Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
FORM 10-Q
______________
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| | |
(Mark One) |
x | | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| | |
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017 |
or |
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o | | 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: 001-33664
Charter Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| | |
Delaware | | 84-1496755 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
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400 Atlantic Street Stamford, Connecticut 06901 | | (203) 905-7801 |
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code) | | (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 o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
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 “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
Number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2017: 257,883,733
Number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2017: 1
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017. The United States 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. In this quarterly report, “Charter,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Charter Communications, Inc. and its 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 as 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 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,” “tentative,” “positioning,” “designed,” “create,” “predict,” “project,” “initiatives,” “seek,” “would,” “could,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “upside,” “increases” 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 on Form 10-Q, in our annual report on Form 10-K, and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
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• | our ability to promptly, efficiently and effectively integrate acquired operations; |
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• | our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flow from operations by offering video, Internet, voice, advertising and other services to residential and commercial customers, to adequately meet the customer experience demands in our markets and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition, the need for innovation and the related capital expenditures; |
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• | the impact of competition from other market participants, including but not limited to incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite operators, wireless broadband and telephone providers, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) providers, fiber to the home providers, video provided over the Internet by (i) market participants that have not historically competed in the multichannel video business, (ii) traditional multichannel video distributors, and (iii) content providers that have historically licensed cable networks to multichannel video distributors, and providers of advertising over the Internet; |
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• | general business conditions, economic uncertainty or downturn, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector; |
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• | our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to raise prices to offset, in whole or in part, the effects of higher programming costs (including retransmission consents); |
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• | our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including wireless products, our cloud-based user interface, Spectrum Guide®, and downloadable security for set-top boxes, and any other cloud-based consumer services and service platforms; |
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• | the effects of governmental regulation on our business or potential business combination transactions including costs, disruptions and possible limitations on operating flexibility related to, and our ability to comply with, regulatory conditions applicable to us as a result of the Time Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks, LLC Transactions; |
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• | any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation; |
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• | the ability to retain and hire key personnel; |
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• | the availability and access, in general, of funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) free cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital or credit markets; and |
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• | 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. |
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
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions, except share data) |
| | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
| (unaudited) | | |
ASSETS | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 694 |
| | $ | 1,535 |
|
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of | | | |
$121 and $124, respectively | 1,489 |
| | 1,432 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 381 |
| | 333 |
|
Total current assets | 2,564 |
| | 3,300 |
|
| | | |
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated | | | |
depreciation of $14,691 and $11,103, respectively | 32,948 |
| | 32,963 |
|
Customer relationships, net | 13,231 |
| | 14,608 |
|
Franchises | 67,316 |
| | 67,316 |
|
Goodwill | 29,554 |
| | 29,509 |
|
Total investment in cable properties, net | 143,049 |
| | 144,396 |
|
| | | |
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 1,347 |
| | 1,371 |
|
| | | |
Total assets | $ | 146,960 |
| | $ | 149,067 |
|
| | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 8,123 |
| | $ | 7,544 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 2,028 |
|
Total current liabilities | 8,123 |
| | 9,572 |
|
| | | |
LONG-TERM DEBT | 63,248 |
| | 59,719 |
|
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES | 26,574 |
| | 26,665 |
|
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | 2,582 |
| | 2,745 |
|
| | | |
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | | | |
Class A common stock; $.001 par value; 900 million shares authorized; | | | |
270,734,982 and 268,897,792 shares issued, respectively | — |
| | — |
|
Class B common stock; $.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized; | | | |
1 share issued and outstanding | — |
| | — |
|
Preferred stock; $.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized; | | | |
no shares issued and outstanding | — |
| | — |
|
Additional paid-in capital | 39,697 |
| | 39,413 |
|
Retained earnings | 1,158 |
| | 733 |
|
Treasury stock at cost; 12,851,249 and no shares, respectively | (4,223 | ) | | — |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (4 | ) | | (7 | ) |
Total Charter shareholders’ equity | 36,628 |
| | 40,139 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | 9,805 |
| | 10,227 |
|
Total shareholders’ equity | 46,433 |
| | 50,366 |
|
| | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 146,960 |
| | $ | 149,067 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in millions, except per share and share data)
Unaudited
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
REVENUES | $ | 10,357 |
| | $ | 6,161 |
| | $ | 20,521 |
| | $ | 8,691 |
|
| | | | | | | |
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | | | | | | | |
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 6,575 |
| | 4,004 |
| | 13,154 |
| | 5,675 |
|
Depreciation and amortization | 2,595 |
| | 1,436 |
| | 5,145 |
| | 1,975 |
|
Other operating expenses, net | 135 |
| | 551 |
| | 229 |
| | 569 |
|
| 9,305 |
| | 5,991 |
| | 18,528 |
| | 8,219 |
|
Income from operations | 1,052 |
| | 170 |
| | 1,993 |
| | 472 |
|
| | | | | | | |
OTHER EXPENSES: | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, net | (749 | ) | | (593 | ) | | (1,462 | ) | | (1,047 | ) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | (1 | ) | | (110 | ) | | (35 | ) | | (110 | ) |
Loss on financial instruments, net | (70 | ) | | (50 | ) | | (32 | ) | | (55 | ) |
Other pension benefits | 13 |
| | 520 |
| | 26 |
| | 520 |
|
Other expense, net | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (11 | ) | | (5 | ) |
| (809 | ) | | (235 | ) | | (1,514 | ) | | (697 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Income (loss) before income taxes | 243 |
| | (65 | ) | | 479 |
| | (225 | ) |
Income tax benefit (expense) | (48 | ) | | 3,179 |
| | (73 | ) | | 3,151 |
|
Consolidated net income | 195 |
| | 3,114 |
| | 406 |
| | 2,926 |
|
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (56 | ) | | (47 | ) | | (112 | ) | | (47 | ) |
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 139 |
| | $ | 3,067 |
| | $ | 294 |
| | $ | 2,879 |
|
| | | | | | | |
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS: | | | | | | | |
Basic | $ | 0.53 |
| | $ | 16.73 |
| | $ | 1.11 |
| | $ | 20.21 |
|
Diluted | $ | 0.52 |
| | $ | 15.17 |
| | $ | 1.09 |
| | $ | 19.00 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 263,460,911 |
| | 183,362,776 |
| | 266,217,549 |
| | 142,457,435 |
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 267,309,261 |
| | 205,214,266 |
| | 270,249,433 |
| | 153,959,234 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Consolidated net income | $ | 195 |
| | $ | 3,114 |
| | $ | 406 |
| | $ | 2,926 |
|
Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments | 2 |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
| | 4 |
|
Consolidated comprehensive income | 197 |
| | 3,116 |
| | 409 |
| | 2,930 |
|
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (56 | ) | | (47 | ) | | (112 | ) | | (47 | ) |
Comprehensive income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 141 |
| | $ | 3,069 |
| | $ | 297 |
| | $ | 2,883 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| | 2017 | | 2016 |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | | |
Consolidated net income | | $ | 406 |
| | $ | 2,926 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities: | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 5,145 |
| | 1,975 |
|
Stock compensation expense | | 134 |
| | 87 |
|
Accelerated vesting of equity awards | | 37 |
| | 145 |
|
Noncash interest income, net | | (196 | ) | | (41 | ) |
Other pension benefits | | (26 | ) | | (520 | ) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | 35 |
| | 110 |
|
Loss on financial instruments, net | | 32 |
| | 55 |
|
Deferred income taxes | | 42 |
| | (3,164 | ) |
Other, net | | 8 |
| | — |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions: | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | 61 |
| | (100 | ) |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | (23 | ) | | 11 |
|
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other | | 133 |
| | 530 |
|
Net cash flows from operating activities | | 5,788 |
| | 2,014 |
|
| | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | | | |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | | (3,703 | ) | | (1,689 | ) |
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | | 197 |
| | 138 |
|
Purchases of cable systems, net of cash acquired | | — |
| | (28,810 | ) |
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents | | — |
| | 22,264 |
|
Other, net | | (49 | ) | | (6 | ) |
Net cash flows from investing activities | | (3,555 | ) | | (8,103 | ) |
| | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | | |
Borrowings of long-term debt | | 7,146 |
| | 5,997 |
|
Repayments of long-term debt | | (5,529 | ) | | (4,070 | ) |
Payments for debt issuance costs | | (42 | ) | | (283 | ) |
Issuance of equity | | — |
| | 5,000 |
|
Purchase of treasury stock | | (4,223 | ) | | (99 | ) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | | 86 |
| | 24 |
|
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | | (429 | ) | | — |
|
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | | (75 | ) | | (18 | ) |
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives | | — |
| | 88 |
|
Other, net | | (8 | ) | | — |
|
Net cash flows from financing activities | | (3,074 | ) | | 6,639 |
|
| | | | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | (841 | ) | | 550 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | | 1,535 |
| | 5 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | | $ | 694 |
| | $ | 555 |
|
| | | | |
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST | | $ | 1,653 |
| | $ | 1,014 |
|
CASH PAID FOR TAXES | | $ | 33 |
| | $ | 4 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Charter Communications, Inc. (together with its controlled subsidiaries, “Charter,” or the “Company”) is the second largest cable operator in the United States and a leading broadband communications company providing video, Internet and voice services to residential and business customers. In addition, the Company sells video and online advertising inventory to local, regional and national advertising customers and fiber-delivered communications and managed information technology solutions to larger enterprise customers. The Company also owns and operates regional sports networks and local sports, news and lifestyle channels and sells security and home management services to the residential marketplace.
Charter is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), an indirect owner of Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) under which substantially all of the operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.
The Company’s operations are managed and reported to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s chief operating decision maker, on a consolidated basis. The CEO assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations. Under this organizational and reporting structure, the Company has one reportable segment, cable services.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) 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 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 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; purchase accounting valuations of assets and liabilities including, but not limited to, property, plant and equipment, intangibles and goodwill; pension benefits; income taxes; contingencies and programming expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2017 presentation.
2. Mergers and Acquisitions
The Transactions
On May 18, 2016, the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Mergers dated as of May 23, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Time Warner Cable Inc. (“Legacy TWC”), Charter Communications, Inc. prior to the closing of the Merger Agreement (“Legacy Charter”), CCH I, LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Charter and certain other subsidiaries of CCH I, LLC were completed (the “TWC Transaction,” and together with the Bright House Transaction described below, the “Transactions”). As a result of the TWC Transaction, CCH I, LLC became the new public parent company that holds the operations of the combined companies and was renamed Charter Communications, Inc. As of the date of completion of the Transactions, the total value of the TWC Transaction was approximately $85 billion, including cash, equity and Legacy TWC assumed debt.
Also, on May 18, 2016, Legacy Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”), the former parent of Bright House Networks, LLC (“Bright House”), completed their previously announced transaction, pursuant to a definitive Contribution Agreement (the
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
“Contribution Agreement”), under which Charter acquired Bright House (the “Bright House Transaction”) for approximately $12.2 billion consisting of cash, convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings and common units of Charter Holdings. Pursuant to the Bright House Transaction, Charter became the owner of the membership interests in Bright House and the other assets primarily related to Bright House (other than certain excluded assets and liabilities and non-operating cash).
In connection with the TWC Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock to partially finance the cash portion of the TWC Transaction consideration, and in connection with the Bright House Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock (the “Liberty Transactions”).
Acquisition Accounting
Charter applied acquisition accounting to the Transactions. The total purchase price was allocated to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The fair values were primarily based on third-party valuations using assumptions developed by management and other information compiled by management including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values was recorded as goodwill.
The tables below present the final allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Transactions.
TWC Allocation of Purchase Price
|
| | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,058 |
|
Current assets | 1,417 |
|
Property, plant and equipment | 21,413 |
|
Customer relationships | 13,460 |
|
Franchises | 54,085 |
|
Goodwill | 28,337 |
|
Other noncurrent assets | 1,040 |
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (4,107 | ) |
Debt | (24,900 | ) |
Deferred income taxes | (28,120 | ) |
Other long-term liabilities | (3,162 | ) |
Noncontrolling interests | (4 | ) |
| $ | 60,517 |
|
The Company made measurement period adjustments to the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the TWC Transaction during the three months ended June 30, 2017, including a decrease to working capital of $46 million and a decrease of $18 million to deferred income tax liabilities, resulting in a net increase of $28 million to goodwill. The measurement period adjustments for the TWC Transaction during the six months ended June 30, 2017 included a decrease to working capital of $73 million and a decrease of $28 million to deferred income tax liabilities, resulting in a net increase of $45 million to goodwill.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Bright House Allocation of Purchase Price
|
| | | |
Current assets | $ | 131 |
|
Property, plant and equipment | 2,884 |
|
Customer relationships | 2,150 |
|
Franchises | 7,225 |
|
Goodwill | 44 |
|
Other noncurrent assets | 86 |
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (330 | ) |
Other long-term liabilities | (12 | ) |
Noncontrolling interests | (22 | ) |
| $ | 12,156 |
|
No measurement period adjustments were made to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Bright House Transaction during the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Selected Pro Forma Financial Information
The following unaudited pro forma financial information of the Company is based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Legacy Charter, Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House and is intended to provide information about how the Transactions and related financing may have affected the Company’s historical consolidated financial statements if they had closed as of January 1, 2015. The pro forma financial information below is based on available information and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. The pro forma financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of what the Company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the transactions described above occurred on the date indicated. The pro forma financial information also should not be considered representative of the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations.
|
| | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 | | Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 |
Revenues | $ | 9,969 |
| | $ | 19,711 |
|
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 248 |
| | $ | 427 |
|
Earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders: | | | |
Basic | $ | 0.92 |
| | $ | 1.58 |
|
Diluted | $ | 0.91 |
| | $ | 1.56 |
|
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
3. Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets consist of the following as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
| | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Carrying Amount | | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization | | Net Carrying Amount |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Franchises | | $ | 67,316 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 67,316 |
| | $ | 67,316 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 67,316 |
|
Goodwill | | 29,554 |
| | — |
| | 29,554 |
| | 29,509 |
| | — |
| | 29,509 |
|
Trademarks | | 159 |
| | — |
| | 159 |
| | 159 |
| | — |
| | 159 |
|
Other intangible assets | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
|
| | $ | 97,029 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 97,029 |
| | $ | 96,988 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 96,988 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finite-lived intangible assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Customer relationships | | $ | 18,227 |
| | $ | (4,996 | ) | | $ | 13,231 |
| | $ | 18,226 |
| | $ | (3,618 | ) | | $ | 14,608 |
|
Other intangible assets | | 664 |
| | (162 | ) | | 502 |
| | 615 |
| | (128 | ) | | 487 |
|
| | $ | 18,891 |
| | $ | (5,158 | ) | | $ | 13,733 |
| | $ | 18,841 |
| | $ | (3,746 | ) | | $ | 15,095 |
|
Amortization expense related to customer relationships and other intangible assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was $695 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, and was $403 million and $464 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively.
The Company expects amortization expense on its finite-lived intangible assets will be as follows:
|
| | | | |
Six months ended December 31, 2017 | | $ | 1,327 |
|
2018 | | 2,468 |
|
2019 | | 2,185 |
|
2020 | | 1,894 |
|
2021 | | 1,609 |
|
Thereafter | | 4,250 |
|
| | $ | 13,733 |
|
Actual amortization expense in future periods will differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives, impairments and other relevant factors.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
4. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
|
| | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
Accounts payable – trade | $ | 584 |
| | $ | 454 |
|
Deferred revenue | 364 |
| | 352 |
|
Accrued liabilities: | | | |
Programming costs | 1,985 |
| | 1,783 |
|
Labor | 975 |
| | 1,111 |
|
Capital expenditures | 1,308 |
| | 1,107 |
|
Interest | 984 |
| | 958 |
|
Taxes and regulatory fees | 548 |
| | 538 |
|
Property and casualty | 390 |
| | 394 |
|
Other | 985 |
| | 847 |
|
| $ | 8,123 |
| | $ | 7,544 |
|
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
5. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
| Principal Amount | | Accreted Value | | Principal Amount | | Accreted Value |
CCO Holdings, LLC: | | | | | | | |
5.250% senior notes due March 15, 2021 | $ | 500 |
| | $ | 497 |
| | $ | 500 |
| | $ | 496 |
|
6.625% senior notes due January 31, 2022 | — |
| | — |
| | 750 |
| | 741 |
|
5.250% senior notes due September 30, 2022 | 1,250 |
| | 1,233 |
| | 1,250 |
| | 1,232 |
|
5.125% senior notes due February 15, 2023 | 1,000 |
| | 992 |
| | 1,000 |
| | 992 |
|
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2023 | 1,150 |
| | 1,142 |
| | 1,150 |
| | 1,141 |
|
5.750% senior notes due September 1, 2023 | 500 |
| | 496 |
| | 500 |
| | 496 |
|
5.750% senior notes due January 15, 2024 | 1,000 |
| | 992 |
| | 1,000 |
| | 991 |
|
5.875% senior notes due April 1, 2024 | 1,700 |
| | 1,686 |
| | 1,700 |
| | 1,685 |
|
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2025 | 750 |
| | 745 |
| | 750 |
| | 744 |
|
5.750% senior notes due February 15, 2026 | 2,500 |
| | 2,462 |
| | 2,500 |
| | 2,460 |
|
5.500% senior notes due May 1, 2026 | 1,500 |
| | 1,488 |
| | 1,500 |
| | 1,487 |
|
5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027 | 800 |
| | 794 |
| | 800 |
| | 794 |
|
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 | 3,250 |
| | 3,214 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Charter Communications Operating, LLC: | | | | | | | |
3.579% senior notes due July 23, 2020 | 2,000 |
| | 1,985 |
| | 2,000 |
| | 1,983 |
|
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022 | 3,000 |
| | 2,975 |
| | 3,000 |
| | 2,973 |
|
4.908% senior notes due July 23, 2025 | 4,500 |
| | 4,460 |
| | 4,500 |
| | 4,458 |
|
6.384% senior notes due October 23, 2035 | 2,000 |
| | 1,981 |
| | 2,000 |
| | 1,980 |
|
6.484% senior notes due October 23, 2045 | 3,500 |
| | 3,466 |
| | 3,500 |
| | 3,466 |
|
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2047 | 1,250 |
| | 1,241 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055 | 500 |
| | 495 |
| | 500 |
| | 495 |
|
Credit facilities | 8,817 |
| | 8,725 |
| | 8,916 |
| | 8,814 |
|
Time Warner Cable, LLC: | | | | | | | |
5.850% senior notes due May 1, 2017 | — |
| | — |
| | 2,000 |
| | 2,028 |
|
6.750% senior notes due July 1, 2018 | 2,000 |
| | 2,090 |
| | 2,000 |
| | 2,135 |
|
8.750% senior notes due February 14, 2019 | 1,250 |
| | 1,374 |
| | 1,250 |
| | 1,412 |
|
8.250% senior notes due April 1, 2019 | 2,000 |
| | 2,206 |
| | 2,000 |
| | 2,264 |
|
5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2020 | 1,500 |
| | 1,597 |
| | 1,500 |
| | 1,615 |
|
4.125% senior notes due February 15, 2021 | 700 |
| | 735 |
| | 700 |
| | 739 |
|
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021 | 1,000 |
| | 1,050 |
| | 1,000 |
| | 1,056 |
|
5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a) | 814 |
| | 880 |
| | 770 |
| | 834 |
|
6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 2037 | 1,500 |
| | 1,689 |
| | 1,500 |
| | 1,691 |
|
7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 2038 | 1,500 |
| | 1,792 |
| | 1,500 |
| | 1,795 |
|
6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 2039 | 1,500 |
| | 1,727 |
| | 1,500 |
| | 1,730 |
|
5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 2040 | 1,200 |
| | 1,258 |
| | 1,200 |
| | 1,259 |
|
5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 2041 | 1,250 |
| | 1,258 |
| | 1,250 |
| | 1,258 |
|
5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b) | 847 |
| | 816 |
| | 800 |
| | 771 |
|
4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 2042 | 1,250 |
| | 1,136 |
| | 1,250 |
| | 1,135 |
|
Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC: | | | | | | | |
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 2023 | 1,000 |
| | 1,253 |
| | 1,000 |
| | 1,273 |
|
8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 2033 | 1,000 |
| | 1,318 |
| | 1,000 |
| | 1,324 |
|
Total debt | 61,778 |
| | 63,248 |
| | 60,036 |
| | 61,747 |
|
Less current portion: | | | | | | | |
5.850% senior notes due May 1, 2017 | — |
| | — |
| | (2,000 | ) | | (2,028 | ) |
Long-term debt | $ | 61,778 |
| | $ | 63,248 |
| | $ | 58,036 |
| | $ | 59,719 |
|
| |
(a) | Principal amount includes £625 million valued at $814 million and $770 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates. |
| |
(b) | Principal amount includes £650 million valued at $847 million and $800 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates. |
The accreted values presented in the table above represent the principal amount of the debt less the original issue discount at the time of sale, deferred financing costs, and, in regards to the Legacy TWC debt assumed, fair value premium adjustments as a result of applying acquisition accounting plus the accretion of those amounts to the balance sheet date. However, the amount that is currently payable if the debt becomes immediately due is equal to the principal amount of the debt. In regards to the fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”), the principal amount of the debt and any premium or discount into US dollars is remeasured as of each balance sheet date. See Note 8. The Company has availability under the Charter Operating credit facilities of approximately $2.8 billion as of June 30, 2017.
CCO Holdings
In February 2016, CCO Holdings, LLC ("CCO Holdings") and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. ("CCO Holdings Capital") jointly issued $1.7 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2024 and, in April 2016, they issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.500% senior notes due 2026 at a price of 100.075% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds from both issuances were used to repurchase all of CCO Holdings’ 7.000% senior notes due 2019, 7.375% senior notes due 2020 and 6.500% senior notes due 2021 and to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. These debt repurchases resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $110 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.
In February 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027. The net proceeds were used to redeem CCO Holdings’ 6.625% senior notes due 2022, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $33 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 related to these transactions.
In March 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 99.0% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, as well as cash on hand, were used in April 2017 to redeem Time Warner Cable, LLC's 5.850% senior notes due 2017, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 related to these transactions.
In April 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 (the "April CCOH Notes" and together with the notes issued in February and March 2017 described above, the "Notes") at a price of 100.5% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, along with the net proceeds from the Charter Operating Notes described below, were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.
The Notes are senior debt obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital and rank equally with all other current and future unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital. They are structurally subordinated to all obligations of subsidiaries of CCO Holdings.
CCO Holdings may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time at a premium. Beginning in 2025, the optional redemption price declines to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
In addition, at any time prior to May 1, 2020, CCO Holdings may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings (as defined in the indenture); provided that certain conditions are met. In the event of specified change of control events, CCO Holdings must offer to purchase the outstanding Notes from the holders at a purchase price equal to 101% of the total principal amount of the Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
Charter Operating
In January 2017, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 18, 2016 (the “Credit Agreement”) decreasing the applicable LIBOR margin on both the term loan E and term loan F to 2.00% and eliminating the LIBOR floor. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 related to these transactions.
In April 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 99.968% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, along with the net proceeds from the April CCOH Notes described above, were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.
In July 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028 at a price of 99.166% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 106.529% of the aggregate principal amount (collectively together with the notes issued in April 2017 described above, the "Charter Operating Notes"). The net proceeds will be used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund potential buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.
The Charter Operating Notes are guaranteed by CCO Holdings, Time Warner Cable, LLC, Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC and substantially all of the operating subsidiaries of Charter Operating. In addition, the Charter Operating Notes are secured by a perfected first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Charter Operating to the extent such liens can be perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code by the filing of a financing statement. The liens rank equally with the liens on the collateral securing obligations under the Charter Operating credit facilities and continue to exist as long as the liens securing such facilities exist. Charter Operating may redeem some or all of the Charter Operating notes at any time at a premium.
6. Common Stock
The following represents the Company's purchase of Charter Class A common stock and the effect on the consolidated statements of cash flows during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ | | Shares | | $ |
Share buyback program | 9,953,269 |
| | $ | 3,299 |
| | — |
| | $ | — |
| | 12,418,839 |
| | $ | 4,098 |
| | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Income tax withholding | 87,828 |
| | 29 |
| | 367,725 |
| | 83 |
| | 391,865 |
| | 125 |
| | 453,071 |
| | 99 |
|
Exercise cost | 1,391 |
| | | | 1,688 |
| | | | 40,545 |
| | | | 18,793 |
| | |
| 10,042,488 |
| | $ | 3,328 |
| | 369,413 |
| | $ | 83 |
| | 12,851,249 |
| | $ | 4,223 |
| | 471,864 |
| | $ | 99 |
|
As of July 25, 2017, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $3.0 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock under the share buyback program without taking into account shares or units that may be purchased from A/N. See Note 14. The Company also withholds shares of its Class A common stock in payment of income tax withholding owed by employees upon vesting of equity awards as well as exercise costs owed by employees upon exercise of stock options.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
In December 2016, Charter’s board of directors approved the retirement of the then currently held treasury stock and those shares were retired as of December 31, 2016. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of total shareholders’ equity.
7. Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests represents consolidated subsidiaries of which the Company owns less than 100%. The Company is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems. Noncontrolling interests on the Company’s balance sheet primarily includes A/N’s equity interests in Charter Holdings, which is comprised of a common ownership interest and a convertible preferred ownership interest.
Net income (loss) of Charter Holdings attributable to A/N’s common noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the effective common ownership interest of approximately 10%, and was $18 million and $36 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $29 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Net income (loss) of Charter Holdings attributable to the preferred noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the preferred dividend which was $37 million and $75 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $18 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.
Pursuant to the Letter Agreement (see Note 14), Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 1.2 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $326.50, or $402 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, and 1.3 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $326.38, or $429 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017. The common units purchased during the six months ended June 30, 2017 are reflected as a reduction in noncontrolling interest based on net carrying value of approximately $290 million with the remaining $139 million recorded as reduction of additional paid-in-capital, net of $53 million of deferred income taxes. As of June 30, 2017, A/N held 27.1 million Charter Holdings common units in addition to shares of Charter Class A common stock.
Noncontrolling interest and additional paid-in-capital were also adjusted during the six months ended June 30, 2017 due to the changes in Charter Holdings' ownership. These adjustments resulted in a decrease to noncontrolling interest of approximately $166 million and a corresponding increase to additional paid-in-capital of $166 million, net of $64 million of deferred income taxes, for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
8. Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on variable debt and foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and does not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.
Interest rate derivative instruments are used to manage interest costs and to reduce the Company’s exposure to increases in floating interest rates. The Company manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. Using interest rate derivative instruments, the Company agrees to exchange, at specified intervals through 2017, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional principal amounts. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $850 million in notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments outstanding. The notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged were determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.
Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to effectively convert £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The cross-currency swaps have maturities of June 2031 and July 2042. The Company is required to post collateral on the cross-currency derivative instruments when the derivative contracts are in a liability position. In May 2016, the Company entered into a collateral holiday agreement for 80% of both the 2031 and 2042 cross-currency swaps, which eliminates the requirement to post collateral for three years.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
The effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets is presented in the table below:
|
| | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
Interest Rate Derivatives | | | |
Accrued interest | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 5 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | $ | (2 | ) | | $ | (5 | ) |
| | | |
Cross-Currency Derivatives | | | |
Other long-term liabilities | $ | 193 |
| | $ | 251 |
|
The Company’s interest rate and cross-currency derivative instruments are not designated as hedges and are marked to fair value each period, with the impact recorded as a gain or loss on financial instruments, net in the consolidated statements of operations. While these derivative instruments are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, management continues to believe such instruments are closely correlated with the respective debt, thus managing associated risk.
The effect of financial instruments on the consolidated statements of operations is presented in the table below.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Loss on Financial Instruments, Net: | | | | | | | |
Change in fair value of interest rate derivative instruments | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 4 |
| | $ | (2 | ) |
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments | (7 | ) | | (185 | ) | | 58 |
| | (185 | ) |
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars | (63 | ) | | 147 |
| | (91 | ) | | 147 |
|
Loss on termination of interest rate derivative instruments | — |
| | (11 | ) | | — |
| | (11 | ) |
Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss due to discontinuance of hedge accounting | (2 | ) | | (2 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (4 | ) |
| $ | (70 | ) | | $ | (50 | ) | | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | (55 | ) |
9. Fair Value Measurements
The accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based on 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. |
Financial Assets and Liabilities
The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment, however, is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange.
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
A portion of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were invested in money market funds. The money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor from an actively traded exchange which approximates fair value. The money market funds potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk. The amount invested within any one financial instrument did not exceed $150 million and $250 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no significant concentrations of financial instruments in a single investee, industry or geographic location.
Interest rate derivative instruments are valued using a present value calculation based on an implied forward LIBOR curve (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk). The weighted average pay rate for the Company’s currently effective interest rate derivative instruments was 1.59% at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (exclusive of applicable spreads). The cross-currency derivative instruments are valued using a present value calculation based on expected forward interest and exchange rates (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk).
Financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the table below.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
| Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 1 | | Level 2 |
Assets | | | | | | | |
Money market funds | $ | 149 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,205 |
| | $ | — |
|
| | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | |
Interest rate derivative instruments | $ | — |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5 |
|
Cross-currency derivative instruments | $ | — |
| | $ | 193 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 251 |
|
A summary of the carrying value and fair value of debt as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | June 30, 2017 | | December 31, 2016 |
| | Carrying Value | | Fair Value | | Carrying Value | | Fair Value |
Senior notes and debentures | | $ | 54,523 |
| | $ | 58,470 |
| | $ | 52,933 |
| | $ | 55,203 |
|
Credit facilities | | $ | 8,725 |
| | $ | 8,836 |
| | $ | 8,814 |
| | $ | 8,943 |
|
The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior notes and debentures as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is based on quoted market prices in active markets and is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy, while the estimated fair value of the Company’s credit facilities is based on quoted market prices in inactive markets and is classified within Level 2.
Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities
The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as equity-method investments, franchises, property, plant, and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist. No material impairments were recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. Upon closing of the Transactions, all of Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House nonfinancial assets and liabilities were recorded at fair values. See Note 2.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
10. Operating Costs and Expenses
Operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, consist of the following for the periods presented:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Programming | $ | 2,649 |
| | $ | 1,541 |
| | $ | 5,253 |
| | $ | 2,244 |
|
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content | 532 |
| | 317 |
| | 1,030 |
| | 429 |
|
Costs to service customers | 1,907 |
| | 1,189 |
| | 3,855 |
| | 1,647 |
|
Marketing | 601 |
| | 382 |
| | 1,183 |
| | 547 |
|
Transition costs | 30 |
| | 25 |
| | 81 |
| | 46 |
|
Other | 856 |
| | 550 |
| | 1,752 |
| | 762 |
|
| $ | 6,575 |
| | $ | 4,004 |
| | $ | 13,154 |
| | $ | 5,675 |
|
Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, premium, digital, video on demand, and pay-per-view programming. Regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs represent payments to franchise and regulatory authorities, costs directly related to providing video, Internet and voice services as well as payments for sports, local and news content produced by the Company. Included in regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs is content acquisition costs for the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball games and Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball games which are recorded as games are exhibited over the applicable season. Costs to service customers include costs related to field operations, network operations and customer care for the Company’s residential and small and medium business customers, including internal and third-party labor for installations, service and repairs, maintenance, bad debt expense, billing and collection, occupancy and vehicle costs. Marketing costs represent the costs of marketing to current and potential commercial and residential customers including labor costs. Transition costs represent incremental costs incurred to integrate the TWC and Bright House operations and to increase the scale of the Company’s business as a result of the Transactions. See Note 2. Other includes corporate overhead, advertising sales expenses, indirect costs associated with the Company’s enterprise business customers and regional sports and news networks, property tax and insurance expense and stock compensation expense, among others.
11. Other Operating Expenses, Net
Other operating expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Merger and restructuring costs | $ | 131 |
| | $ | 556 |
| | $ | 226 |
| | $ | 570 |
|
Special charges, net | 4 |
| | 2 |
| | 6 |
| | 6 |
|
Gain on sale of assets, net | — |
| | (7 | ) | | (3 | ) | | (7 | ) |
| $ | 135 |
| | $ | 551 |
| | $ | 229 |
| | $ | 569 |
|
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Merger and restructuring costs
Merger and restructuring costs represent costs incurred in connection with merger and acquisition transactions and related restructuring, such as advisory, legal and accounting fees, employee retention costs, employee termination costs related to the Transactions and other exit costs. The Company expects to incur additional merger and restructuring costs in connection with the Transactions. Changes in accruals for merger and restructuring costs from December 31, 2016 through June 30, 2017 are presented below:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Employee Retention Costs | | Employee Termination Costs | | Transaction and Advisory Costs | | Other Costs | | Total |
Liability, December 31, 2015 | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 33 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 33 |
|
Liability assumed in the Transactions | 80 |
| | 9 |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 92 |
|
Costs incurred | 26 |
| | 337 |
| | 318 |
| | 41 |
| | 722 |
|
Cash paid | (99 | ) | | (102 | ) | | (329 | ) | | (41 | ) | | (571 | ) |
Remaining liability, December 31, 2016 | 7 |
| | 244 |
| | 25 |
| | — |
| | 276 |
|
| | | | | | | | | |
Costs incurred | 3 |
| | 150 |
| | 3 |
| | 33 |
| | 189 |
|
Cash paid | (9 | ) | | (194 | ) | | (5 | ) | | (33 | ) | | (241 | ) |
Remaining liability, June 30, 2017 | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 200 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 224 |
|
In addition to the costs incurred indicated above, the Company recorded $20 million and $37 million of expense related to accelerated vesting of equity awards of terminated employees during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $145 million during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.
Special charges, net
Special charges, net primarily includes employee termination costs not related to the Transactions and net amounts of litigation settlements.
Gain on sale of assets, net
Gain on sale of assets, net represents the net gain recognized on the sales and disposals of fixed assets and cable systems.
12. Income Taxes
Substantially all of the Company’s operations are held through Charter Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Charter Holdings and the majority of its subsidiaries are limited liability companies that are generally 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 income tax. Generally, the taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of Charter Holdings are passed through to its members, Charter and A/N. Charter is responsible for its share of taxable income or loss of Charter Holdings allocated to it in accordance with the Charter Holdings Limited Liability Company Agreement (“LLC Agreement”) and partnership tax rules and regulations. As a result, Charter's primary deferred tax component recorded in the consolidated balance sheets relates to its excess financial reporting outside basis, excluding amounts attributable to nondeductible goodwill, over Charter's tax basis in the investment in Charter Holdings.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded income tax expense of $48 million and $73 million, respectively. Income tax expense is generally recognized through increases in deferred tax liabilities as well as through current federal and state income tax expense. Income tax expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 was reduced by approximately $15 million and $71 million, respectively, due to the recognition of excess tax benefits resulting from share based compensation as a component of the provision for income taxes following the prospective application of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). Upon adoption
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
of ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017, the Company recognized excess tax benefits of approximately $136 million in deferred tax assets that were previously not recognized in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. See Note 19.
For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded income tax benefit of $3.2 billion which was primarily the result of a reduction of substantially all of Legacy Charter's preexisting valuation allowance associated with its deferred tax assets of approximately $3.3 billion as certain of the deferred tax liabilities that were assumed in connection with the closing of the TWC Transaction will reverse and provide a source of future taxable income. This tax benefit was partially offset by the tax effect of permanent differences for estimated nondeductible transaction costs and noncontrolling interest expense, a decrease to the anticipated blended state rate applied to Legacy Charter deferred tax balances as a result of the Transactions, and prior to the closing of the Transactions, increases (decreases) in deferred tax liabilities related to Charter’s franchises which are characterized as indefinite-lived for book financial reporting purposes.
Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems, generally allocates its taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits proportionately according to the members’ respective ownership interests, except for special allocations required under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations (“Section 704(c)”). Pursuant to Section 704(c) and the LLC Agreement, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the partnership shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the members so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its initial gross asset value using the “traditional method” as described in the Treasury Regulations.
In determining the Company’s tax provision for financial reporting purposes, the Company establishes a reserve for uncertain tax positions unless such positions are determined to be “more likely than not” of being sustained upon examination, based on their technical merits. There is considerable judgment involved in making such a determination. The Company has recorded unrecognized tax benefits totaling approximately $170 million and $172 million, excluding interest and penalties, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company does not currently anticipate that its reserve for uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease during 2017; however, various events could cause the Company’s current expectations to change in the future. These uncertain tax positions, if ever recognized in the financial statements, would be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as part of the income tax provision.
No tax years for Charter, Charter Holdings, or Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC for income tax purposes, are currently under examination by the IRS. Legacy Charter’s tax years ending 2013 through the short period return dated May 17, 2016 remain subject to examination and assessment. Years prior to 2013 remain open solely for purposes of examination of Legacy Charter’s loss and credit carryforwards. The IRS is currently examining Legacy TWC’s income tax returns for 2011 through 2014. Legacy TWC’s tax year 2015 remains subject to examination and assessment. Prior to Legacy TWC’s separation from Time Warner Inc. (“Time Warner”) in March 2009 (the “Separation”), Legacy TWC was included in the consolidated U.S. federal and certain state income tax returns of Time Warner. The IRS is currently examining Time Warner’s 2008 through 2010 income tax returns. Time Warner’s income tax returns for 2005 to 2007, which are periods prior to the Separation, were settled with the exception of an immaterial item that has been referred to the IRS Appeals Division. The Company does not anticipate that these examinations will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company is also subject to ongoing examinations of the Company’s tax returns by state and local tax authorities for various periods. Activity related to these state and local examinations did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, nor does the Company anticipate a material impact in the future.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
13. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Charter shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock and if-converted methods and is based on the weighted average number of shares used for the basic earnings per share calculation, adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, equity awards with market conditions and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units and common units. Charter Holdings common and convertible preferred units were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 as their effect was antidilutive. The following is the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Numerator: | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 139 |
| | $ | 3,067 |
| | $ | 294 |
| | $ | 2,879 |
|
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | |
Charter Holdings common units | — |
| | 29 |
| | — |
| | 29 |
|
Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | — |
| | 18 |
| | — |
| | 18 |
|
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions | $ | 139 |
| | $ | 3,114 |
| | $ | 294 |
| | $ | 2,926 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Denominator: | | | | | | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 263,460,911 |
| | 183,362,776 |
| | 266,217,549 |
| | 142,457,435 |
|
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | |
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans | 3,848,350 |
| | 2,351,592 |
| | 4,031,884 |
| | 1,751,850 |
|
Weighted average Charter Holdings common units | — |
| | 14,986,997 |
| | — |
| | 7,493,498 |
|
Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | — |
| | 4,512,901 |
| | — |
| | 2,256,451 |
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 267,309,261 |
| | 205,214,266 |
| | 270,249,433 |
| | 153,959,234 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 0.53 |
| | $ | 16.73 |
| | $ | 1.11 |
| | $ | 20.21 |
|
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders | $ | 0.52 |
| | $ | 15.17 |
| | $ | 1.09 |
| | $ | 19.00 |
|
14. Related Party Transactions
On May 23, 2015, in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement and the amendment of the Contribution Agreement, Charter entered into the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement with Liberty Broadband, A/N and Legacy Charter (the “Stockholders Agreement”) and the LLC Agreement with Liberty Broadband and A/N. As of the closing of the Merger Agreement and the Contribution Agreement on May 18, 2016, the Stockholders Agreement replaced Legacy Charter’s existing stockholders agreement with Liberty Broadband, dated September 29, 2014, and superseded the amended and restated stockholders agreement among Legacy Charter, Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N, dated March 31, 2015.
Under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the number of Charter’s directors is fixed at 13, and includes its CEO. Upon the closing of the Bright House Transaction, two designees selected by A/N became members of the board of directors of Charter and three designees selected by Liberty Broadband continued as members of the board of directors of Charter. The remaining eight directors are not affiliated with either A/N or Liberty Broadband. Each of A/N and Liberty Broadband is entitled to nominate at least one director to each of the committees of Charter’s board of directors, subject to applicable stock exchange listing rules and certain specified voting or equity ownership thresholds for each of A/N and Liberty Broadband, and provided that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefit Committee each have at least a majority of directors
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
independent from A/N, Liberty Broadband and the Company (referred to as the “unaffiliated directors”). Each of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee is currently comprised of three unaffiliated directors and one designee of each of A/N and Liberty Broadband. A/N and Liberty Broadband also have certain other committee designation and other governance rights. Upon the closing of the Bright House Transaction, Mr. Thomas Rutledge, the Company’s CEO, became the chairman of the board of Charter.
In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into a letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis once Charter or Charter Holdings have repurchased shares of Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units from A/N and its affiliates for an aggregate purchase price of $537 million which threshold has been reached.
The Company is aware that Dr. John Malone may be deemed to have a 37.9% voting interest in Liberty Interactive and is Chairman of the board of directors, an executive officer position, of Liberty Interactive. Liberty Interactive owns 38.2% of the common stock of HSN, Inc. (“HSN”) and has the right to elect 20% of the board members of HSN. Liberty Interactive wholly owns QVC, Inc. (“QVC”). The Company has programming relationships with HSN and QVC which pre-date the transaction with Liberty Media Corporation. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded payments in aggregate of approximately $16 million and $33 million, respectively, and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded payments in aggregate of approximately $11 million and $15 million, respectively, from HSN and QVC as part of channel carriage fees and revenue sharing arrangements for home shopping sales made to customers in the Company’s footprint.
Dr. Malone and Mr. Steven Miron, each a member of Charter’s board of directors, also serve on the board of directors of Discovery Communications, Inc., (“Discovery”) and the Company is aware that Dr. Malone owns 5.1% in the aggregate of the common stock of Discovery and has a 28.2% voting interest in Discovery for the election of directors. The Company is aware that Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (“A/N PP”), an affiliate of A/N and in which Mr. Miron is the CEO, owns 100% of the Series A preferred stock of Discovery and 100% of the Series C preferred stock of Discovery, representing approximately 34.6% of the outstanding equity of Discovery’s stock, on an as-converted basis. A/N PP has the right to appoint three directors out of a total of eleven directors to Discovery’s board to be elected by the holders of Discovery’s Series A preferred stock. In addition, Dr. Malone is a member of the board of directors of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. ("Lions Gate", parent company of Starz, Inc.) and owns approximately 5.9% in the aggregate of the common stock of Lions Gate and has 8.1% of the voting power, pursuant to his ownership of Lions Gate Class A voting shares. The Company purchases programming from both Discovery and Lions Gate pursuant to agreements entered into prior to Dr. Malone and Mr. Miron joining Charter’s board of directors. Based on publicly available information, the Company does not believe that either Discovery or Lions Gate would currently be considered related parties. The amounts paid in the aggregate to Discovery and Lions Gate represent less than 3% of total operating costs and expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
The Company has agreements with certain equity-method investees pursuant to which the Company has made or received related party transaction payments. The Company recorded payments to equity-method investees totaling $78 million and $146 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $37 million and $41 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. The Company recorded advertising revenues from transactions with equity-method investees totaling $3 million and $5 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $1 million during each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.
15. Contingencies
In 2014, following an announcement by Comcast and Legacy TWC of their intent to merge, Breffni Barrett and others filed suit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York against Comcast, Legacy TWC and their respective officers and directors. Later five similar class actions were consolidated with this matter (the “NY Actions”). The NY Actions were settled in July 2014, however, such settlement was terminated following the termination of the Comcast and TWC merger in April 2015. In May 2015, Charter and TWC announced their intent to merge. Subsequently, the parties in the NY Actions filed a Second Consolidated Class Action Complaint (the “Second Amended Complaint”), removing Comcast as a defendant and naming TWC, the members of the TWC board of directors, Charter and the merger subsidiaries as defendants. The Second Amended
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Complaint generally alleged, among other things, that the members of the TWC board of directors breached their fiduciary duties to TWC stockholders during the Charter merger negotiations and by entering into the merger agreement and approving the mergers, and that Charter aided and abetted such breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaint sought, among other relief, injunctive relief enjoining the stockholder vote on the mergers, unspecified declaratory and equitable relief, compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, and costs and attorneys’ fees.
In September 2015, the parties entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) to settle the action. Pursuant to the MOU, the defendants issued certain supplemental disclosures relating to the mergers on a Form 8-K, and plaintiffs agreed to release with prejudice all claims that could have been asserted against defendants in connection with the mergers. The settlement was conditioned on, among other things, approval by the New York Supreme Court. That court gave preliminary approval to the settlement in October 2016 and granted final approval in March 2017. The settlement became final in May 2017.
In August 2015, a purported stockholder of Charter, Matthew Sciabacucchi, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery, on behalf of a putative class of Charter stockholders, challenging the transactions between Charter, TWC, A/N, and Liberty Broadband announced by Charter on May 26, 2015. The lawsuit names as defendants Liberty Broadband, Charter, the board of directors of Charter, and New Charter. Plaintiff alleged that the Liberty Transactions improperly benefit Liberty Broadband at the expense of other Charter shareholders, and that Charter issued a false and misleading proxy statement in connection with the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions. Plaintiff requested, among other things, that the Delaware Court of Chancery enjoin the September 21, 2015 special meeting of Charter stockholders at which Charter stockholders were asked to vote on the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions until the defendants disclosed certain information relating to Charter, the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions. The disclosures demanded by the plaintiff included (i) certain unlevered free cash flow projections for Charter and (ii) a Form of Proxy and Right of First Refusal Agreement (“Proxy”) by and among Liberty Broadband, A/N, Charter and New Charter, which was referenced in the description of the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated May 23, 2015, among Charter, New Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N. On September 9, 2015, Charter issued supplemental disclosures containing unlevered free cash flow projections for Charter. In return, the plaintiff agreed its disclosure claims were moot and withdrew its application to enjoin the Charter stockholder vote on the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions. Charter filed a motion to dismiss this litigation and on May 31, 2017, the court issued an opinion, concluding a number of issues but reserving ruling on Charter’s motion until further briefing can be done regarding whether plaintiff’s claims are direct or derivative. The parties are presently providing the additional briefing that the court seeks. Charter denies any liability, believes that it has substantial defenses, and intends to vigorously defend this suit. Although Charter is unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit, it does not expect the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition or cash flows.
The California Attorney General and the Alameda County, California District Attorney are investigating whether certain of Legacy Charter’s waste disposal policies, procedures and practices are in violation of the California Business and Professions Code and the California Health and Safety Code. That investigation was commenced in January 2014. A similar investigation involving Legacy TWC was initiated in February 2012. Charter is cooperating with these investigations. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these investigations, it does not expect that the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
On December 19, 2011, Sprint Communications Company L.P. (“Sprint”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas alleging that Legacy TWC infringed 12 U.S. patents purportedly relating to Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services. Over the course of the litigation Sprint dismissed its claims relating to five of the asserted patents, and shortly before trial Sprint dropped its claims with respect to two additional patents. A trial on the remaining five patents began on February 13, 2017. On March 3, 2017 the jury returned a verdict of $140 million against Legacy TWC and further concluded that Legacy TWC had willfully infringed Sprint’s patents. The court subsequently declined to enhance the damage award as a result of the purported willful infringement. On May 30, 2017, the court awarded Sprint an additional $6 million, representing pre-judgment interest on the damages award. On June 28, 2017, the Company filed its notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition to its appeal, the Company will continue to pursue indemnity from one of its vendors. The impact of the verdict was reflected in the adjustment to net current liabilities as described in Note 2. The Company does not expect that the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on its operations or financial condition. The ultimate outcome of this litigation or the pursuit of indemnity against the Company’s vendor cannot be predicted.
On October 23, 2015, the New York Office of the Attorney General (the “NY AG”) began an investigation of Legacy TWC's advertised Internet speeds and other Internet product advertising. On February 1, 2017, the NY AG filed suit in the Supreme Court for the State of New York alleging that Legacy TWC's advertising of Internet speeds was false and misleading. The suit seeks
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
restitution and injunctive relief. On May 26, 2017, the Company moved to dismiss the NY AG’s complaint. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously. However, no assurances can be made that such defenses would ultimately be successful. At this time, the Company does not expect that the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on its operations, financial condition or cash flows.
The Company is a defendant or co-defendant in several lawsuits involving alleged infringement of various patents relating to various aspects of its businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases. In the event that a court ultimately determines that the Company infringes on any intellectual property rights, the Company 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, as well as negotiate royalty or license agreements with respect to the patents at issue. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, 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. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any such claims nor can it reasonably estimate a range of possible loss.
The Company is party to lawsuits, claims and regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of conducting its business, including lawsuits claiming violation of wage and hour laws and breach of contract by vendors, including by one of its programmers. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against the Company 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. Whether or not the Company ultimately prevails in any particular lawsuit or claim, litigation can be time consuming and costly and injure the Company’s reputation.
16. Stock Compensation Plans
Charter’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock units and restricted stock. Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.
Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented after applying the parent company merger ratio as a result of the Transactions, as applicable.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Stock options | 42,600 |
| | 4,800,200 |
| | 1,145,200 |
| | 5,679,700 |
|
Restricted stock | 9,500 |
| | 10,000 |
| | 9,500 |
| | 10,000 |
|
Restricted stock units | 9,500 |
| | 597,300 |
| | 277,700 |
| | 845,600 |
|
Legacy Charter stock options and restricted stock units cliff vest upon the three year anniversary of each grant. Certain stock options and restricted stock units vest based on achievement of stock price hurdles. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date and restricted stock units have no voting rights. Restricted stock generally vests one year from the date of grant. Legacy TWC restricted stock units that were converted into Charter restricted stock units generally vest 50% on each of the third and fourth anniversary of the grant date. Legacy TWC stock options that were converted into Charter stock options vest ratably over a four-year period and expire ten years from the grant date.
As of June 30, 2017, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $273 million for stock options, $3 million for restricted stock and $247 million for restricted stock units and the weighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized is three years for stock options, one year for restricted stock and two years for restricted stock units.
The Company recorded $65 million and $134 million of stock compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively and $63 million and $87 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, which is included in operating costs and expenses. The Company also recorded $20 million and $37 million of expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $145 million for each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 related to accelerated vesting of equity awards of terminated employees which is recorded in merger and restructuring costs.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
17. Employee Benefit Plans
The Company sponsors two qualified defined benefit pension plans, the TWC Pension Plan and the TWC Union Pension Plan, that provide pension benefits to a majority of Legacy TWC employees. The Company also provides a nonqualified defined benefit pension plan for certain employees under the TWC Excess Pension Plan.
Pension benefits are based on formulas that reflect the employees’ years of service and compensation during their employment period. Actuarial gains or losses are changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from changes in assumptions. The Company has elected to follow a mark-to-market pension accounting policy for recording the actuarial gains or losses annually during the fourth quarter, or earlier if a remeasurement event occurs during an interim period.
The components of net periodic pension benefit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | | Six Months Ended June 30, |
| 2017 | | 2016 | | 2017 | | 2016 |
Service cost | $ | — |
| | $ | 35 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 35 |
|
Interest cost | 34 |
| | 21 |
| | $ | 68 |
| | $ | 21 |
|
Expected return on plan assets | (47 | ) | | (23 | ) | | (94 | ) | | (23 | ) |
Pension curtailment gain | — |
| | (675 | ) | | — |
| | (675 | ) |
Remeasurement loss, net | — |
| | 157 |
| | — |
| | 157 |
|
Net periodic pension benefit | $ | (13 | ) | | $ | (485 | ) | | $ | (26 | ) | | $ | (485 | ) |
The service cost component of net periodic pension benefit is recorded in operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations while the remaining components of net periodic pension benefit are recorded in other pension benefits. The $675 million pension curtailment gain and $157 million net remeasurement loss resulted from an amendment to the plans made subsequent to the TWC Transaction. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company amended the pension plans to freeze future benefit accruals to current active plan participants, driving the recognition of the pension curtailment gain, as no future compensation increases or future service will be credited to participants of the pension plans. Upon announcement and approval of the plan amendment, the assumptions underlying the pension liability and pension asset values were reassessed utilizing remeasurement date assumptions in accordance with the Company's mark-to-market pension accounting policy to record gains and losses in the period in which a remeasurement event occurs, resulting in the net remeasurement loss.
The Company made no cash contributions to the qualified pension plans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016; however, the Company may make discretionary cash contributions to the qualified pension plans in the future. Such contributions will be dependent on a variety of factors, including current and expected interest rates, asset performance, the funded status of the qualified pension plans and management’s judgment. For the nonqualified unfunded pension plan, the Company will continue to make contributions during 2017 to the extent benefits are paid.
18. Consolidating Schedules
Each of Charter Operating, TWC, LLC, TWCE, CCO Holdings and certain subsidiaries jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the outstanding debt securities of the others (other than the CCO Holdings notes) on an unsecured senior basis and the condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered. Certain Charter Operating subsidiaries that are regulated telephone entities only become guarantor subsidiaries upon approval by regulators. This information is not intended to present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the individual companies or groups of companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The “Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries” column is presented to comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
The “Safari Escrow Entities” column included in the condensed consolidating financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2016 consists of CCOH Safari, CCO Safari II and CCO Safari III. CCOH Safari, CCO Safari II and CCO Safari III issued the CCOH Safari notes, CCO Safari II notes and the CCO Safari III credit facilities, respectively. Upon closing of the TWC Transaction, the CCOH Safari notes became obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital and the CCO Safari II notes and CCO Safari III credit facilities became obligations of Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. CCOH Safari merged into CCO Holdings and CCO Safari II and CCO Safari III merged into Charter Operating.
Condensed consolidating financial statements as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 follow.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries |
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets |
As of June 30, 2017 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | Guarantor Subsidiaries | | | | |
| Charter | | Intermediate Holding Companies | | CCO Holdings | | Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Charter Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 23 |
| | $ | 150 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 521 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 694 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | 46 |
| | 27 |
| | — |
| | 1,416 |
| | — |
| | 1,489 |
|
Receivables from related party | — |
| | 585 |
| | 51 |
| | — |
| | (636 | ) | | — |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | — |
| | 62 |
| | — |
| | 319 |
| | — |
| | 381 |
|
Total current assets | 69 |
| | 824 |
| | 51 |
| | 2,256 |
| | (636 | ) | | 2,564 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | — |
| | 237 |
| | — |
| | 32,711 |
| | — |
| | 32,948 |
|
Customer relationships, net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 13,231 |
| | — |
| | 13,231 |
|
Franchises | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 67,316 |
| | — |
| | 67,316 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 29,554 |
| | — |
| | 29,554 |
|
Total investment in cable properties, net | — |
| | 237 |
| | — |
| | 142,812 |
| | — |
| | 143,049 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES | 63,084 |
| | 71,843 |
| | 87,289 |
| | — |
| | (222,216 | ) | | — |
|
LOANS RECEIVABLE – RELATED PARTY | 178 |
| | 655 |
| | 511 |
| | — |
| | (1,344 | ) | | — |
|
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | — |
| | 215 |
| | — |
| | 1,132 |
| | — |
| | 1,347 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | $ | 63,331 |
| | $ | < |