the
end of the period covered by this report, management, including our Chief
Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this quarterly
report. The evaluation was based in part upon reports and
certifications provided by a number of executives. Based upon, and as
of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief
Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were
effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be
disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.
In
designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management
recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and
operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the
desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its
judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and
procedures. Based upon the above evaluation, we believe that our
controls provide such reasonable assurances.
There was
no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter
ended March 31, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION.
See Note
12 to our consolidated financial statements of this Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for a discussion concerning our legal proceedings.
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 includes “Risk
Factors” under Item 1A of Part I. Except for the updated risk factors
described below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors
described in our Form 10-K. The information below updates, and should
be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in our
Form 10-K.
Risks Related to Significant
Indebtedness of Us and Our Subsidiaries
We
and our subsidiaries have a significant amount of debt and may incur significant
additional debt, including secured debt, in the future, which could adversely
affect our financial health and our ability to react to changes in our
business.
We and
our subsidiaries have a significant amount of debt and may (subject to
applicable restrictions in our debt instruments) incur additional debt in the
future. As of March 31, 2008, our total debt was approximately $20.6
billion, our shareholders’ deficit was approximately $8.4 billion and the
deficiency of earnings to cover fixed charges for the three months ended March
31, 2008 was $298 million.
Because
of our significant indebtedness and adverse changes in the capital markets, our
ability to raise additional capital at reasonable rates or at all is uncertain,
and the ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions or payments to their
parent companies is subject to availability of funds and restrictions under our
subsidiaries’ applicable debt instruments and under applicable
law. If we need to raise additional capital through the issuance of
equity or find it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar
transaction, our shareholders could suffer significant dilution, including
potential loss of the entire value of their investment, and in the case of a
recapitalization or other similar transaction, our noteholders might not receive
principal and interest payments to which they are contractually
entitled.
Our
significant amount of debt could have other important
consequences. For example, the debt will or could:
|
·
|
require
us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operating
activities to make payments on our debt, reducing our funds available for
working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate
expenses;
|
|
·
|
limit
our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business,
the cable and telecommunications industries, and the economy at
large;
|
|
·
|
place
us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have proportionately
less debt;
|
|
·
|
make
us vulnerable to interest rate increases, because net of hedging
transactions approximately 15% of our borrowings are, and will continue to
be, subject to variable rates of
interest;
|
|
·
|
expose
us to increased interest expense to the extent we refinance existing debt
with higher cost debt;
|
|
·
|
adversely
affect our relationship with customers and
suppliers;
|
|
·
|
limit
our ability to borrow additional funds in the future, due to applicable
financial and restrictive covenants in our
debt;
|
|
·
|
make
it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to the holders of our
notes and for our subsidiaries to satisfy their obligations to the lenders
under their credit facilities and to their noteholders;
and
|
|
·
|
limit
future increases in the value, or cause a decline in the value of our
equity, which could limit our ability to raise additional capital by
issuing equity.
|
A default
by one of our subsidiaries under its debt obligations could result in the
acceleration of those obligations, which in turn could trigger cross-defaults
under other agreements governing our long-term indebtedness. In
addition, the secured lenders under the Charter Operating credit facilities, the
holders of the Charter Operating senior second-lien notes, the secured lenders
under the CCO Holdings credit facility, and the holders of the CCH I
notes
could foreclose on the collateral, which includes equity interests in certain of
our subsidiaries, and exercise other rights of secured creditors. Any
default under those credit facilities or the indentures governing our
convertible senior notes or our subsidiaries’ debt could adversely affect our
growth, our financial condition, our results of operations, the value of our
equity and our ability to make payments on our convertible senior notes, Charter
Operating’s credit facilities, and other debt of our subsidiaries, and could
force us to seek the protection of the bankruptcy laws. We and our
subsidiaries may incur significant additional debt in the future. If
current debt amounts increase, the related risks that we now face will
intensify.
We
may not be able to access funds under the Charter Operating revolving credit
facilities if we fail to satisfy the covenant restrictions, which could
adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to conduct our
business.
Our
subsidiaries have historically relied on access to credit facilities to fund
operations, capital expenditures, and to service parent company debt, and we
expect such reliance to continue in the future. Our total potential
borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility was approximately
$1.4 billion as of March 31, 2008, none of which was limited by covenant
restrictions. There can be no assurance that actual availability
under our credit facility will not be limited by covenant restrictions in the
future.
One of
the conditions to the availability of funding under the Charter Operating
revolving credit facility is the absence of a default under such facility,
including as a result of any failure to comply with the covenants under the
facilities. Among other covenants, the Charter Operating credit
facility requires us to maintain specified leverage ratios. The
Charter Operating revolving credit facility also provides that Charter Operating
obtain an unqualified audit opinion from its independent accountants for each
fiscal year, which, among other things, requires Charter to demonstrate its
ability to fund its projected liquidity needs for a reasonable period of time
following the balance sheet date of the financial statements being
audited. There can be no assurance that Charter Operating will be
able to continue to comply with these or any other of the covenants under the
credit facilities. See “—We and our subsidiaries have a significant
amount of debt and may incur significant additional debt, including secured
debt, in the future, which could adversely affect our financial health and our
ability to react to changes in our business” for a discussion of the
consequences of a default under our debt obligations.
We
depend on generating (and having available to the applicable obligor) sufficient
cash flow and having access to additional liquidity sources to fund our debt
obligations, capital expenditures, and ongoing operations.
Our
ability to service our debt and to fund our planned capital expenditures and
ongoing operations will depend on both our ability to generate and grow cash
flow and our access (by dividend or otherwise) to additional liquidity sources.
Our ability to generate and grow cash flow is dependent on many factors,
including:
·
|
the
impact of competition from other distributors, including incumbent
telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite operators, wireless
broadband providers and DSL
providers;
|
·
|
difficulties
in growing, further introducing, and operating our telephone services,
while adequately meeting customer expectations for the reliability of
voice services;
|
·
|
our
ability to adequately meet demand for installations and customer
service;
|
·
|
our
ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flows from operating
activities by offering video, high-speed Internet, telephone and other
services, and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the
face of increasingly aggressive
competition;
|
·
|
our
ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to adequately raise
prices to offset the effects of higher programming
costs;
|
·
|
general
business conditions, economic uncertainty or slowdown, including the
recent significant slowdown in the new housing sector and overall economy;
and
|
·
|
the
effects of governmental regulation on our
business.
|
Some of
these factors are beyond our control. It is also difficult to assess
the impact that the general economic downturn and recent turmoil in the credit
markets will have on future operations and financial
results. However, we believe there is risk that the economic slowdown
could result in reduced spending by customers and advertisers, which could
reduce our revenues and our cash flows from operating activities from those that
otherwise would have been generated. If we are unable to generate
sufficient cash flow or we are unable to access additional liquidity sources,
we may not be able to service and repay our debt, operate our business,
respond to competitive challenges, or fund our other liquidity and capital
needs. We expect that cash on hand, cash flows from operating
activities, and
the
amounts available under Charter Operating’s credit facilities will be adequate
to fund our projected cash needs, including scheduled maturities, through
2009. We believe that cash flows from operating activities, and the
amounts available under the Charter Operating credit facilities will not be
sufficient to fund projected cash needs in 2010 (primarily as a result of the
CCH II $2.2 billion of senior notes maturing in September 2010) and
thereafter. Our projected cash needs and projected sources of
liquidity depend upon, among other things, our actual results, the timing and
amount of our capital expenditures, and ongoing compliance with the Charter
Operating credit facilities, including obtaining an unqualified audit opinion
from our independent accountants. Although we have been able to
refinance or otherwise fund the repayment of debt in the past, we may not be
able to access additional sources of refinancing on similar terms or pricing as
those that are currently in place, or at all, or otherwise obtain other sources
of funding. An inability to access additional sources of liquidity to
fund our cash needs in 2010 or thereafter or to refinance or otherwise fund the
repayment of the CCH II senior notes could adversely affect our growth, our
financial condition, our results of operations, and our ability to make payments
on our debt, and could force us to seek the protection of the bankruptcy laws,
which could materially adversely impact our ability to operate our business and
to make payments under our debt instruments. See “Part
I. Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital
Resources.”
Because
of our holding company structure, our outstanding notes are structurally
subordinated in right of payment to all liabilities of our
subsidiaries. Restrictions in our subsidiaries’ debt instruments and
under applicable law limit their ability to provide funds to us or our various
debt issuers.
Charter’s
primary assets are our equity interests in our subsidiaries. Our
operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and are not
obligated to make funds available to us for payments on our notes or other
obligations in the form of loans, distributions or otherwise. Our
subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions to us or the applicable debt issuers
to service debt obligations is subject to their compliance with the terms of
their credit facilities and indentures and restrictions under applicable
law. See “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital
Resources — Limitations on Distributions.” Under the Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act, our subsidiaries may only make distributions if they have
“surplus” as defined in the act. Under fraudulent transfer laws, our
subsidiaries may not pay dividends if they are insolvent or are rendered
insolvent thereby. The measures of insolvency for purposes of these
fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding
to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, an
entity would be considered insolvent if:
·
|
the
sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the
fair saleable value of all its
assets;
|
·
|
the
present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that
would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts,
including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature;
or
|
·
|
it
could not pay its debts as they became
due.
|
While we
believe that our relevant subsidiaries currently have surplus and are not
insolvent, there can be no assurance that these subsidiaries will not become
insolvent or will be permitted to make distributions in the future in compliance
with these restrictions in amounts needed to service our
indebtedness. Our direct or indirect subsidiaries include the
borrowers and guarantors under the Charter Operating and CCO Holdings credit
facilities. Several of our subsidiaries are also obligors and
guarantors under senior high yield notes. Our convertible senior
notes are structurally subordinated in right of payment to all of the debt and
other liabilities of our subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2008, our
total debt was approximately $20.6 billion, of which approximately $20.2 billion
was structurally senior to our convertible senior notes.
In the
event of bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of one or more of our
subsidiaries, that subsidiary’s assets would first be applied to satisfy its own
obligations, and following such payments, such subsidiary may not have
sufficient assets remaining to make payments to its parent company as an equity
holder or otherwise. In that event:
|
·
|
the
lenders under Charter Operating’s credit facilities whose interests are
secured by substantially all of our operating assets, and all holders of
other debt of our subsidiaries, will have the right to be paid in full
before us from any of our subsidiaries’ assets;
and
|
|
·
|
the
holders of preferred membership interests in our subsidiary, CC VIII,
would have a claim on a portion of its assets that may reduce the amounts
available for repayment to holders of our outstanding
notes.
|
Risks
Related to Our Business
The
failure to maintain a minimum share price of $1.00 per share of
Class A common stock could result in delisting of our shares on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market, which would harm the market price of Charter’s
Class A common stock.
In order
to retain our listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market we are required to
maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. On April 14, 2008,
we received notice from the NASDAQ Global Select market that our Class A common
stock had closed below the minimum bid price of $1.00 per share for 30
consecutive business days and, therefore, is not in compliance with the minimum
bid price rule. We can regain compliance if our Class A common stock
closes at or above $1.00 per share for 10 consecutive days during the 180 days
immediately following April 14, 2008 or at any time by October 13, 2008. If we are
unable to take action to increase the bid price per share (either by reverse
stock split or otherwise), we could be subject to delisting from the NASDAQ
Global Select Market.
The
failure to maintain our listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market would harm
the liquidity of Charter’s Class A common stock and would have adverse
effect on the market price of our common stock. If the stock were to trade it
would likely trade on the OTC “pink sheets,” which provide significantly less
liquidity than does the NASDAQ Global Select Market. As a result, the liquidity
of our common stock would be impaired, not only in the number of shares which
could be bought and sold, but also through delays in the timing of transactions,
reduction in security analysts’ and news media’s coverage, and lower prices for
our common stock than might otherwise be attained. In addition, our common stock
would become subject to the low-priced security or so-called “penny stock” rules
that impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell
such securities.
The index
to the exhibits begins on page E-1 of this quarterly report.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Charter
Communications, Inc. has duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
Registrant
Dated:
May 12, 2008
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By:
/s/ Kevin D.
Howard
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Name:
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Kevin
D. Howard
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Title:
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Vice
President, Controller and
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Chief
Accounting Officer
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Exhibit
Number
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Description
of Document
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10.1 |
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Indenture
relating to the 10.875% senior second lien notes due 2014, dated as
of March 19, 2008, by and among Charter Communications Operating, LLC,
Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. and Wilmington Trust
Company, as trustee.
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10.2 |
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Collateral
Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2008, by and among Charter Communications
Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., CCO
Holdings, LLC, and certain of its subsidiaries in favor of Wilmington
Trust Company, as trustee.
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10.3 |
+ |
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Separation
Agreement and Release for Jeffrey T. Fisher.
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10.4 |
(a)+ |
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Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement between Eloise E. Schmitz and Charter
Communications, Inc., dated as of August 1, 2007.
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10.4 |
(b)+ |
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Amendment
to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Eloise E. Schmitz and
Charter Communications, Inc., dated as of April 7,
2008.
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10.5 |
+ |
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Amendment
to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Michael J. Lovett and
Charter Communications, Inc., dated as of March 5,
2008.
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10.6 |
+ |
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Amendment
to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Grier C. Raclin and
Charter Communications, Inc., dated as of March 5,
2008.
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12.1 |
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Computation
of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
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31.1 |
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Certificate
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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31.2 |
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Certificate
of Interim Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule
15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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32.1 |
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Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive
Officer).
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32.2 |
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Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Interim Chief Financial
Officer).
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+
Management compensatory plan or arrangement