UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
(Mark One) | ||
þ
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE | |
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005
or
o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE | |
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 000-27927
Charter Communications, Inc.
Delaware | 43-1857213 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
12405 Powerscourt Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63131
(314) 965-0555
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 þ NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES þ NO o
Number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2005: 304,763,192
Number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2005: 50,000
Charter Communications, Inc.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Period ended March 31, 2005
Table of Contents
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) allows us to incorporate by reference information that we file
with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you
directly to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of
this quarterly report. In addition, information that we file with the SEC in the future will
automatically update and supersede information contained in this quarterly report. In this
quarterly report, we, us and our refer to Charter Communications, Inc., Charter
Communications Holding Company, LLC and their subsidiaries.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the forward-looking statements set forth in the Results of Operations and Liquidity and Capital Resources sections under Part I, Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this quarterly report. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under Certain Trends and Uncertainties under Part I, Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this quarterly report. 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 and potential, among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
| the availability of funds to meet interest payment obligations under our debt and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through cash flows from operating activities, further borrowings or other sources; | |||
| our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flows from operating activities by offering video, high-speed data, telephony and other services and to maintain a stable customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition from other service providers; | |||
| our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which would result in a violation of the applicable facility or indenture and could trigger a default of other obligations under cross-default provisions; | |||
| our ability to pay or refinance debt as it becomes due; | |||
| reaching (and then implementing) a final approved settlement with respect to the putative class action, the unconsolidated state action, and derivative shareholders litigation against us on the terms of the stipulations of settlement; | |||
| our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to pass programming cost increases on to our customers; | |||
| general business conditions, economic uncertainty or slowdown; and | |||
| the effects of governmental regulation, including but not limited to local franchise taxing authorities, on our business. |
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report.
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Item 1. Financial Statements.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors
Charter Communications, Inc.:
We have reviewed the accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheet of Charter Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of March 31, 2005, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders equity (deficit), and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 1, 2005, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
/s/ KPMG LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
May 2, 2005
4
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 32 | $ | 650 | ||||
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
$12 and $15, respectively |
139 | 190 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
85 | 82 | ||||||
Total current assets |
256 | 922 | ||||||
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: |
||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation of $5,689 and $5,311, respectively |
6,120 | 6,289 | ||||||
Franchises |
9,846 | 9,878 | ||||||
Total investment in cable properties, net |
15,966 | 16,167 | ||||||
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS |
572 | 584 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 16,794 | $ | 17,673 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT |
||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 1,256 | $ | 1,217 | ||||
Total current liabilities |
1,256 | 1,217 | ||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT |
18,929 | 19,464 | ||||||
DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEES RELATED PARTY |
14 | 14 | ||||||
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES |
635 | 681 | ||||||
MINORITY INTEREST |
656 | 648 | ||||||
PREFERRED STOCK REDEEMABLE; $.001 par value; 1 million
shares authorized; 545,259 shares issued and outstanding |
55 | 55 | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS DEFICIT: |
||||||||
Class A Common stock; $.001 par value; 1.75 billion shares authorized;
304,763,192 and 305,203,770 shares issued and outstanding, respectively |
| | ||||||
Class B Common stock; $.001 par value; 750 million
shares authorized; 50,000 shares issued and outstanding |
| | ||||||
Preferred stock; $.001 par value; 250 million shares
authorized; no non-redeemable shares issued and outstanding |
| | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
4,798 | 4,794 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(9,549 | ) | (9,196 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| (4 | ) | |||||
Total shareholders deficit |
(4,751 | ) | (4,406 | ) | ||||
Total liabilities and shareholders deficit |
$ | 16,794 | $ | 17,673 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
REVENUES |
$ | 1,271 | $ | 1,214 | ||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: |
||||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
559 | 512 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
237 | 239 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
381 | 370 | ||||||
Asset impairment charges |
31 | | ||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets, net |
4 | (106 | ) | |||||
Option compensation expense, net |
4 | 14 | ||||||
Special charges, net |
4 | 10 | ||||||
1,220 | 1,039 | |||||||
Income from operations |
51 | 175 | ||||||
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES: |
||||||||
Interest expense, net |
(420 | ) | (393 | ) | ||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments and hedging activities, net |
27 | (7 | ) | |||||
Loss on debt to equity conversions |
| (8 | ) | |||||
Gain on extinguishment of debt |
7 | | ||||||
Other, net |
1 | (2 | ) | |||||
(385 | ) | (410 | ) | |||||
Loss before minority interest and income taxes |
(334 | ) | (235 | ) | ||||
MINORITY INTEREST |
(3 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
Loss before income taxes |
(337 | ) | (239 | ) | ||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE |
(15 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||
Net loss |
(352 | ) | (293 | ) | ||||
Dividends on preferred stock redeemable |
(1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
Net loss applicable to common stock |
$ | (353 | ) | $ | (294 | ) | ||
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE, basic and diluted |
$ | (1.16 | ) | $ | (1.00 | ) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
303,308,880 | 295,106,077 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (352 | ) | $ | (293 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
Minority interest |
3 | 4 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
381 | 370 | ||||||
Asset impairment charges |
31 | | ||||||
Option compensation expense, net |
4 | 10 | ||||||
Noncash interest expense |
49 | 93 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on derivative instruments and hedging activities, net |
(27 | ) | 7 | |||||
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net |
4 | (106 | ) | |||||
Loss on debt to equity conversions |
| 8 | ||||||
Gain on extinguishment of debt |
(11 | ) | | |||||
Deferred income taxes |
13 | 53 | ||||||
Other, net |
(1 | ) | 2 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from dispositions: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
45 | 22 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
(4 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other |
18 | (48 | ) | |||||
Net cash flows from operating activities |
153 | 115 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
(211 | ) | (190 | ) | ||||
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures |
14 | (6 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from sale of assets |
6 | 725 | ||||||
Purchases of investments |
(2 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from investing activities |
(193 | ) | 526 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Borrowings of long-term debt |
200 | 165 | ||||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
(775 | ) | (779 | ) | ||||
Payments for debt issuance costs |
(3 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows from financing activities |
(578 | ) | (615 | ) | ||||
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
(618 | ) | 26 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period |
650 | 127 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period |
$ | 32 | $ | 153 | ||||
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST |
$ | 249 | $ | 229 | ||||
NONCASH TRANSACTIONS: |
||||||||
Issuance of debt by Charter Communications Operating, LLC |
$ | 271 | $ | | ||||
Retirement of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC debt |
$ | (284 | ) | $ | | |||
Debt exchanged for Charter Class A common stock |
$ | | $ | 10 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Charter Communications, Inc. (Charter) is a holding company whose principal assets at March 31, 2005 are the 47% controlling common equity interest in Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC (Charter Holdco) and mirror notes which are payable by Charter Holdco to Charter and have the same principal amount and terms as those of Charters convertible senior notes. Charter Holdco is the sole owner of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (Charter Holdings). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Charter, Charter Holdco, Charter Holdings and all of their wholly owned subsidiaries where the underlying operations reside, collectively referred to herein as the Company. Charter consolidates Charter Holdco on the basis of voting control. Charter Holdcos limited liability company agreement provides that so long as Charters Class B common stock retains its special voting rights, Charter will maintain a 100% voting interest in Charter Holdco. Voting control gives Charter full authority and control over the operations of Charter Holdco. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated. The Company is a broadband communications company operating in the United States. The Company offers its customers traditional cable video programming (analog and digital video) as well as high-speed data services and, in some areas, advanced broadband services such as high definition television, video on demand and telephony. The Company sells its cable video programming, high-speed data and advanced broadband services on a subscription basis. The Company also sells local advertising on satellite-delivered networks.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in Charters Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs; depreciation and amortization costs; impairments of property, plant and equipment, franchises and goodwill, income taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain 2004 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2005 presentation.
2. Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company incurred net loss applicable to common stock of $353 million and $294 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Companys net cash flows from operating activities were $153 million and $115 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
The Company has a significant level of debt. The Companys long-term financing as of March 31, 2005 consists of $5.1 billion of credit facility debt, $12.9 billion accreted value of high-yield notes and $957 million accreted value of convertible senior notes. For the remainder of 2005, $23 million of the Companys debt matures, and in 2006, an additional $152 million of the Companys debt matures. In 2007 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become due under the Companys remaining long-term debt obligations.
The Company has historically required significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital expenditures and ongoing operations. Historically, the Company has funded these requirements through cash flows from operating activities,
8
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
borrowings under its credit facilities, sales of assets, issuances of debt and equity securities and from cash on hand. However, the mix of funding sources changes from period to period. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company generated $153 million of net cash flows from operating activities, after paying cash interest of $249 million. In addition, the Company used approximately $211 million for purchases of property, plant and equipment. Finally, the Company had net cash flows used in financing activities of $578 million, which included, among other things, approximately $628 million in repayment of borrowings under the Companys revolving credit facility through a series of transactions in February 2005. This repayment was the primary reason cash on hand decreased by $618 million to $32 million at March 31, 2005.
The Company expects that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities and the amounts available under its credit facilities will be adequate to meet its cash needs in 2005. Cash flows from operating activities and amounts available under the Companys credit facilities may not be sufficient to fund the Companys operations and satisfy its principal repayment obligations that come due in 2006 and, the Company believes, will not be sufficient to fund its operations and satisfy such repayment obligations thereafter.
It is likely that the Company will require additional funding to repay debt maturing after 2006. The Company is working with its financial advisors to address such funding requirements. However, there can be no assurance that such funding will be available to the Company. Although Mr. Allen and his affiliates have purchased equity from the Company in the past, Mr. Allen and his affiliates are not obligated to purchase equity from, contribute to or loan funds to the Company in the future.
Credit Facilities and Covenants
The Companys ability to operate depends upon, among other things, its continued access to capital, including credit under the Charter Communications Operating, LLC (Charter Operating) credit facilities. These credit facilities, along with the Companys indentures, contain certain restrictive covenants, some of which require the Company to maintain specified financial ratios and meet financial tests and to provide audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from the Companys independent auditors. As of March 31, 2005, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under its indentures and credit facilities and the Company expects to remain in compliance with those covenants for the next twelve months. As of March 31, 2005, the Company had borrowing availability under the credit facilities of $1.2 billion, none of which was restricted due to covenants. Continued access to the Companys credit facilities is subject to the Company remaining in compliance with the covenants of these credit facilities, including covenants tied to the Companys operating performance. If the Companys operating performance results in non-compliance with these covenants, or if any of certain other events of non-compliance under these credit facilities or indentures governing the Companys debt occurs, funding under the credit facilities may not be available and defaults on some or potentially all of the Companys debt obligations could occur. An event of default under the covenants governing any of the Companys debt instruments could result in the acceleration of its payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in cross-defaults under its other debt obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
The Charter Operating credit facilities required the Company to redeem the CC V Holdings, LLC notes as a result of the Charter Holdings leverage ratio becoming less than 8.75 to 1.0. In satisfaction of this requirement, in March 2005, CC V Holdings, LLC redeemed all of its outstanding notes, at 103.958% of principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The total cost of the redemption including accrued and unpaid interest was approximately $122 million. The Company funded the redemption with borrowings under the Charter Operating credit facilities.
Specific Limitations
Charters ability to make interest payments on its convertible senior notes, and, in 2006 and 2009, to repay the outstanding principal of its convertible senior notes of $122 million and $863 million, respectively, will depend on its ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or distributions from Charter Holdco or its
9
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
subsidiaries, including CCH II, LLC (CCH II), CCO Holdings, LLC (CCO Holdings) and Charter Operating. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, Charter Holdings distributed $60 million to Charter Holdco. As of March 31, 2005, Charter Holdco was owed $161 million in intercompany loans from its subsidiaries, which amount was available to pay interest and principal on Charters convertible senior notes. In addition, Charter has $145 million of governmental securities pledged as security for the first six interest payments on Charters 5.875% convertible senior notes.
Distributions by Charters subsidiaries to a parent company (including Charter and Charter Holdco) for payment of principal on Charters convertible senior notes, however, are restricted by the indentures governing the CCH II notes, CCO Holdings notes, and Charter Operating notes, unless under their respective indentures there is no default and a specified leverage ratio test is met at the time of such event.
The indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on the convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the distribution, Charter Holdings can incur additional debt under the leverage ratio of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings indentures and other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended March 31, 2005, there was no default under Charter Holdings indentures and other specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings did not meet the leverage ratio of 8.75 to 1.0 based on March 31, 2005 financial results. As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter Holdco are currently restricted and will continue to be restricted until that test is met. During this restriction period, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the indentures.
The Company was required to register for resale by April 21, 2005 its 5.875% convertible senior notes due 2009, issued in November 2004. Since these convertible notes were not registered by that date, the Company is incurring liquidated damages, at a rate from 0.25% per annum of the accreted principal amount of the convertible notes. The rate will increase to 0.50% from and after July 20, 2005 if the notes have not been registered by that date. The liquidated damages will be payable by Charter in cash so long as the convertible notes remain unregistered, but not to exceed a maximum period of two years from the original issuance date. In addition, Charter was required to register by April 1, 2005 150 million shares of its Class A common stock that Charter expects to lend to Citigroup Global Markets Limited pursuant to a share lending agreement. Because this registration statement was not declared effective by such date, the Company is incurring liquidated damages from April 2, 2005 until the effective date of the registration statement. These liquidated damages can be paid in cash or additional principal on a monthly basis. These liquidated damages accrue as incurred at a rate of 0.25% per month of the accreted principal amount of the convertible notes for the first 60 days of the default and 0.50% per month of the accreted principal amount of the convertible notes thereafter (or 0.375% and 0.75% per month respectively, if in lieu of paying such liquidated damages in cash, the Company elects to pay such damages by adding to the outstanding principal amount of the notes). In April 2005, the first liquidated damage payment was made in cash. Such amounts will accrue so long as the convertible notes remain unregistered, but not to exceed a maximum period of two years from the original issuance date.
3. Sale of Assets
As of March 31, 2005, the Company has concluded that two pending cable asset sales, representing approximately 28,000 customers, are probable of closing within the next twelve months thus meeting the criteria for assets held for sale under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. As such the assets were written down to fair value less estimated costs to sell resulting in asset impairment charges in the first quarter of 2005 of approximately $31 million. At March 31, 2005 assets held for sale included in investment in cable properties are approximately $33 million.
In March 2004, the Company closed the sale of certain cable systems in Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC. The Company closed the sale of an additional cable system in New York to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC in April 2004. These transactions resulted in a $104 million pretax gain recorded as a gain on sale of assets in the Companys consolidated statements of operations. Subject to
10
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
post-closing contractual adjustments, the total net proceeds from the sale of all of these systems were approximately $733 million. The proceeds were used to repay a portion of amounts outstanding under the Companys credit facilities.
4. Franchises and Goodwill
Franchise rights represent the value attributed to agreements with local authorities that allow access to homes in cable service areas acquired through the purchase of cable systems. Management estimates the fair value of franchise rights at the date of acquisition and determines if the franchise has a finite life or an indefinite-life as defined by SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Franchises that qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142 are tested for impairment annually based on valuations, or more frequently as warranted by events or changes in circumstances. Franchises are aggregated into essentially inseparable asset groups to conduct the valuations. The asset groups generally represent geographic clustering of the Companys cable systems into groups by which such systems are managed. Management believes such grouping represents the highest and best use of those assets.
The Companys valuations, which are based on the present value of projected after tax cash flows, result in a value of property, plant and equipment, franchises, customer relationships and its total entity value. The value of goodwill is the difference between the total entity value and amounts assigned to the other assets.
Franchises, for valuation purposes, are defined as the future economic benefits of the right to solicit and service potential customers (customer marketing rights), and the right to deploy and market new services such as interactivity and telephony to the potential customers (service marketing rights). Fair value is determined based on estimated discounted future cash flows using assumptions consistent with internal forecasts. The franchise after-tax cash flow is calculated as the after-tax cash flow generated by the potential customers obtained and the new services added to those customers in future periods. The sum of the present value of the franchises after-tax cash flow in years 1 through 10 and the continuing value of the after-tax cash flow beyond year 10 yields the fair value of the franchise.
The Company follows the guidance of EITF Issue 02-17, Recognition of Customer Relationship Intangible Assets Acquired in a Business Combination, in valuing customer relationships. Customer relationships, for valuation purposes, represent the value of the business relationship with existing customers and are calculated by projecting future after-tax cash flows from these customers including the right to deploy and market additional services such as interactivity and telephony to these customers. The present value of these after-tax cash flows yield the fair value of the customer relationships. Substantially all acquisitions occurred prior to January 1, 2002. The Company did not record any value associated with the customer relationship intangibles related to those acquisitions. For acquisitions subsequent to January 1, 2002 the Company did assign a value to the customer relationship intangible, which is amortized over its estimated useful life.
11
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets are presented in the following table:
March 31, 2005 | December 31, 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross | Net | Gross | Net | |||||||||||||||||||||
Carrying | Accumulated | Carrying | Carrying | Accumulated | Carrying | |||||||||||||||||||
Amount | Amortization | Amount | Amount | Amortization | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived
intangible assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Franchises with
indefinite lives |
$ | 9,814 | $ | | $ | 9,814 | $ | 9,845 | $ | | $ | 9,845 | ||||||||||||
Goodwill |
52 | | 52 | 52 | | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 9,866 | $ | | $ | 9,866 | $ | 9,897 | $ | | $ | 9,897 | |||||||||||||
Finite-lived
intangible assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Franchises with
finite lives |
$ | 37 | $ | 5 | $ | 32 | $ | 37 | $ | 4 | $ | 33 | ||||||||||||
Franchises with indefinite lives decreased $31 million as a result of the asset impairment charges recorded related to two pending cable asset sales (see Note 3). Franchise amortization expense for each of the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 was $1 million, which represents the amortization relating to franchises that did not qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142, including costs associated with franchise renewals. The Company expects that amortization expense on franchise assets will be approximately $3 million annually for each of the next five years. Actual amortization expense in future periods could differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives and other relevant factors.
5. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004:
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Accounts
payable - trade |
$ | 74 | $ | 148 | ||||
Accrued capital expenditures |
80 | 65 | ||||||
Accrued expenses: |
||||||||
Interest |
450 | 324 | ||||||
Programming costs |
284 | 278 | ||||||
Franchise-related fees |
42 | 67 | ||||||
State sales tax |
43 | 47 | ||||||
Other |
283 | 288 | ||||||
$ | 1,256 | $ | 1,217 | |||||
12
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
6. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004:
March 31, 2005 | December 31, 2004 | |||||||||||||||
Accreted | Face | Accreted | ||||||||||||||
Face Value | Value | Value | Value | |||||||||||||
Long-Term Debt |
||||||||||||||||
Charter Communications, Inc.: |
||||||||||||||||
4.75% convertible senior notes due 2006 |
$ | 122 | $ | 122 | $ | 156 | $ | 156 | ||||||||
5.875% convertible senior notes due 2009 |
863 | 835 | 863 | 834 | ||||||||||||
Charter Holdings: |
||||||||||||||||
8.250% senior notes due 2007 |
167 | 167 | 451 | 451 | ||||||||||||
8.625% senior notes due 2009 |
1,244 | 1,243 | 1,244 | 1,243 | ||||||||||||
9.920% senior discount notes due 2011 |
1,108 | 1,108 | 1,108 | 1,108 | ||||||||||||
10.000% senior notes due 2009 |
640 | 640 | 640 | 640 | ||||||||||||
10.250% senior notes due 2010 |
318 | 318 | 318 | 318 | ||||||||||||
11.750% senior discount notes due 2010 |
450 | 450 | 450 | 448 | ||||||||||||
10.750% senior notes due 2009 |
874 | 874 | 874 | 874 | ||||||||||||
11.125% senior notes due 2011 |
500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | ||||||||||||
13.500% senior discount notes due 2011 |
675 | 608 | 675 | 589 | ||||||||||||
9.625% senior notes due 2009 |
640 | 638 | 640 | 638 | ||||||||||||
10.000% senior notes due 2011 |
710 | 708 | 710 | 708 | ||||||||||||
11.750% senior discount notes due 2011 |
939 | 825 | 939 | 803 | ||||||||||||
12.125% senior discount notes due 2012 |
330 | 267 | 330 | 259 | ||||||||||||
CCH II, LLC: |
||||||||||||||||
10.250% senior notes due 2010 |
1,601 | 1,601 | 1,601 | 1,601 | ||||||||||||
CCO Holdings, LLC: |
||||||||||||||||
83/4% senior notes due 2013 |
500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | ||||||||||||
Senior floating rate notes due 2010 |
550 | 550 | 550 | 550 | ||||||||||||
Charter Operating: |
||||||||||||||||
8% senior second lien notes due 2012 |
1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | ||||||||||||
8 3/8% senior second lien notes due 2014 |
671 | 671 | 400 | 400 | ||||||||||||
Renaissance Media Group LLC: |
||||||||||||||||
10.000% senior discount notes due 2008 |
114 | 116 | 114 | 116 | ||||||||||||
CC V Holdings: |
||||||||||||||||
11.875% senior discount notes due 2008 |
| | 113 | 113 | ||||||||||||
Credit Facilities |
||||||||||||||||
Charter Operating |
5,088 | 5,088 | 5,515 | 5,515 | ||||||||||||
$ | 19,204 | $ | 18,929 | $ | 19,791 | $ | 19,464 | |||||||||
The accreted values presented above represent the face value of the notes less the original issue discount at the time of sale plus the accretion to the balance sheet date.
Gain on extinguishment of debt
In March 2005, the Companys subsidiary, Charter Operating, consummated exchange transactions with a small number of institutional holders of Charter Holdings 8.25% senior notes due 2007 pursuant to which Charter Operating issued, in a private placement, approximately $271 million principal amount of new notes with terms identical to Charter Operatings 8.375% senior second lien notes due 2014 in exchange for approximately $284
13
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
million of the Charter Holdings 8.25% senior notes due 2007. The exchanges resulted in a net gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $11 million.
In March 2005, the Company repurchased from a single holder $34 million principal amount of its 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2006 for a price equal to 98% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. This transaction resulted in a net gain on extinguishment of debt of approximately $1 million.
In March 2005, the Companys subsidiary, CC V Holdings, LLC, redeemed all of its 11.875% notes due 2008, at 103.958% of principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The total cost of redemption was approximately $122 million and was funded through borrowings under the Charter Operating credit facilities. The redemption resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $5 million. Following such redemption, CC V Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (other than non-guarantor subsidiaries) guaranteed the Charter Operating credit facilities and granted a lien on all of their assets as to which a lien can be perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code by the filing of a financing statement.
Loss on debt to equity conversions
The Company recognized a loss of approximately $8 million recorded as loss on debt to equity conversion on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from a privately negotiated exchange of $10 million principal amount of Charters 5.75% convertible senior notes for shares of Charter Class A common stock. The exchanges resulted in the issuance of more shares in the exchange transaction than would have been issuable under the original terms of the convertible senior notes.
7. Minority Interest and Equity Interest of Charter Holdco
Charter is a holding company whose primary asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Holdco, the indirect owner of the Companys cable systems, and $957 million and $990 million at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, of mirror notes which are payable by Charter Holdco to Charter and have the same principal amount and terms as those of Charters convertible senior notes. Minority interest on the Companys consolidated balance sheets represents the ownership percentage of Charter Holdco not owned by Charter, or approximately 53% of total members equity of Charter Holdco, plus $659 million and $656 million of preferred membership interests in CC VIII, LLC (CC VIII), an indirect subsidiary of Charter Holdco, as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. As more fully described in Note 17, this preferred interest arises from the approximately $630 million of preferred membership units issued by CC VIII in connection with an acquisition in February 2000 and continues to be the subject of a dispute between Charter and Mr. Allen. Generally, operating earnings or losses are allocated to the minority owners based on their ownership percentage, thereby increasing or decreasing the Companys net loss, respectively. To the extent they relate to CC VIII, the allocations of earnings or losses are subject to adjustment based on the ultimate resolution of this disputed ownership. Due to the uncertainties related to the ultimate resolution, effective January 1, 2005, the Company ceased recognizing minority interest in earnings or losses of CC VIII for financial reporting purposes until such time as the resolution of the matter is determinable or other events occur. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, Charters results included $9 million attributable to CC VIII.
Members deficit of Charter Holdco was $4.7 billion and $4.4 billion as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Gains and losses arising from the issuance by Charter Holdco of its membership units are recorded as capital transactions, thereby increasing or decreasing shareholders equity and decreasing or increasing minority interest on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Minority interest was approximately 53% as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004. Minority interest includes the proportionate share of changes in fair value of interest rate derivative agreements. Such amounts are temporary as they are contractually scheduled to reverse over the life of the underlying instrument. Additionally, reported losses allocated to minority interest on the consolidated statement of operations are limited to the extent of any remaining minority interest on the balance sheet related to Charter Holdco. Because minority interest in Charter Holdco is substantially eliminated, Charter absorbs substantially all losses before income taxes that otherwise would be allocated to minority interest. Subject to any changes in Charter Holdcos capital structure, future losses will continue to be substantially absorbed by Charter.
14
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Changes to minority interest consist of the following:
Minority | ||||
Interest | ||||
Balance, December 31, 2004 |
$ | 648 | ||
CC VIII 2% Priority Return (see Note 17) |
3 | |||
Changes in fair value of interest rate agreements |
5 | |||
Balance, March 31, 2005 |
$ | 656 | ||
8. Comprehensive Loss
Certain marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and reported at market value with unrealized gains and losses recorded as accumulated other comprehensive loss on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, the Company reports changes in the fair value of interest rate agreements designated as hedging the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate debt obligations, that meet the effectiveness criteria of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, in accumulated other comprehensive loss, after giving effect to the minority interest share of such gains and losses. Comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 was $349 million and $293 million, respectively.
9. Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company uses interest rate risk management derivative instruments, such as interest rate swap agreements and interest rate collar agreements (collectively referred to herein as interest rate agreements) to manage its interest costs. The Companys policy is to manage interest costs using a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. Using interest rate swap agreements, the Company has agreed to exchange, at specified intervals through 2007, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount. Interest rate collar agreements are used to limit the Companys exposure to and benefits from interest rate fluctuations on variable rate debt to within a certain range of rates.
The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. The Company does, however, have certain interest rate derivative instruments that have been designated as cash flow hedging instruments. Such instruments effectively convert variable interest payments on certain debt instruments into fixed payments. For qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows derivative gains and losses to offset related results on hedged items in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company has formally documented, designated and assessed the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, net gain (loss) on derivative instruments and hedging activities includes gains of $1 million and losses of $1 million, respectively, which represent cash flow hedge ineffectiveness on interest rate hedge agreements arising from differences between the critical terms of the agreements and the related hedged obligations. Changes in the fair value of interest rate agreements designated as hedging instruments of the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate debt obligations that meet the effectiveness criteria of SFAS No. 133 are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, a gain of $9 million and $2 million, respectively, related to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and minority interest. The amounts are subsequently reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment in the same period in which the related interest on the floating-rate debt obligations affects earnings (losses).
Certain interest rate derivative instruments are not designated as hedges as they do not meet the effectiveness criteria specified by SFAS No. 133. However, management believes such instruments are closely correlated with the respective debt, thus managing associated risk. Interest rate derivative instruments not designated as hedges are marked to fair value, with the impact recorded as gain (loss) on derivative instruments and hedging activities in the Companys condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and
15
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
2004, net gain (loss) on derivative instruments and hedging activities includes gains of $26 million and losses of $6 million, respectively, for interest rate derivative instruments not designated as hedges.
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had outstanding $2.2 billion and $2.7 billion and $20 million and $20 million, respectively, in notional amounts of interest rate swaps and collars, respectively. The notional amounts of interest rate instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged are determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.
Certain provisions of the Companys 5.875% convertible senior notes issued in November 2004 were considered embedded derivatives for accounting purposes and were required to be accounted for separately from the convertible senior notes. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, these derivatives are marked to market with gains or losses recorded in interest expense on the Companys consolidated statement of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recognized $19 million in gains related to these derivatives. At March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, $4 million and $10 million, respectively, is recorded in accounts payable and accrued expenses relating to the short-term portion of these derivatives and $8 million and $21 million, respectively, is recorded in other long-term liabilities related to the long-term portion.
10. Revenues
Revenues consist of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
Three Months | ||||||||
Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Video |
$ | 842 | $ | 849 | ||||
High-speed data |
215 | 168 | ||||||
Advertising sales |
64 | 59 | ||||||
Commercial |
65 | 56 | ||||||
Other |
85 | 82 | ||||||
$ | 1,271 | $ | 1,214 | |||||
11. Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
Three Months | ||||||||
Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Programming |
$ | 358 | $ | 334 | ||||
Advertising sales |
25 | 23 | ||||||
Service |
176 | 155 | ||||||
$ | 559 | $ | 512 | |||||
16
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
12. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
Three Months | ||||||||
Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
General and administrative |
$ | 202 | $ | 208 | ||||
Marketing |
35 | 31 | ||||||
$ | 237 | $ | 239 | |||||
Components of selling expense are included in general and administrative and marketing expense.
13. Special Charges
The Company has recorded special charges as a result of reducing its workforce, consolidating administrative offices and management realignment in 2004 and 2005. The activity associated with this initiative is summarized in the table below.
Three Months | ||||||||
Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Balance at January 1, |
$ | 6 | $ | 14 | ||||
Special Charges |
4 | 1 | ||||||
Payments |
(4 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||
Balance at March 31, |
$ | 6 | $ | 7 | ||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2004, special charges also include approximately $9 million, which represents litigation costs related to the tentative settlement of a national class action suit, subject to final documentation and court approval (see Note 15).
14. Income Taxes
All operations are held through Charter Holdco and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Charter Holdco and the majority of its subsidiaries are not subject to income tax. However, certain of these subsidiaries are corporations and are subject to income tax. All of the taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of Charter Holdco are passed through to its members: Charter, Charter Investment, Inc. (Charter Investment) and Vulcan Cable III Inc. (Vulcan Cable). Charter is responsible for its share of taxable income or loss of Charter Holdco allocated to Charter in accordance with the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement (LLC Agreement) and partnership tax rules and regulations.
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had net deferred income tax liabilities of approximately $230 million and $216 million, respectively. Approximately $213 million of the deferred tax liabilities recorded in the condensed consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, relate to certain indirect subsidiaries of Charter Holdco, which file separate income tax returns.
17
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
During the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 the Company recorded $15 million and $54 million of income tax expense, respectively. The sale of systems to Atlantic Broadband, LLC on March 1, 2004 resulted in income tax expense of $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
Income tax expense is recognized through increases in the deferred tax liabilities related to Charters investment in Charter Holdco, as well as current federal and state income tax expense and increases to the deferred tax liabilities of certain of Charters indirect corporate subsidiaries. The Company recorded an additional deferred tax asset of approximately $135 million during the three months ended March 31, 2005, relating to net operating loss carryforwards, but recorded a valuation allowance with respect to these amounts because of the uncertainty of the ability to realize a benefit from these carryforwards in the future.
The Company has deferred tax assets of approximately $3.7 billion and $3.5 billion as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively, which primarily relate to financial and tax losses allocated to Charter from Charter Holdco. The deferred tax assets also include approximately $2.2 billion and $2.1 billion of tax net operating loss carryforwards as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively (generally expiring in years 2005 through 2025), of Charter and its indirect corporate subsidiaries. Valuation allowances of $3.3 billion and $3.2 billion as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 exist with respect to these deferred tax assets, respectively.
Realization of any benefit from the Companys tax net operating losses is dependent on: (1) Charter and its indirect corporate subsidiaries ability to generate future taxable income and (2) the absence of certain future ownership changes of Charters common stock. An ownership change as defined in the applicable federal income tax rules, would place significant limitations, on an annual basis, on the use of such net operating losses to offset any future taxable income the Company may generate. Such limitations, in conjunction with the net operating loss expiration provisions, could effectively eliminate the Companys ability to use a substantial portion of its net operating losses to offset any future taxable income. Future transactions and the timing of such transactions could cause an ownership change. Such transactions include additional issuances of common stock by the Company (including but not limited to the anticipated issuance of 150 million shares of common stock under the share lending agreement, the issuance of shares of common stock upon future conversion of Charters convertible senior notes and the issuance of common stock as contemplated in the class action settlement discussed in Note 15, reacquisition of the borrowed shares by Charter, or acquisitions or sales of shares by certain holders of Charters shares, including persons who have held, currently hold, or accumulate in the future five percent or more of Charters outstanding stock (including upon an exchange by Paul Allen or his affiliates, directly or indirectly, of membership units of Charter Holdco into CCI common stock)). Many of the foregoing transactions are beyond managementss control.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. Because of the uncertainties in projecting future taxable income of Charter Holdco, valuation allowances have been established except for deferred benefits available to offset certain deferred tax liabilities.
Charter Holdco is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the tax years ending December 31, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003. The results of the Company (excluding Charter and the indirect corporate subsidiaries) for these years are subject to this examination. Management does not expect the results of this examination to have a material adverse effect on the Companys financial condition or results of operations.
15. Contingencies
Fourteen putative federal class action lawsuits (the Federal Class Actions) were filed against Charter and certain of its former and present officers and directors in various jurisdictions allegedly on behalf of all purchasers of Charters securities during the period from either November 8 or November 9, 1999 through July 17 or July 18, 2002. Unspecified damages were sought by the plaintiffs. In general, the lawsuits alleged that Charter utilized misleading accounting practices and failed to disclose these accounting practices and/or issued false and misleading financial statements and press releases concerning Charters operations and prospects. The Federal Class Actions
18
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
were specifically and individually identified in public filings made by Charter prior to the date of this quarterly report.
In October 2002, Charter filed a motion with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the Panel) to transfer the Federal Class Actions to the Eastern District of Missouri. On March 12, 2003, the Panel transferred the six Federal Class Actions not filed in the Eastern District of Missouri to that district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the eight Federal Class Actions already pending there. The Panels transfer order assigned the Federal Class Actions to Judge Charles A. Shaw. By virtue of a prior court order, StoneRidge Investment Partners LLC became lead plaintiff upon entry of the Panels transfer order. StoneRidge subsequently filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint. The Court subsequently consolidated the Federal Class Actions into a single action (the Consolidated Federal Class Action) for pretrial purposes. On June 19, 2003, following a status and scheduling conference with the parties, the Court issued a Case Management Order setting forth a schedule for the pretrial phase of the Consolidated Federal Class Action. Motions to dismiss the Consolidated Amended Complaint were filed. On February 10, 2004, in response to a joint motion made by StoneRidge and defendants Charter, Vogel and Allen, the court entered an order providing, among other things, that: (1) the parties who filed such motion engage in a mediation within ninety (90) days; and (2) all proceedings in the Consolidated Federal Class Actions were stayed until May 10, 2004. On May 11, 2004, the Court extended the stay in the Consolidated Federal Class Action for an additional sixty (60) days. On July 12, 2004, the parties submitted a joint motion to again extend the stay, this time until September 10, 2004. The Court granted that extension on July 20, 2004. On August 5, 2004, Stoneridge, Charter and the individual defendants who were the subject of the suit entered into a Memorandum of Understanding setting forth agreements in principle to settle the Consolidated Federal Class Action. These parties subsequently entered into Stipulations of Settlement dated as of January 24, 2005 (described more fully below) which incorporate the terms of the August 5, 2004 Memorandum of Understanding.
On September 12, 2002, a shareholders derivative suit (the State Derivative Action) was filed in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri (the Missouri State Court) against Charter and its then current directors, as well as its former auditors. The plaintiffs allege that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and procedures. Unspecified damages, allegedly on Charters behalf, were sought by the plaintiffs.
On March 12, 2004, an action substantively identical to the State Derivative Action was filed in the Missouri State Court, against Charter and certain of its current and former directors, as well as its former auditors. The plaintiffs in that case alleged that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and procedures. Unspecified damages, allegedly on Charters behalf, were sought by plaintiffs. On July 14, 2004, the Court consolidated this case with the State Derivative Action.
Separately, on February 12, 2003, a shareholders derivative suit (the Federal Derivative Action) was filed against Charter and its then current directors in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The plaintiff in that suit alleged that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties and grossly mismanaged Charter by failing to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and procedures. Unspecified damages, allegedly on Charters behalf, were sought by the plaintiffs.
As noted above, Charter and the individual defendants entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on August 5, 2004 setting forth agreements in principle regarding settlement of the Consolidated Federal Class Action, the State Derivative Action(s) and the Federal Derivative Action (the Actions). Charter and various other defendants in those actions subsequently entered into Stipulations of Settlement dated as of January 24, 2005, setting forth a settlement of the Actions in a manner consistent with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Stipulations of Settlement, along with various supporting documentation, were filed with the Court on February 2, 2005. The Stipulations of Settlement provide that, in exchange for a release of all claims by plaintiffs against Charter and its former and present officers and directors named in the Actions, Charter would pay to the plaintiffs a combination of cash and equity collectively valued at $144 million, which would include the fees and expenses of plaintiffs counsel. Of this amount, $64 million would be paid in cash (by Charters insurance carriers) and the balance would be paid in shares of Charter
19
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
Class A common stock having an aggregate value of $40 million and ten-year warrants to purchase shares of Charter Class A common stock having an aggregate warrant value of $40 million, with such values in each case being determined pursuant to formulas set forth in the Stipulations of Settlement. The warrants would have an exercise price equal to 150% of the fair market value (as defined) of Charter Class A common stock as of the date of the entry of the order of final judgment approving the settlement. In addition, Charter would issue additional shares of its Class A common stock to its insurance carrier having an aggregate value of $5 million. Under this formula, the Company expects (based on recent trading prices of Charter's Class A common stock) that the number of shares issued will be determined based on a per share value equal to the average closing price over the thirty calendar day period immediately preceding the final valuation date (which is the later of the date on which a final judgment is entered or the date of entry of an order approving the award of fees and costs to the class action plaintiffs counsel). Warrants are expected to become exercisable approximately one year from the date of the final judgment and will have an exercise price equal to 150% of the volume weighted average price of Charters Class A common stock over the thirty day period immediately preceding the final valuation date. The warrants will be valued based on a Black Scholes valuation method. Accordingly, any further declines in Charter's stock price prior to the final valuation date could result in more shares and warrants being issued to the plaintiffs in the settlement. In the event that the valuation formula in the Stipulations provides for a per share value of less than $2.25, Charter may elect to terminate the settlement. As a result, in the second quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a $149 million litigation liability within other long-term liabilities and a $64 million insurance receivable as part of other non-current assets on its consolidated balance sheet and an $85 million special charge on its consolidated statement of operations. Additionally, as part of the settlements, Charter will also commit to a variety of corporate governance changes, internal practices and public disclosures, some of which have already been undertaken and none of which are inconsistent with measures Charter is taking in connection with the recent conclusion of the SEC investigation described below. Documents related to the settlement of the Actions have now been executed and filed. On February 15, 2005, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri gave preliminary approval to the settlement of the Actions. The settlement of each of the lawsuits remains conditioned upon, among other things, final judicial approval of the settlements following notice to the class, and dismissal, with prejudice, of the consolidated derivative actions now pending in Missouri State Court, which are related to the Federal Derivative Actions. The hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for May 23, 2005.
In August 2002, Charter became aware of a grand jury investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri into certain of its accounting and reporting practices, focusing on how Charter reported customer numbers, and its reporting of amounts received from digital set-top terminal suppliers for advertising. The U.S. Attorneys Office has publicly stated that Charter is not a target of the investigation. Charter was also advised by the U.S. Attorneys Office that no current officer or member of its board of directors is a target of the investigation. On July 24, 2003, a federal grand jury charged four former officers of Charter with conspiracy and mail and wire fraud, alleging improper accounting and reporting practices focusing on revenue from digital set-top terminal suppliers and inflated customer account numbers. Each of the indicted former officers pled guilty to single conspiracy counts related to the original mail and wire fraud charges and were sentenced on April 22, 2005. Charter fully cooperated with the investigation, and following the sentencings, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced that its investigation was concluded and that no further indictments would issue.
On November 4, 2002, Charter received an informal, non-public inquiry from the staff of the SEC. The SEC issued a formal order of investigation dated January 23, 2003, and subsequently served document and testimony subpoenas on Charter and a number of its former employees. The investigation and subpoenas generally concerned Charters prior reports with respect to its determination of the number of customers, and various of its accounting policies and practices including its capitalization of certain expenses and dealings with certain vendors, including programmers and digital set-top terminal suppliers. On July 27, 2004, the SEC and Charter reached a final agreement to settle the investigation. In the Settlement Agreement and Cease and Desist Order, Charter agreed to entry of an administrative order prohibiting any future violations of United States securities laws and requiring certain other remedial internal practices and public disclosures. Charter neither admitted nor denied any wrongdoing, and the SEC assessed no fine against Charter.
Charter is generally required to indemnify each of the named individual defendants in connection with the matters described above pursuant to the terms of its bylaws and (where applicable) such individual defendants employment
20
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
agreements. In accordance with these documents, in connection with the pending grand jury investigation, the now-settled SEC investigation and the above-described lawsuits, some of Charters current and former directors and current and former officers have been advanced certain costs and expenses incurred in connection with their defense. On February 22, 2005, Charter filed suit against four of its former officers who were indicted in the course of the grand jury investigation. These suits seek to recover the legal fees and other related expenses advanced to these individuals by Charter for the grand jury investigation, SEC investigation and class action and related lawsuits.
In October 2001, two customers, Nikki Nicholls and Geraldine M. Barber, filed a class action suit against Charter Holdco in South Carolina Court of Common Pleas (the South Carolina Class Action), purportedly on behalf of a class of Charter Holdcos customers, alleging that Charter Holdco improperly charged them a wire maintenance fee without request or permission. They also claimed that Charter Holdco improperly required them to rent analog and/or digital set-top terminals even though their television sets were cable ready. A substantively identical case was filed in the Superior Court of Athens Clarke County, Georgia by Emma S. Tobar on March 26, 2002 (the Georgia Class Action), alleging a nationwide class for these claims. Charter Holdco removed the South Carolina Class Action to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina in November 2001, and moved to dismiss the suit in December 2001. The federal judge remanded the case to the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas in August 2002 without ruling on the motion to dismiss. The plaintiffs subsequently moved for a default judgment, arguing that upon return to state court, Charter Holdco should have, but did not, file a new motion to dismiss. The state court judge granted the plaintiffs motion over Charter Holdcos objection in September 2002. Charter Holdco immediately appealed that decision to the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court, but those courts ruled that until a final judgment was entered against Charter Holdco, they lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
In January 2003, the Court of Common Pleas granted the plaintiffs motion for class certification. In October and November 2003, Charter Holdco filed motions (a) asking that court to set aside the default judgment, and (b) seeking dismissal of plaintiffs suit for failure to state a claim. In January 2004, the Court of Common Pleas granted in part and denied in part Charter Holdcos motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. It also took under advisement Charter Holdcos motion to set aside the default judgment. In April 2004, the parties to both the Georgia and South Carolina Class Actions participated in a mediation. The mediator made a proposal to the parties to settle the lawsuits. In May 2004, the parties accepted the mediators proposal and reached a tentative settlement, subject to final documentation and court approval. As a result of the tentative settlement, the Company recorded a special charge of $9 million in its consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter of 2004 (see Note 13). On July 8, 2004, the Superior Court of Athens Clarke County, Georgia granted a motion to amend the Tobar complaint to add Nicholls, Barber and April Jones as plaintiffs in the Georgia Class Action and to add any potential class members in South Carolina. The court also granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement on that date. On August 2, 2004, the parties submitted a joint request to the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas to stay the South Carolina Class Action pending final approval of the settlement and on August 17, 2004, that court granted the parties request. On November 10, 2004, the court granted final approval of the settlement, rejecting positions advanced by two objectors to the settlement. On December 13, 2004 the court entered a written order formally approving that settlement. On January 11, 2005, certain class members appealed the order entered by the Georgia court. Those objectors voluntarily dismissed their appeal with prejudice on February 8, 2005. On February 9, 2005, the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas entered a court order of dismissal for the South Carolina Class Action. Additionally, one of the objectors to this settlement recently filed a similar, but not identical, lawsuit.
In addition to the matters set forth above, Charter is also party to other lawsuits and claims that arose in the ordinary course of conducting its business. In the opinion of management, after taking into account recorded liabilities, the outcome of these other lawsuits and claims are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Companys consolidated financial condition, results of operations or its liquidity.
16. Stock Compensation Plans
Prior to January 1, 2003, the Company accounted for stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations, as
21
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
permitted by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted the fair value measurement provisions of SFAS No. 123 using the prospective method, under which the Company recognizes compensation expense of a stock-based award to an employee over the vesting period based on the fair value of the award on the grant date consistent with the method described in Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 28, Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Option or Award Plans. Adoption of these provisions resulted in utilizing a preferable accounting method as the condensed consolidated financial statements will present the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation in expense consistently with other forms of compensation and other expense associated with goods and services received for equity instruments. In accordance with SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure, the fair value method is being applied only to awards granted or modified after January 1, 2003, whereas awards granted prior to such date will continue to be accounted for under APB No. 25, unless they are modified or settled in cash. The ongoing effect on consolidated results of operations or financial condition will depend on future stock-based compensation awards granted by the Company.
SFAS No. 123 requires pro forma disclosure of the impact on earnings as if the compensation expense for these plans had been determined using the fair value method. The following table presents the Companys net loss and loss per share as reported and the pro forma amounts that would have been reported using the fair value method under SFAS No. 123 for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Net loss applicable to common stock |
$ | (353 | ) | $ | (294 | ) | ||
Add back stock-based compensation expense related to stock
options included in reported net loss |
4 | 14 | ||||||
Less employee stock-based compensation expense determined under fair
value based method for all employee stock option awards |
(4 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||
Effects of unvested options in stock option exchange |
| 48 | ||||||
Pro forma |
$ | (353 | ) | $ | (244 | ) | ||
Loss per common shares, basic and diluted
As reported |
$ | (1.16 | ) | $ | (1.00 | ) | ||
Add back stock-based compensation expense related to stock
options included in reported net loss |
0.01 | 0.05 | ||||||
Less employee stock-based compensation expense determined under fair
value based method for all employee stock option awards |
(0.01 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||||
Effects of unvested options in stock option exchange |
| 0.16 | ||||||
Pro forma |
$ | (1.16 | ) | $ | (0.83 | ) | ||
In January 2004, Charter began an option exchange program in which the Company offered its employees the right to exchange all stock options (vested and unvested) under the 1999 Charter Communications Option Plan and 2001 Stock Incentive Plan that had an exercise price over $10 per share for shares of restricted Charter Class A common stock or, in some instances, cash. Based on a sliding exchange ratio, which varied depending on the exercise price of an employees outstanding options, if an employee would have received more than 400 shares of restricted stock in exchange for tendered options, Charter issued to that employee shares of restricted stock in the exchange. If, based on the exchange ratios, an employee would have received 400 or fewer shares of restricted stock in exchange for tendered options, Charter instead paid the employee cash in an amount equal to the number of shares the employee would have received multiplied by $5.00. The offer applied to options (vested and unvested) to purchase a total of 22,929,573 shares of Charter Class A common stock, or approximately 48% of the Companys 47,882,365 total options (vested and unvested) issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2003. Participation by employees was voluntary. Those members of Charters board of directors who were not also employees of the Company were not eligible to participate in the exchange offer.
22
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
In the closing of the exchange offer on February 20, 2004, the Company accepted for cancellation eligible options to purchase approximately 18,137,664 shares of Charter Class A common stock. In exchange, the Company granted 1,966,686 shares of restricted stock, including 460,777 performance shares to eligible employees of the rank of senior vice president and above, and paid a total cash amount of approximately $4 million (which amount includes applicable withholding taxes) to those employees who received cash rather than shares of restricted stock. The restricted stock was granted on February 25, 2004. Employees tendered approximately 79% of the options exchangeable under the program.
The cost to the Company of the stock option exchange program was approximately $10 million, with a 2004 cash compensation expense of approximately $4 million and a non-cash compensation expense of approximately $6 million to be expensed ratably over the three-year vesting period of the restricted stock issued in the exchange.
In January 2004, the Compensation Committee of the board of directors of Charter approved Charters Long-Term Incentive Program (LTIP), which is a program administered under the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. Under the LTIP, employees of Charter and its subsidiaries whose pay classifications exceed a certain level are eligible to receive stock options, and more senior level employees are eligible to receive stock options and performance shares. The stock options vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant. The performance units vest on the third anniversary of the grant date and shares of Charter Class A common stock are issued, conditional upon Charters performance against financial performance targets established by Charters management and approved by its board of directors. Charter granted 6.9 million shares in January 2004 under this program and recognized expense of $3 million in the first quarter of 2004. However, in the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company reversed the $8 million of expense recorded in the first three quarters of 2004 based on the Companys assessment of the probability of achieving the financial performance measures established by Charter and required to be met for the performance shares to vest. In March 2005, Charter granted 2.5 million performance shares and 5.3 million options under the LTIP. The impact of such grants were de minimis to the Companys results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005.
17. Related Party Transactions
The following sets forth certain transactions in which the Company and the directors, executive officers and affiliates of the Company are involved. Unless otherwise disclosed, management believes that each of the transactions described below was on terms no less favorable to the Company than could have been obtained from independent third parties.
CC VIII. As part of the acquisition of the cable systems owned by Bresnan Communications Company Limited Partnership in February 2000, CC VIII, Charters indirect limited liability company subsidiary, issued, after adjustments, 24,273,943 Class A preferred membership units (collectively, the CC VIII interest) with a value and an initial capital account of approximately $630 million to certain sellers affiliated with AT&T Broadband, subsequently owned by Comcast Corporation (the Comcast sellers). While held by the Comcast sellers, the CC VIII interest was entitled to a 2% priority return on its initial capital account and such priority return was entitled to preferential distributions from available cash and upon liquidation of CC VIII. While held by the Comcast sellers, the CC VIII interest generally did not share in the profits and losses of CC VIII. Mr. Allen granted the Comcast sellers the right to sell to him the CC VIII interest for approximately $630 million plus 4.5% interest annually from February 2000 (the Comcast put right). In April 2002, the Comcast sellers exercised the Comcast put right in full, and this transaction was consummated on June 6, 2003. Accordingly, Mr. Allen has become the holder of the CC VIII interest, indirectly through an affiliate. Consequently, subject to the matters referenced in the next paragraph, Mr. Allen generally thereafter will be allocated his pro rata share (based on number of membership interests outstanding) of profits or losses of CC VIII. In the event of a liquidation of CC VIII, Mr. Allen would be entitled to a priority distribution with respect to the 2% priority return (which will continue to accrete). Any remaining distributions in liquidation would be distributed to CC V Holdings, LLC and Mr. Allen in proportion to CC V Holdings, LLCs capital account and Mr. Allens capital account (which will equal the initial capital account of the Comcast sellers of approximately $630 million, increased or decreased by Mr. Allens pro rata share of CC
23
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
VIIIs profits or losses (as computed for capital account purposes) after June 6, 2003). The limited liability company agreement of CC VIII does not provide for a mandatory redemption of the CC VIII interest.
An issue has arisen as to whether the documentation for the Bresnan transaction was correct and complete with regard to the ultimate ownership of the CC VIII interest following consummation of the Comcast put right. Specifically, under the terms of the Bresnan transaction documents that were entered into in June 1999, the Comcast sellers originally would have received, after adjustments, 24,273,943 Charter Holdco membership units, but due to an FCC regulatory issue raised by the Comcast sellers shortly before closing, the Bresnan transaction was modified to provide that the Comcast sellers instead would receive the preferred equity interests in CC VIII represented by the CC VIII interest. As part of the last-minute changes to the Bresnan transaction documents, a draft amended version of the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement was prepared, and contract provisions were drafted for that agreement that would have required an automatic exchange of the CC VIII interest for 24,273,943 Charter Holdco membership units if the Comcast sellers exercised the Comcast put right and sold the CC VIII interest to Mr. Allen or his affiliates. However, the provisions that would have required this automatic exchange did not appear in the final version of the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement that was delivered and executed at the closing of the Bresnan transaction. The law firm that prepared the documents for the Bresnan transaction brought this matter to the attention of Charter and representatives of Mr. Allen in 2002.
Thereafter, the board of directors of Charter formed a Special Committee (currently comprised of Messrs. Merritt, Tory and Wangberg) to investigate the matter and take any other appropriate action on behalf of Charter with respect to this matter. After conducting an investigation of the relevant facts and circumstances, the Special Committee determined that a scriveners error had occurred in February 2000 in connection with the preparation of the last-minute revisions to the Bresnan transaction documents and that, as a result, Charter should seek the reformation of the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement, or alternative relief, in order to restore and ensure the obligation that the CC VIII interest be automatically exchanged for Charter Holdco units. The Special Committee further determined that, as part of such contract reformation or alternative relief, Mr. Allen should be required to contribute the CC VIII interest to Charter Holdco in exchange for 24,273,943 Charter Holdco membership units. The Special Committee also recommended to the board of directors of Charter that, to the extent the contract reformation is achieved, the board of directors should consider whether the CC VIII interest should ultimately be held by Charter Holdco or Charter Holdings or another entity owned directly or indirectly by them.
Mr. Allen disagrees with the Special Committees determinations described above and has so notified the Special Committee. Mr. Allen contends that the transaction is accurately reflected in the transaction documentation and contemporaneous and subsequent company public disclosures.
The parties engaged in a process of non-binding mediation to seek to resolve this matter, without success. The Special Committee is evaluating what further actions or processes it may undertake to resolve this dispute. To accommodate further deliberation, each party has agreed to refrain from initiating legal proceedings over this matter until it has given at least ten days prior notice to the other. In addition, the Special Committee and Mr. Allen have determined to utilize the Delaware Court of Chancerys program for mediation of complex business disputes in an effort to resolve the CC VIII interest dispute. If the Special Committee and Mr. Allen are unable to reach a resolution through that mediation process or to agree on an alternative dispute resolution process, the Special Committee intends to seek resolution of this dispute through judicial proceedings in an action that would be commenced, after appropriate notice, in the Delaware Court of Chancery against Mr. Allen and his affiliates seeking contract reformation, declaratory relief as to the respective rights of the parties regarding this dispute and alternative forms of legal and equitable relief. The ultimate resolution and financial impact of the dispute are not determinable at this time.
TechTV, Inc. TechTV, Inc. (TechTV) operated a cable television network that offered programming mostly related to technology. Pursuant to an affiliation agreement that originated in 1998 and that terminates in 2008, TechTV has provided the Company with programming for distribution via Charters cable systems. The affiliation agreement provides, among other things, that TechTV must offer Charter certain terms and conditions that are no less favorable in the affiliation agreement than are given to any other distributor that serves the same number of or
24
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
fewer TechTV viewing customers. Additionally, pursuant to the affiliation agreement, the Company was entitled to incentive payments for channel launches through December 31, 2003.
In March 2004, Charter Holdco entered into agreements with Vulcan Programming and TechTV, which provide for (i) Charter Holdco and TechTV to amend the affiliation agreement which, among other things, revises the description of the TechTV network content, provides for Charter Holdco to waive certain claims against TechTV relating to alleged breaches of the affiliation agreement and provides for TechTV to make payment of outstanding launch receivables due to Charter Holdco under the affiliation agreement, (ii) Vulcan Programming to pay approximately $10 million and purchase over a 24-month period, at fair market rates, $2 million of advertising time across various cable networks on Charter cable systems in consideration of the agreements, obligations, releases and waivers under the agreements and in settlement of the aforementioned claims and (iii) TechTV to be a provider of content relating to technology and video gaming for Charters interactive television platforms through December 31, 2006 (exclusive for the first year). For each of the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company recognized approximately $0.3 million, of the Vulcan Programming payment as an offset to programming expense and paid approximately $0.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively, to Tech TV under the affiliation agreement.
The Company believes that Vulcan Programming, which is 100% owned by Mr. Allen, owned an approximate 98% equity interest in TechTV at the time Vulcan Programming sold TechTV to an unrelated third party in May 2004. Until September 2003, Mr. Savoy, a former Charter director, was the president and director of Vulcan Programming and was a director of TechTV. Mr. Wangberg, one of Charters directors, was the chairman, chief executive officer and a director of TechTV. Mr. Wangberg resigned as the chief executive officer of TechTV in July 2002. He remained a director of TechTV along with Mr. Allen until Vulcan Programming sold TechTV.
Digeo, Inc. In March 2001, a subsidiary of Charter, Charter Communication Ventures, LLC ( Charter Ventures), and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated formed DBroadband Holdings, LLC for the sole purpose of purchasing equity interests in Digeo, Inc. (Digeo), an entity controlled by Paul Allen. In connection with the execution of the broadband carriage agreement, DBroadband Holdings, LLC purchased an equity interest in Digeo funded by contributions from Vulcan Ventures Incorporated. The equity interest is subject to a priority return of capital to Vulcan Ventures up to the amount contributed by Vulcan Ventures on Charter Ventures behalf. After Vulcan Ventures recovers its amount contributed and any cumulative loss allocations, Charter Ventures has a 100% profit interest in DBroadband Holdings, LLC. Charter Ventures is not required to make any capital contributions, including capital calls, and may require Vulcan Ventures, through January 24, 2004, to make certain additional contributions through DBroadband Holdings, LLC to acquire additional equity in Digeo as necessary to maintain Charter Ventures pro rata interest in Digeo in the event of certain future Digeo equity financings by the founders of Digeo. These additional equity interests are also subject to a priority return of capital to Vulcan Ventures up to amounts contributed by Vulcan Ventures on Charter Ventures behalf. DBroadband Holdings, LLC is therefore not included in the Companys consolidated financial statements. Pursuant to an amended version of this arrangement, in 2003, Vulcan Ventures contributed a total of $29 million to Digeo, $7 million of which was contributed on Charter Ventures behalf, subject to Vulcan Ventures aforementioned priority return. Since the formation of DBroadband Holdings, LLC, Vulcan Ventures has contributed approximately $56 million on Charter Ventures behalf.
On March 2, 2001, Charter Ventures entered into a broadband carriage agreement with Digeo Interactive, LLC (Digeo Interactive), a wholly owned subsidiary of Digeo. The carriage agreement provided that Digeo Interactive would provide to Charter a portal product, which would function as the television-based Internet portal (the initial point of entry to the Internet) for Charters customers who received Internet access from Charter. The agreement term was for 25 years and Charter agreed to use the Digeo portal exclusively for six years. Before the portal product was delivered to Charter, Digeo terminated development of the portal product.
On September 27, 2001, Charter and Digeo Interactive amended the broadband carriage agreement. According to the amendment, Digeo Interactive would provide to Charter the content for enhanced Wink interactive television services, known as Charter Interactive Channels (i-channels). In order to provide the i-channels, Digeo Interactive sublicensed certain Wink technologies to Charter. Charter is entitled to share in the revenues generated by the i-
25
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
channels. Currently, the Companys digital video customers who receive i-channels receive the service at no additional charge.
On September 28, 2002, Charter entered into a second amendment to its broadband carriage agreement with Digeo Interactive. This amendment superseded the amendment of September 27, 2001. It provided for the development by Digeo Interactive of future features to be included in the Basic i-TV service to be provided by Digeo and for Digeos development of an interactive toolkit to enable Charter to develop interactive local content. Furthermore, Charter could request that Digeo Interactive manage local content for a fee. The amendment provided for Charter to pay for development of the Basic i-TV service as well as license fees for customers who would receive the service, and for Charter and Digeo to split certain revenues earned from the service. The Company paid Digeo Interactive approximately $2 million and $0.7 million for customized development of the i-channels and the local content tool kit for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. This amendment expired pursuant to its terms on December 31, 2003. Digeo Interactive is continuing to provide the Basic i-TV service on a month-to-month basis.
On June 30, 2003, Charter Holdco entered into an agreement with Motorola, Inc. for the purchase of 100,000 digital video recorder (DVR) units. The software for these DVR units is being supplied by Digeo Interactive, LLC under a license agreement entered into in April 2004. Under the license agreement Digeo Interactive granted to Charter Holdco the right to use Digeos proprietary software for the number of DVR units that Charter deployed from a maximum of 10 headends through year-end 2004. This maximum number of headends was increased from 10 to 15 pursuant to a letter agreement executed on June 11, 2004 and the date for entering into license agreements for units deployed was extended to June 30, 2005. The number of headends was increased from 15 to 20 pursuant to a letter agreement dated August 4, 2004, from 20 to 30 pursuant to a letter agreement dated September 28, 2004 and from 30 to 50 headends by a letter agreement in February 2005. The license granted for each unit deployed under the agreement is valid for five years. In addition, Charter will pay certain other fees including a per-headend license fee and maintenance fees. Maximum license and maintenance fees during the term of the agreement are expected to be approximately $7 million. The agreement provides that Charter is entitled to receive contract terms, considered on the whole, and license fees, considered apart from other contract terms, no less favorable than those accorded to any other Digeo customer. Charter paid approximately $0.9 million in license and maintenance fees for the three months ended March 31, 2005.
In April 2004, the Company launched DVR service using units containing the Digeo software in Charters Rochester, Minnesota market using a broadband media center that is an integrated set-top terminal with a cable converter, DVR hard drive and connectivity to other consumer electronics devices (such as stereos, MP3 players, and digital cameras).
In May 2004, Charter Holdco entered into a binding term sheet with Digeo Interactive for the development, testing and purchase of 70,000 Digeo PowerKey DVR units. The term sheet provided that the parties would proceed in good faith to negotiate, prior to year-end 2004, definitive agreements for the development, testing and purchase of the DVR units and that the parties would enter into a license agreement for Digeos proprietary software on terms substantially similar to the terms of the license agreement described above. In November 2004, Charter Holdco and Digeo Interactive executed the license agreement and in December 2004, the parties executed the purchase agreement, each on terms substantially similar to the binding term sheet. Product development and testing are continuing. Total purchase price and license and maintenance fees during the term of the definitive agreements are expected to be approximately $41 million. The definitive agreements are terminable at no penalty to Charter in certain circumstances.
The Company believes that Vulcan Ventures, an entity controlled by Mr. Allen, owns an approximate 51% equity interest in Digeo, Inc., on a fully-converted basis. Mr. Allen is a director of Digeo, and Mr. Vogel was a director of Digeo in 2004. During 2004, Mr. Vogel held options to purchase 10,000 shares of Digeo common stock.
Oxygen Media LLC. Oxygen Media LLC (Oxygen) provides programming content aimed at the female audience for distribution over cable systems and satellite. On July 22, 2002, Charter Holdco entered into a carriage agreement
26
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)
with Oxygen, whereby the Company agreed to carry programming content from Oxygen. Under the carriage agreement, the Company currently makes Oxygen programming available to approximately 5 million of its video customers. The term of the carriage agreement was retroactive to February 1, 2000, the date of launch of Oxygen programming by the Company, and runs for a period of five years from that date. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company paid Oxygen approximately $3 million and $4 million, respectively, for programming content. In addition, Oxygen pays the Company marketing support fees for customers launched after the first year of the term of the carriage agreement up to a total of $4 million. The Company recorded approximately $0.1 million and $0.4 million related to these launch incentives as a reduction of programming expense for each of the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Concurrently with the execution of the carriage agreement, Charter Holdco entered into an equity issuance agreement pursuant to which Oxygens parent company, Oxygen Media Corporation (Oxygen Media), granted a subsidiary of Charter Holdco a warrant to purchase 2.4 million shares of Oxygen Media common stock for an exercise price of $22.00 per share. In February 2005, this warrant expired unexercised. Charter Holdco was also to receive unregistered shares of Oxygen Media common stock with a guaranteed fair market value on the date of issuance of $34 million, on or prior to February 2, 2005, with the exact date to be determined by Oxygen Media, but this commitment was later revised as discussed below.
The Company recognized the guaranteed value of the investment over the life of the carriage agreement as a reduction of programming expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company recorded approximately $1 million and $4 million, respectively, as a reduction of programming expense. The carrying value of the Companys investment in Oxygen was approximately $33 million and $32 million as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.
In August 2004, Charter Holdco and Oxygen entered into agreements that amended and renewed the carriage agreement. The amendment to the carriage agreement (a) revises the number of the Companys customers to which Oxygen programming must be carried and for which the Company must pay, (b) releases Charter Holdco from any claims related to the failure to achieve distribution benchmarks under the carriage agreement, (c) requires Oxygen to make payment on outstanding receivables for marketing support fees due to the Company under the carriage agreement; and (d) requires that Oxygen provide its programming content to the Company on economic terms no less favorable than Oxygen provides to any other cable or satellite operator having fewer subscribers than the Company. The renewal of the carriage agreement (a) extends the period that the Company will carry Oxygen programming to the Companys customers through January 31, 2008, and (b) requires license fees to be paid based on customers receiving Oxygen programming, rather than for specific customer benchmarks.
In August 2004, Charter Holdco and Oxygen also amended the equity issuance agreement to provide for the issuance of 1 million shares of Oxygen Preferred Stock with a liquidation preference of $33.10 per share plus accrued dividends to Charter Holdco on February 1, 2005 in place of the $34 million of unregistered shares of Oxygen Media common stock. Oxygen Media delivered these shares in March 2005. The preferred stock is convertible into common stock after December 31, 2007 at a conversion ratio per share of preferred stock, the numerator of which is the liquidation preference and the denominator of which is the fair market value per share of Oxygen Media common stock on the conversion date.
As of March 31, 2005, through Vulcan Programming, Mr. Allen owned an approximate 31% interest in Oxygen assuming no exercises of outstanding warrants or conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities. Ms. Jo Allen Patton is a director and the President of Vulcan Programming. Mr. Lance Conn is a Vice President of Vulcan Programming. Marc Nathanson has an indirect beneficial interest of less than 1% in Oxygen.
27
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
Charter Communications, Inc. (Charter) is a holding company whose principal assets as of March 31, 2005 are a 47% controlling common equity interest in Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC (Charter Holdco) and mirror notes which are payable by Charter Holdco to Charter and have the same principal amount and terms as Charters convertible senior notes. We, us and our refer to Charter and its subsidiaries. We are a broadband communications company operating in the United States. We offer our customers traditional cable video programming (analog and digital video) as well as high-speed data services and in some areas advanced broadband services such as high definition television, video on demand, telephony and interactive television. We sell our cable video programming, high-speed data and advanced broadband services on a subscription basis.
The following table summarizes our customer statistics for analog and digital video, residential high-speed data and residential telephony as of March 31, 2005 and 2004:
Approximate as of | ||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | |||||||
2005 (a) | 2004 (a) | |||||||
Cable Video Services: |
||||||||
Analog Video: |
||||||||
Residential (non-bulk) analog video customers (b) |
5,732,600 | 5,953,200 | ||||||
Multi-dwelling (bulk) and commercial unit customers (c) |
252,200 | 238,800 | ||||||
Analog video customers (b)(c) |
5,984,800 | 6,192,000 | ||||||
Digital Video: |
||||||||
Digital video customers (d) |
2,694,600 | 2,657,400 | ||||||
Non-Video Cable Services: |
||||||||
Residential high-speed data customers (e) |
1,978,400 | 1,653,000 | ||||||
Telephony customers (f) |
55,300 | 26,300 |
(a) | Customers include all persons our corporate billing records show as receiving service (regardless of their payment status), except for complimentary accounts (such as our employees). Further, customers include persons receiving service under promotional programs that offered up to two months of service for free, some of whom had not requested to be disconnected, but had not become paying customers as of March 31, 2005. If such persons do not become paying customers, we do not believe this would have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition or consolidated results of operations. In addition, at March 31, 2005 and 2004, customers include approximately 43,100 and 53,100 persons whose accounts were over 60 days past due in payment, approximately 7,000 and 5,800 persons whose accounts were over 90 days past due in payment, and approximately 3,600 and 2,200 of which were over 120 days past due in payment, respectively. |
(b) | Residential (non-bulk) analog video customers include all customers who receive video services, except for complimentary accounts (such as our employees). |
(c) | Included within video customers are those in commercial and multi-dwelling structures, which are calculated on an equivalent bulk unit (EBU) basis. EBU is calculated for a system by dividing the bulk price charged to accounts in an area by the most prevalent price charged to non-bulk residential customers in that market for the comparable tier of service. The EBU method of estimating analog video customers is consistent with the methodology used in determining costs paid to programmers and has been consistently applied year over year. As we increase our effective analog prices to residential customers without a corresponding increase in the prices charged to commercial service or multi-dwelling customers, our EBU count will decline even if there is no real loss in commercial service or multi-dwelling customers. |
28
(d) | Digital video customers include all households that have one or more digital set-top terminals. Included in digital video customers on March 31, 2005 and 2004 are approximately 10,000 and 12,000 customers, respectively, that receive digital video service directly through satellite transmission. |
(e) | All of these customers also receive video service and are included in the video statistics above. However, the video statistics do not include approximately 229,400 and 142,700 of these customers at March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, who were residential high-speed data only customers. |
(f) | Telephony customers include all households receiving telephone service. |
Overview of Operations
We have a history of net losses. Further, we expect to continue to report net losses for the foreseeable future. Our net losses are principally attributable to insufficient revenue to cover the combination of operating costs and interest costs we incur because of our high level of debt, depreciation expenses that we incur resulting from the capital investments we have made and continue to make in our business, and amortization and impairment of our franchise intangibles. We expect that these expenses (other than amortization and asset impairment charges) will remain significant, and we therefore expect to continue to report net losses for the foreseeable future. Additionally, reported losses allocated to minority interest on the statement of operations are limited to the extent of any remaining minority interest balance on the balance sheet related to Charter Holdco. Because minority interest in Charter Holdco is substantially eliminated, Charter absorbs substantially all losses before income taxes that otherwise would be allocated to minority interest. Subject to any changes in Charter Holdcos capital structure, future losses will continue to be absorbed by Charter.
For the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, our income from operations, which includes depreciation and amortization expense and asset impairment charges but excludes interest expense, was $51 million and $175 million, respectively. We had operating margins of 4% and 14% for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in income from operations and operating margins from 2004 to 2005 was principally due to the one-time gain as a result of the sale of certain cable systems in Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC of approximately $108 million, recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2004 and asset impairment charges of $31 million recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2005.
Historically, our ability to fund operations and investing activities has depended on our continued access to credit under our credit facilities. We expect we will continue to borrow under our credit facilities from time to time to fund cash needs. The occurrence of an event of default under our credit facilities could result in borrowings from these credit facilities being unavailable to us and could, in the event of a payment default or acceleration, also trigger events of default under the indentures governing our outstanding notes and would have a material adverse effect on us. Approximately $23 million of our debt matures during the remainder of 2005, which we expect to fund through borrowings under our revolving credit facility. See Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
For a discussion of our critical accounting policies and the means by which we develop estimates therefor, see Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2004
The following table sets forth the percentages of revenues that items in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations constituted for the periods presented (dollars in millions, except per share and share data):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 1,271 | 100 | % | $ | 1,214 | 100 | % | ||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and
amortization) |
559 | 44 | % | 512 | 42 | % | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
237 | 19 | % | 239 | 20 | % | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
381 | 30 | % | 370 | 31 | % | ||||||||||
Asset impairment charges |
31 | 3 | % | | | |||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net |
4 | | (106 | ) | (9 | )% | ||||||||||
Option compensation expense, net |
4 | | 14 | 1 | % | |||||||||||
Special charges, net |
4 | | 10 | 1 | % | |||||||||||
1,220 | 96 | % | 1,039 | 86 | % | |||||||||||
Income from operations |
51 | 4 | % | 175 | 14 | % | ||||||||||
Interest expense, net |
(420 | ) | (393 | ) | ||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments and
hedging activities, net |
27 | (7 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss on debt to equity conversions |
| (8 | ) | |||||||||||||
Gain on extinguishment of debt |
7 | | ||||||||||||||
Other, net |
1 | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||
(385 | ) | (410 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss before minority interest and
income taxes |
(334 | ) | (235 | ) | ||||||||||||
Minority interest |
(3 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||
Loss before income taxes |
(337 | ) | (239 | ) | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(15 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss |
(352 | ) | (293 | ) | ||||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock redeemable |
(1 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss applicable to common stock |
$ | (353 | ) | $ | (294 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss per common share, basic and diluted |
$ | (1.16 | ) | $ | (1.00 | ) | ||||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
basic and diluted |
303,308,880 | 295,106,077 | ||||||||||||||
Revenues. Revenues increased by $57 million, or 5%, from $1.2 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $1.3 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This increase is principally the result of an increase of 325,400 and 37,200 high-speed data and digital video customers, respectively, as well as price increases for video and high-speed data services, and is offset partially by a decrease of 207,200 analog video customers. The cable system sales to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC, which closed in March and April 2004 (referred to herein as the System Sales) reduced the increase in revenues by $29 million. Our goal is to increase revenues by improving customer service which we believe will stabilize our analog video customer base, implementing price increases on certain services and packages and increasing the number of customers who purchase high-speed data services, digital video and advanced products and services such as voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) telephony, video on demand (VOD), high definition television and digital video recorder service.
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Average monthly revenue per analog video customer increased to $70.75 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 from $65.31 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 primarily as a result of incremental revenues from advanced services and price increases. Average monthly revenue per analog video customer represents total annual revenue, divided by twelve, divided by the average number of analog video customers during the respective period.
Revenues by service offering were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2005 over 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
% of | % of | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | Revenues | Revenues | Revenues | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
Video |
$ | 842 | 66 | % | $ | 849 | 70 | % | $ | (7 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||||||
High-speed data |
215 | 17 | % | 168 | 14 | % | 47 | 28 | % | |||||||||||||||
Advertising sales |
64 | 5 | % | 59 | 5 | % | 5 | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||
Commercial |
65 | 5 | % | 56 | 4 | % | 9 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||
Other |
85 | 7 | % | 82 | 7 | % | 3 | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||
$ | 1,271 | 100 | % | $ | 1,214 | 100 | % | $ | 57 | 5 | % | |||||||||||||
Video revenues consist primarily of revenues from analog and digital video services provided to our non-commercial customers. Video revenues decreased by $7 million, or 1%, from $849 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $842 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Approximately $21 million of the decrease was the result of the System Sales and approximately an additional $24 million related to a decline in analog video customers. The decreases were offset by increases of approximately $33 million resulting from price increases and incremental video revenues from existing customers and approximately $5 million resulting from an increase in digital video customers.
Revenues from high-speed data services provided to our non-commercial customers increased $47 million, or 28%, from $168 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $215 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Approximately $35 million of the increase related to the increase in the average number of customers receiving high-speed data services, whereas approximately $15 million related to the increase in average price of the service. The increase in high-speed data revenues was reduced by approximately $3 million as a result of the Systems Sales.
Advertising sales revenues consist primarily of revenues from commercial advertising customers, programmers and other vendors. Advertising sales increased $5 million, or 8%, from $59 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $64 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, primarily as a result of an increase in new advertising sales customers and in advertising rates. The increase was offset by a decrease of $1 million as a result of the System Sales. For each of the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, we received $3 million in advertising sales revenues from vendors.
Commercial revenues consist primarily of revenues from cable video and high-speed data services to our commercial customers. Commercial revenues increased $9 million, or 16%, from $56 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $65 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005, primarily as a result of an increase in commercial high-speed data revenues. The increase was reduced by approximately $2 million as a result of the Systems Sales.
Other revenues consist of revenues from franchise fees, telephony revenue, equipment rental, customer installations, home shopping, dial-up Internet service, late payment fees, wire maintenance fees and other miscellaneous revenues. Other revenues increased $3 million, or 4%, from $82 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $85 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase was primarily the result of an increase in installation revenue, telephony revenue and franchise fees and was partially offset by approximately $2 million as a result of the Systems Sales and decreases in home shopping revenue.
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased $47 million, or 9%, from $512 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $559 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in operating
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expenses was reduced by approximately $12 million as a result of the System Sales. Programming costs included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations were $358 million and $334 million, representing 29% and 32% of total costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Key expense components as a percentage of revenues were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2005 over 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
% of | % of | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses | Revenues | Expenses | Revenues | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
Programming |
$ | 358 | 28 | % | $ | 334 | 27 | % | $ | 24 | 7 | % | ||||||||||||
Advertising sales |
25 | 2 | % | 23 | 2 | % | 2 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||||
Service |
176 | 14 | % | 155 | 13 | % | 21 | 14 | % | |||||||||||||||
$ | 559 | 44 | % | $ | 512 | 42 | % | $ | 47 | 9 | % | |||||||||||||
Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for analog, premium, digital channels, VOD and pay-per-view programming. The increase in programming costs of $24 million, or 7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2005 over the three months ended March 31, 2004, was a result of price increases, particularly in sports programming, an increased number of channels carried on our systems, and an increase in digital video customers, partially offset by a decrease in analog video customers. Additionally, the increase in programming costs was reduced by $9 million as a result of the Systems Sales. Programming costs were offset by the amortization of payments received from programmers in support of launches of new channels of $9 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Our cable programming costs have increased in every year we have operated in excess of U.S. inflation and cost-of-living increases, and we expect them to continue to increase because of a variety of factors, including inflationary or negotiated annual increases, additional programming being provided to customers and increased costs to purchase or produce programming. In 2005, we expect programming costs to increase at a higher rate than in 2004. These costs will be determined in part on the outcome of programming negotiations in 2005 and will likely be subject to offsetting events or otherwise affected by factors similar to the ones mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Our increasing programming costs will result in declining operating margins for our video services to the extent we are unable to pass on cost increases to our customers. We expect to partially offset any resulting margin compression from our traditional video services with revenue from advanced video services, increased high-speed data revenues, advertising revenues and commercial service revenues.
Advertising sales expenses consist of costs related to traditional advertising services provided to advertising customers, including salaries, benefits and commissions. Advertising sales expenses increased $2 million, or 9%, primarily as a result of increased salary, benefit and commission costs. Service costs consist primarily of service personnel salaries and benefits, franchise fees, system utilities, Internet service provider fees, maintenance and pole rent expense. The increase in service costs of $21 million, or 14%, resulted primarily from increased labor costs to support our infrastructure, increased equipment maintenance and higher fuel prices. The increase in service costs was reduced by $3 million as a result of the System Sales.
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $2 million, or 1%, from $239 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $237 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Included in the decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was $4 million as a result of the System Sales. Key components of expense as a percentage of revenues were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2005 over 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
% of | % of | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses | Revenues | Expenses | Revenues | Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
General and
administrative |
$ | 202 | 16 | % | $ | 208 | 17 | % | $ | (6 | ) | (3 | )% | |||||||||||
Marketing |
35 | 3 | % | 31 | 3 | % | 4 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||
$ | 237 | 19 | % | $ | 239 | 20 | % | $ | (2 | ) | (1 | )% | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits, rent expense, billing costs, call center costs, internal network costs, bad debt expense and property taxes. The decrease in general and administrative expenses of $6 million, or 3%, resulted primarily from the System Sales of $4 million, decreases in bad debt expense of $5 million, property taxes of $6 million and salaries and benefits of $4 million offset by increases in costs associated with our commercial business of $3 million and professional fees of $6 million.
Marketing expenses increased $4 million, or 13%, as a result of an increased investment in targeted marketing and branding campaigns.
Depreciation and Amortization.Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $11 million, or 3%, from $370 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $381 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in depreciation related to an increase in capital expenditures, which was offset by lower depreciation as the result of the Systems Sales.
Asset Impairment Charges. Asset impairment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2005 represent the write-down of assets related to two pending cable asset sales to fair value less costs to sell. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
(Gain) Loss on Sale of Assets, Net. The loss on sale of assets of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 represents the loss recognized on the disposition of plant and equipment. Gain on sale of assets of $106 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 primarily represents the pretax gain realized on the sale of cable systems to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC which closed in March 2004.
Option Compensation Expense, Net. Option compensation expense of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 primarily represents options expensed in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. Option compensation expense of $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 includes the expense of approximately $6 million related to a stock option exchange program, under which our employees were offered the right to exchange all stock options (vested and unvested) issued under the 1999 Charter Communications Option Plan and 2001 Stock Incentive Plan that had an exercise price over $10 per share for shares of restricted Charter Class A common stock or, in some instances, cash. The exchange offer closed in February 2004. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2004, we recognized approximately $3 million related to the options granted under the Charter Long-Term Incentive Program and approximately $5 million related to options granted and expensed in accordance with SFAS No. 123.
Special Charges, Net.Special charges of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 represents $4 million of severance and related costs of our management realignment. Special charges of $10 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 represents approximately $9 million of litigation costs related to the tentative settlement of the South Carolina national class action suit subject to final documentation and court approval and approximately $1 million of severance and related costs of our workforce reduction.
Interest Expense, Net. Net interest expense increased by $27 million, or 7%, from $393 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $420 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in net interest expense was a result of an increase in our average borrowing rate from 8.22% in the first quarter of 2004 to 8.86%
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in the first quarter of 2005 coupled with an increase of $848 million in average debt outstanding from $18.4 billion for the first quarter of 2004 compared to $19.2 billion for the first quarter of 2005 and was offset partially by $19 million in gains related to embedded derivatives in Charters 5.875% convertible senior notes issued in November 2004. See Note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, Net. Net gain on derivative instruments and hedging activities increased $34 million from a loss of $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to a gain of $27 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase is primarily the result of an increase in gains on interest rate agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which increased from a loss of $6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to a gain of $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005.
Loss on Debt to Equity Conversions. Loss on debt to equity conversions of $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 represents the loss recognized from a privately negotiated exchange of $10 million principal amount of Charters 5.75% convertible senior notes held by a single unrelated party for shares of Charter Class A common stock, which resulted in the issuance of more shares in the exchange transaction than would have been issued pursuant to the original terms of the convertible senior notes.
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt. Gain on extinguishment of debt of $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 represents approximately $11 million related to the issuance of Charter Operating notes in exchange for Charter Holdings notes and approximately $1 million related to the repurchase of $34 million principal amount of our 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2006. These gains were offset by approximately $5 million of losses related to the redemption of our subsidiarys, CC V Holdings, LLC, 11.875% notes due 2008. See Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Other, Net. Net other income of $1 million and net other expense of $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, primarily represents gains and losses on equity investments.
Minority Interest. Minority interest represents the 2% accretion of the preferred membership interests in our indirect subsidiary, CC VIII, LLC, and in the first quarter of 2004, the pro rata share of the profits and losses of CC VIII, LLC. Effective January 1, 2005, the Company ceased recognizing minority interest in earnings or losses of CC VIII for financial reporting purposes until the dispute between the Company and Mr. Allen regarding the preferred membership interests in CC VIII is resolved. See Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Reported losses allocated to minority interest on the statement of operations are limited to the extent of any remaining minority interest on the balance sheet related to Charter Holdco. Because minority interest in Charter Holdco is substantially eliminated, Charter absorbs substantially all losses before income taxes that otherwise would be allocated to minority interest. Subject to any changes in Charter Holdcos capital structure, future losses will continue to be substantially absorbed by Charter.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense of $15 million and $54 million was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The income tax expense is recognized through increases in deferred tax liabilities related to our investment in Charter Holdco, as well as through current federal and state income tax expense and increases in the deferred tax liabilities of certain of our indirect corporate subsidiaries. Additionally, the sale of certain systems to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC on March 1, 2004 resulted in income tax expense of $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
Net Loss. Net loss increased by $59 million, or 20%, from $293 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $352 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 as a result of the factors described above.
Preferred Stock Dividends. On August 31, 2001, Charter issued 505,664 shares (and on February 28, 2003 issued an additional 39,595 shares) of Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock in connection with the Cable USA acquisition, on which Charter pays or accrues a quarterly cumulative cash dividend at an annual rate of 5.75% on a liquidation preference of $100 per share. Beginning January 1, 2005, Charter is accruing the dividend on its Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock.
Loss Per Common Share. The loss per common share increased by $0.16 from $1.00 per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $1.16 per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 as a result of the factors described above.
34
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Introduction
This section contains a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including a discussion of our cash position, sources and uses of cash, access to credit facilities and other financing sources, historical financing activities, cash needs, capital expenditures and outstanding debt.
Overview
We have a significant level
of debt. For the remainder of 2005, $23 million of our debt matures, and in 2006, an
additional $152 million matures. In 2007 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become
due under our remaining long-term debt obligations.
Our business requires significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital expenditures and ongoing
operations. We have historically funded our debt service costs, operating activities and capital
requirements through cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities,
sales of assets, issuances of debt and equity securities and cash on hand. However, the mix of
funding sources changes from period to period. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, we
generated $153 million of net cash flows from operating activities after paying cash interest of
$249 million. In addition, we used approximately $211 million for purchases of property, plant and
equipment. Finally, we had net cash flows used in financing activities of $578 million, which
included, among other things, approximately $628 million in repayment of borrowings under the
Charter Operating revolving credit facility through a series of transactions in February 2005.
This repayment was the primary reason cash on hand decreased by $618 million to $32 million at
March 31, 2005. We expect that our mix of sources of funds will continue to change in the future
based on overall needs relative to our cash flow and on the availability of funds under our credit
facilities, our access to the debt and equity markets, the timing of possible asset sales and our
ability to generate cash flows from operating activities. We do not presently consider future
asset sales as a significant source of liquidity. However, we continue to explore asset
dispositions as one of several possible actions that we could take in the future to improve our
liquidity.
We expect that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities and the amounts available under our credit facilities will be adequate to meet our cash needs in 2005. Cash flows from operating activities and amounts available under our credit facilities may not be sufficient to permit us to fund our operations and satisfy our principal repayment obligations that come due in 2006 and, we believe, such amounts will not be sufficient to fund our operations and satisfy such repayment obligations thereafter.
It is likely that we will require additional funding to repay debt maturing after 2006. We are working with our financial advisors to address such funding requirements. However, there can be no assurance that such funding will be available to us. Although Mr. Allen and his affiliates have purchased equity from us in the past, Mr. Allen and his affiliates are not obligated to purchase equity from, contribute to or loan funds to us in the future.
Credit Facilities and Covenants
Our ability to operate depends upon, among other things, our continued access to capital, including credit under the Charter Operating credit facilities. These credit facilities, along with our and our subsidiaries indentures, contain certain restrictive covenants, some of which require us to maintain specified financial ratios and meet financial tests and to provide audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from our independent auditors. As of March 31, 2005, we were in compliance with the covenants under our indentures and credit facilities and we expect to remain in compliance with those covenants for the next twelve months. As of March 31, 2005, we had borrowing availability under our credit facilities of $1.2 billion, none of which was restricted due to covenants. Continued access to our credit facilities is subject to our remaining in compliance with the covenants of these credit facilities, including covenants tied to our operating performance. If our operating performance results in non-compliance with these covenants, or if any of certain other events of non-compliance under these credit facilities or indentures governing our debt occurs, funding under the credit facilities may not be available and defaults on some or potentially all of our debt obligations could occur. An event of default under the covenants governing any of our debt instruments could result in the acceleration of our payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in cross-defaults under our other debt obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
35
The Charter Operating credit facilities required us to redeem the CC V Holdings, LLC notes as a result of the Charter Holdings leverage ratio becoming less than 8.75 to 1.0. In satisfaction of this requirement, in March 2005, CC V Holdings, LLC redeemed all of its outstanding notes, at 103.958% of principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The total cost of the redemption including accrued and unpaid interest was approximately $122 million and was funded with borrowings under the Charter Operating credit facilities.
Specific Limitations
Our ability to make interest payments on our convertible senior notes, and, in 2006 and 2009, to repay the outstanding principal of our convertible senior notes of $122 million and $863 million, respectively, will depend on our ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or distributions from Charter Holdco or its subsidiaries, including CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating. During the three months ended March 31, 2005, Charter Holdings distributed $60 million to Charter Holdco. As of March 31, 2005, Charter Holdco was owed $161 million in intercompany loans from its subsidiaries, which were available to pay interest and principal on Charters convertible senior notes. In addition, Charter has $145 million of governmental securities pledged as security for the first six interest payments on Charters 5.875% convertible senior notes.
Distributions by Charters subsidiaries to a parent company (including Charter and Charter Holdco) for payment of principal on Charters convertible senior notes, however, are restricted by the indentures governing the CCH II notes, CCO Holdings notes, and Charter Operating notes, unless under their respective indentures there is no default and a specified leverage ratio test is met at the time of such event.
The indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on the convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the distribution, Charter Holdings can incur additional debt under the leverage ratio of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings indentures and other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended March 31, 2005, there was no default under Charter Holdings indentures and other specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings did not meet the leverage ratio of 8.75 to 1.0 based on March 31, 2005 financial results. As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter Holdco are currently restricted and will continue to be restricted until that test is met. During this restriction period, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the indentures.
We were required to register for resale by April 21, 2005 our 5.875% convertible senior notes due 2009, issued in November 2004. Since these convertible notes were not registered by that date, we are incurring liquidated damages, at a rate from 0.25% per annum of the accreted principal amount of the convertible notes. The rate will increase to 0.50% from and after July 20, 2005 if the notes have not been registered by that date. The liquidated damages will be payable by Charter in cash so long as the convertible notes remain unregistered, but not to exceed a maximum period of two years from the original issuance date. In addition, we were required to register by April 1, 2005 150 million shares of its Class A common stock that Charter expects to lend to Citigroup Global Markets Limited pursuant to a share lending agreement. Because this registration statement was not declared effective by such date, we are incurring liquidated damages from April 2, 2005 until the effective date of the registration statement. These liquidated damages can be paid in cash or additional principal on a monthly basis. These liquidated damages accrue as incurred at a rate of 0.25% per month of the accreted principal amount of the convertible notes for the first 60 days of the default and 0.50% per month of the accreted principal amount of the convertible notes thereafter (or 0.375% and 0.75% per month respectively, if in lieu of paying such liquidated damages in cash, we elect to pay such damages by adding to the outstanding principal amount of the notes). In April 2005, the first liquidated damage payment was made in cash. Such amounts will accrue so long as the convertible notes remain unregistered, but not to exceed a maximum period of two years from the original issuance date.
Our significant amount of debt could negatively affect our ability to access additional capital in the future. No assurances can be given that we will not experience liquidity problems if we do not obtain sufficient additional financing on a timely basis as our debt becomes due or because of adverse market conditions, increased competition or other unfavorable events. If, at any time, additional capital or borrowing capacity is required beyond amounts internally generated or available under our credit facilities or through additional debt or equity financings, we would consider:
36
| issuing equity that would significantly dilute existing shareholders; | |||
| issuing convertible debt or some other securities that may have structural or other priority over our existing notes and may also significantly dilute Charters existing shareholders; | |||
| further reducing our expenses and capital expenditures, which may impair our ability to increase revenue; | |||
| selling assets; or | |||
| requesting waivers or amendments with respect to our credit facilities, the availability and terms of which would be subject to market conditions. |
If the above strategies are not successful, we could be forced to restructure our obligations or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In addition, if we need to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or find it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar transaction, our shareholders could suffer significant dilution and our noteholders might not receive principal and interest payments to which they are contractually entitled.
Sale of Assets
In March 2004, we closed the sale of certain cable systems in Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC. We closed the sale of an additional cable system in New York to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC in April 2004. Subject to post-closing contractual adjustments, the total net proceeds from the sale of all of these systems were approximately $733 million. The proceeds were used to repay a portion of our revolving credit facilities.
Long-Term Debt
As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, long-term debt totaled approximately $18.9 billion and $19.5 billion, respectively. This debt was comprised of approximately $5.1 billion and $5.5 billion of credit facility debt, $12.9 billion and $13.0 billion accreted value of high-yield notes and $957 million and $990 million accreted value of convertible senior notes, respectively. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the weighted average interest rate on the credit facility debt was approximately 7.0% and 6.8%, respectively, the weighted average interest rate on the high-yield notes was approximately 9.9% and 9.9%, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on the convertible notes was approximately 5.7% and 5.7%, respectively, resulting in a blended weighted average interest rate of 8.9% and 8.8%, respectively. The interest rate on approximately 82% and 83% of the total principal amount of our debt was effectively fixed, including the effects of our interest rate hedge agreements as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.
4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006
The 4.75% convertible senior notes are convertible at the option of the holders into shares of Class A common stock at a conversion rate, subject to certain adjustments, of 38.0952 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which is equivalent to a price of $26.25 per share. Certain anti-dilutive provisions cause adjustments to occur automatically upon the occurrence of specified events. Additionally, the conversion ratio may be adjusted by us when deemed appropriate. In March 2005, we repurchased from a single holder $34 million principal amount of the 4.75% convertible senior notes for a price equal to 98% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Issuance of Charter Operating Notes in Exchange for Charter Holdings Notes
In March 2005, Charter Operating, consummated exchange transactions with a small number of institutional holders of Charter Holdings 8.25% Senior Notes due 2007 pursuant to which Charter Operating issued, in a private placement, approximately $271 million principal amount of its 8.375% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2014 in exchange for approximately $284 million of the Charter Holdings 8.25% Senior Notes due 2007. The Charter Holdings notes received in the exchange were thereafter distributed to Charter Holdings and cancelled.
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CC V Holdings, LLC Notes
In March 2005, CC V Holdings, LLC redeemed all of its 11.875% notes due 2008, at 103.958% of principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The total cost of redemption was approximately $122 million and was funded through borrowings under our credit facilities. Following such redemption, CC V Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (other than non-guarantor subsidiaries) guaranteed the Charter Operating credit facilities and granted a lien on all of their assets as to which a lien can be perfected under the uniform code by the filing of a financing statement.
Historical Operating, Financing and Investing Activities
We held $32 million in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2005 compared to $650 million as of December 31, 2004. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents reflects the repayment of approximately $628 million of borrowings under our revolving credit facilities through a series of transactions in February 2005.
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities
increased $38 million, or 33%, from $115 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $153
million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, net
cash provided by operating activities increased primarily as a result of changes in operating
assets and liabilities that provided $92 million more cash during the three months ended March 31,
2005 than the corresponding period in 2004 primarily driven by collections of accounts receivable
offset by an increase in cash interest expense of $71 million over the corresponding prior period.
Investing Activities. Net cash used by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $193 million and net cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $526 million. Investing activities used $719 million more cash during the three months ended March 31, 2005 than the corresponding period in 2004 primarily as a result of proceeds from the sale of certain cable systems to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC in 2004 offset by increased cash used for capital expenditures.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities decreased $37 million from $615 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 to $578 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The decrease in cash used during the three months ended March 31, 2005 as compared to the corresponding period in 2004, was primarily the result of an increase in borrowings of long-term debt.
Capital Expenditures
We have significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements. Capital expenditures were $211 million and $190 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Capital expenditures increased as a result of increased spending on support capital related to our investment in service improvements and scalable infrastructure related to telephony services and digital simulcast offset by a decrease in the purchase of customer premise equipment. See the table below for more details.
Upgrading our cable systems has enabled us to offer digital television, high-speed data services, VOD, interactive services, additional channels and tiers, and expanded pay-per-view options to a larger customer base. Our capital expenditures are funded primarily from cash flows from operating activities, the issuance of debt and borrowings under credit facilities. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, our liabilities related to capital expenditures increased $14 million and decreased $6 million, respectively.
During 2005, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $1 billion. The increase in capital expenditures for 2005 compared to 2004 is the result of expected increases in telephony services and deployment of advanced digital boxes. We expect that the nature of these expenditures will continue to be composed primarily of purchases of customer premise equipment and for scalable infrastructure costs. We expect to fund capital expenditures for 2005 primarily from cash flows from operating activities and borrowings under our credit facilities.
We have adopted capital expenditure disclosure guidance, which was developed by eleven publicly traded cable system operators, including Charter, with the support of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). The disclosure is intended to provide more consistency in the reporting of operating statistics in capital expenditures and customers among peer companies in the cable industry. These disclosure guidelines are not required disclosure under GAAP, nor do they impact our accounting for capital expenditures under GAAP.
The following table presents our major capital expenditures categories in accordance with NCTA disclosure guidelines for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 (dollars in millions):
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Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Customer premise equipment (a) |
$ | 86 | $ | 114 | ||||
Scalable infrastructure (b) |
42 | 19 | ||||||
Line extensions (c) |
29 | 23 | ||||||
Upgrade/Rebuild (d) |
10 | 11 | ||||||
Support capital (e) |
44 | 23 | ||||||
Total capital expenditures (f) |
$ | 211 | $ | 190 | ||||
(a) | Customer premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer residence to secure new customers, revenue units and additional bandwidth revenues. It also includes customer installation costs in accordance with SFAS 51 and customer premise equipment (e.g., set-top terminals and cable modems, etc.). |
(b) | Scalable infrastructure includes costs, not related to customer premise equipment or our network, to secure growth of new customers, revenue units and additional bandwidth revenues or provide service enhancements (e.g., headend equipment). |
(c) | Line extensions include network costs associated with entering new service areas (e.g., fiber/coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment, make-ready and design engineering). |
(d) | Upgrade/rebuild includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks, including betterments. |
(e) | Support capital includes costs associated with the replacement or enhancement of non-network assets due to technological and physical obsolescence (e.g., non-network equipment, land, buildings and vehicles). |
(f) | Represents all capital expenditures made during the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
Certain Trends and Uncertainties
The following discussion highlights a number of trends and uncertainties, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this quarterly report and in the Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates section of Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, that could materially impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Substantial Leverage. We have a significant amount of debt. As of March 31, 2005, our total debt was approximately $18.9 billion. For the remainder of 2005, $23 million of our debt matures and in 2006, an additional $152 million matures. In 2007 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become due under our remaining obligations. We believe that as a result of our significant levels of debt and operating performance, our access to the debt markets could be limited when substantial amounts of our current indebtedness become due. If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities, and sufficient funds are not available to us from borrowings under our credit facilities or from other sources, we may not be able to repay our debt, fund our other liquidity and capital needs, grow our business or respond to competitive challenges. Further, if we are unable to repay or refinance our debt, as it becomes due, we could be forced to restructure our obligations or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. If we were to raise capital through the issuance of additional equity or if we were to engage in a recapitalization or other similar transaction, our shareholders could suffer significant dilution and our noteholders might not receive all principal and interest payments to which they are contractually entitled on a timely basis or at all. For more information, see the section above entitled Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Restrictive Covenants. Our credit facilities and the indentures governing our and our subsidiaries other debt contain a number of significant covenants that could adversely impact our ability to operate our business, and therefore could adversely affect our results of operations and the price of our Class A common stock. These covenants restrict our and our subsidiaries ability to:
| incur additional debt; | |||
| repurchase or redeem equity interests and debt; | |||
| issue equity; | |||
| make certain investments or acquisitions; | |||
| pay dividends or make other distributions; |
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| dispose of assets or merge; | |||
| enter into related party transactions; | |||
| grant liens; and | |||
| pledge assets. |
Furthermore, our credit facilities require us to, among other things, maintain specified financial ratios, meet specified financial tests and provide audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from our independent auditors. Our ability to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond our control.
The breach of any covenants or obligations in the foregoing indentures or credit facilities, not otherwise waived or amended, could result in a default under the applicable debt agreement or instrument and could trigger acceleration of the related debt, which in turn could trigger defaults under other agreements governing our long-term indebtedness. In addition, the secured lenders under the Charter Operating credit facilities and the Charter Operating senior second-lien notes could foreclose on their collateral, which includes equity interests in our subsidiaries, and exercise other rights of secured creditors. Any default under those credit facilities, the indentures governing our convertible notes or our subsidiaries debt could adversely affect our growth, our financial condition and our results of operations and our ability to make payments on our notes and the credit facilities and other debt of our subsidiaries. For more information, see the section above entitled Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Liquidity. Our business requires significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital expenditures and ongoing operations. Our ongoing operations will depend on our ability to generate cash and to secure financing in the future. We have historically funded liquidity and capital requirements through cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities, issuances of debt and equity securities and cash on hand.
Our ability to operate depends upon, among other things, our continued access to capital, including credit under the Charter Operating credit facilities. These credit facilities are subject to certain restrictive covenants, some of which require us to maintain specified financial ratios and meet financial tests and to provide audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from our independent auditors. As of March 31, 2005, we were in compliance with the covenants under our indentures and credit facilities, and we expect to remain in compliance with those covenants for the next twelve months. If our operating performance results in non-compliance with these covenants, or if any of certain other events of non-compliance under these credit facilities or indentures governing our debt occurs, funding under the credit facilities may not be available and defaults on some or potentially all of our debt obligations could occur. An event of default under the credit facilities or indentures, if not waived, could result in the acceleration of those debt obligations and, consequently, other debt obligations. Such acceleration could result in exercise of remedies by our creditors and could force us to seek the protection of the bankruptcy laws, which could materially adversely impact our ability to operate our business and to make payments under our debt instruments. As of March 31, 2005, we had borrowing availability under our credit facilities of $1.2 billion, none of which was restricted due to covenants
If, at any time, additional capital or capacity is required beyond amounts internally generated or available under our credit facilities or through additional debt or equity financings, we would consider:
| issuing equity that would significantly dilute existing shareholders; | |||
| issuing convertible debt or some other securities that may have structural or other priority over our existing notes and may also significantly dilute Charters existing shareholders; | |||
| further reducing our expenses and capital expenditures, which may impair our ability to increase revenue; | |||
| selling assets; or | |||
| requesting waivers or amendments with respect to our credit facilities, the availability and terms of which would be subject to market conditions. |
If the above strategies were not successful, we could be forced to restructure our obligations or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. If we were to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or find it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar transaction, our shareholders could suffer significant dilution and our noteholders might not receive all or any principal and interest payments to which they are contractually entitled. For more information, see the section above entitled Liquidity and Capital Resources.
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Acceleration of Indebtedness of Charters Subsidiaries. In the event of a default under our credit facilities or notes, our creditors could elect to declare all amounts borrowed, together with accrued and unpaid interest and other fees, to be due and payable. In such event, our credit facilities and indentures would not permit Charters subsidiaries to distribute funds to Charter Holdco or Charter to pay interest or principal on our notes. If the amounts outstanding under such credit facilities or notes are accelerated, all of the debt and liabilities of Charters subsidiaries would be payable from the subsidiaries assets, prior to any distribution of the subsidiaries assets to pay the interest and principal amounts on Charters notes. In addition, the lenders under our credit facilities could foreclose on their collateral, which includes equity interests in Charters subsidiaries, and they could exercise other rights of secured creditors. In any such case, we might not be able to repay or make any payments on our notes. Additionally, an acceleration or payment default under our credit facilities would cause a cross-default in the indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes, CCH II notes, CCO Holdings notes, Charter Operating notes and Charters convertible senior notes and would trigger the cross-default provision of the Charter Operating credit agreement. Any default under any of our credit facilities or notes might adversely affect the holders of our notes and our growth, financial condition and results of operations and could force us to examine all options, including seeking the protection of the bankruptcy laws.
Charter Communications, Inc.s Convertible Senior Notes are Structurally Subordinated to all Liabilities of its Subsidiaries. The borrowers and guarantors under the Charter Operating credit facilities and senior second-lien notes are Charters indirect subsidiaries. A number of Charters subsidiaries are also obligors under other debt instruments, including Charter Holdings, CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating, which are each a co-issuer of senior notes and/or senior discount notes. As of March 31, 2005, our total debt was approximately $18.9 billion, of which $18.0 billion was structurally senior to the Charter convertible senior notes. In a liquidation, the lenders under our credit facilities and the holders of the other debt instruments and all other creditors of Charters subsidiaries would have the right to be paid before holders of Charters convertible senior notes from any of Charters subsidiaries assets.
The Charter Operating credit facilities and the indentures governing the senior notes, senior discount notes and senior second-lien notes issued by subsidiaries of Charter contain restrictive covenants that limit the ability of such subsidiaries to make distributions or other payments to Charter Holdco or Charter to enable Charter to make payments on its convertible senior notes. In addition, if Charter caused a subsidiary to make a distribution to enable it to make payments on its convertible senior notes, and such transfer were deemed a fraudulent transfer or an unlawful distribution, the holders of Charters convertible senior notes could be required to return the payment to (or for the benefit of) the creditors of its subsidiaries. In the event of the bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of a subsidiary, following payment by such subsidiary of its liabilities, such subsidiary may not have sufficient assets remaining to make any payments to Charter as an equity holder or otherwise and may be restricted by bankruptcy and insolvency laws from making any such payments. The foregoing contractual and legal restrictions could limit Charters ability to make payments of principal and/or interest to the holders of its convertible senior notes.
Securities Litigation and Government Investigations. A number of putative federal class action lawsuits were filed against Charter and certain of its former and present officers and directors alleging violations of securities laws, which have been consolidated for pretrial purposes. In addition, a number of shareholder derivative lawsuits have been filed against Charter in the same and other jurisdictions. A shareholders derivative suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Charter and its then current directors. Also, three shareholders derivative suits were filed in Missouri state court against Charter, its then current directors and its former independent auditor. These state court actions have been consolidated. The federal shareholders derivative suit and the consolidated derivative suit each alleged that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties.
Charter recently entered into Stipulations of Settlement setting forth proposed terms of settlement for the above-described class actions and derivative suits. The settlement of each of the lawsuits remains conditioned upon, among other things, final judicial approval of the settlements following notice to the class, and dismissal with prejudice of the consolidated derivative actions now pending in Missouri state court, which are related to the Federal Derivative Action. Additionally, a portion of the settlement is to be paid in shares of Charters Class A common stock with a value of $45 million (including shares issuable to insurance carriers) and warrants to purchase Charters Class A common stock valued at $40 million, with such values in each case determined by formulas set forth in the Stipulations of Settlement. If the price of Charters common stock declines, additional shares will be required in order to fulfill this commitment. Charter has the right but not the obligation to terminate the settlements if the value of its common stock (under the above-described formula) is less than $2.25. As of March 31, 2005, the value of
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Charters common stock was $1.60 per share. The hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for May 23, 2005. See Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
In August 2002, Charter became aware of a grand jury investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri into certain of its accounting and reporting practices focusing on how it reported customer numbers, and its reporting of amounts received from digital set-top terminal suppliers for advertising. The U.S. Attorneys Office has publicly stated that Charter is not a target of the investigation. Charter was also advised by the U.S. Attorneys Office that no current officer or member of its board of directors is a target of the investigation. On July 24, 2003, a federal grand jury charged four former officers of Charter with conspiracy and mail and wire fraud, alleging improper accounting and reporting practices focusing on revenue from digital set-top terminal suppliers and inflated customer account numbers. Each of the indicted former officers pled guilty to single conspiracy counts related to the original mail and wire fraud charges and were sentenced on April 22, 2005. Charter fully cooperated with the investigation.
On November 4, 2002, Charter received an informal, non-public inquiry from the staff of the SEC. The SEC issued a formal order of investigation dated January 23, 2003, and subsequently served document and testimony subpoenas on Charter and a number of its former employees. The investigation and subpoenas generally concerned Charters prior reports with respect to its determination of the number of customers and various of its accounting policies and practices including its capitalization of certain expenses and dealings with certain vendors, including programmers and digital set-top terminal suppliers. On July 27, 2004, the SEC and Charter reached a final agreement to settle the investigation. In the Settlement Agreement and Cease and Desist Order, Charter agreed to entry of an administrative order prohibiting any future violations of United States securities laws and requiring certain other remedial internal practices and public disclosures. Charter neither admitted nor denied any wrongdoing, and the SEC assessed no fine against Charter.
Moreover, due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and investigations, and due to the remaining conditions to the finalization of our anticipated settlements, Charter cannot predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of these proceedings. An unfavorable outcome in the lawsuits or the government investigation described above could result in substantial potential liabilities and have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations or our liquidity. Further, these proceedings, and our actions in response to these proceedings, could result in substantial additional defense costs and the diversion of managements attention, and could adversely affect our ability to execute our business and financial strategies.
Competition. The industry in which we operate is highly competitive, and has become more so in recent years. In some instances, we compete against companies with fewer regulatory burdens, easier access to financing, greater personnel resources, greater brand name recognition and long-established relationships with regulatory authorities and customers. Increasing consolidation in the cable industry and the repeal of certain ownership rules may provide additional benefits to certain of our competitors, either through access to financing, resources or efficiencies of scale.
Our principal competitor for video services throughout our territory is direct broadcast satellite television services, also known as DBS. Competition from DBS, including intensive marketing efforts, aggressive pricing, and the ability of DBS to provide certain services that we are in the process of developing, has had an adverse impact on our ability to retain customers. DBS has grown rapidly over the last several years and continues to do so. The cable industry, including Charter, has lost a significant number of subscribers to DBS competition, and we face serious challenges in this area in the future. We believe that competition from DBS service providers may present greater challenges in areas of lower population density, and that our systems service a higher concentration of such areas than those of other major cable service providers.
Local telephone companies and electric utilities can offer video and other services in competition with us, and they increasingly may do so in the future. Certain telephone companies have begun more extensive deployment of fiber in their networks that will enable them to begin providing video services, as well as telephony and high-bandwidth Internet access services, to residential and business customers. Some of these telephone companies have obtained, and are now seeking, franchises that are less burdensome than existing Charter franchises. The subscription television industry also faces competition from free broadcast television and from other communications and entertainment media. Further loss of customers to DBS or other alternative video and data services could have a material negative impact on the value of our business and its performance.
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With respect to our Internet access services, we face competition, including intensive marketing efforts and aggressive pricing, from telephone companies and other providers of dial-up and digital subscriber line technology, also known as DSL. DSL service is competitive with highspeed data service over cable systems. Telephone companies (which already have telephone lines into the household, an existing customer base and other operational functions in place) and other companies offer DSL service. In addition, DBS providers have entered into joint marketing arrangements with Internet access providers to offer bundled video and Internet service, which competes with our ability to provide bundled services to our customers.
In order to attract new customers, from time to time we make promotional offers, including offers of temporarily reduced-price or free service. These promotional programs result in significant advertising, programming and operating expenses, and also require us to make capital expenditures to acquire additional digital set-top terminals. Customers who subscribe to our services as a result of these offerings may not remain customers for any significant period of time following the end of the promotional period. A failure to retain existing customers and customers added through promotional offerings or to collect the amounts they owe us could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Mergers, joint ventures and alliances among franchised, wireless or private cable operators, satellite television providers, local exchange carriers and others, and the repeal of certain ownership rules may provide additional benefits to some of our competitors, either through access to financing, resources or efficiencies of scale, or the ability to provide multiple services in direct competition with us.
Long-Term Indebtedness Change of Control Payments. We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to fulfill our obligations under Charters convertible senior notes, our senior and senior discount notes and our credit facilities following a change of control. Under the indentures governing the Charter convertible senior notes, upon the occurrence of specified change of control events, including certain specified dispositions of stock by Mr. Allen, Charter is required to offer to repurchase all of the outstanding Charter convertible senior notes. However, we may not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control event to make the required repurchase of the Charter convertible senior notes and Charters subsidiaries are limited in their ability to make distributions or other payments to Charter to fund any required repurchase. In addition, a change of control under our credit facilities and indentures governing our notes would require the repayment of borrowings under those credit facilities and indentures. Because such credit facilities and notes are obligations of Charters subsidiaries, the credit facilities and the notes would have to be repaid by Charters subsidiaries before their assets could be available to Charter to repurchase the Charter convertible senior notes. Charters failure to make or complete a change of control offer would place it in default under the Charter convertible senior notes. The failure of Charters subsidiaries to make a change of control offer or repay the amounts outstanding under their credit facilities would place them in default under these agreements and could result in a default under the indentures governing the Charter convertible senior notes. See Certain Trends and Uncertainties Liquidity.
Variable Interest Rates. At March 31, 2005, excluding the effects of hedging, approximately 30% of our debt bears interest at variable rates that are linked to short-term interest rates. In addition, a significant portion of our existing debt, assumed debt or debt we might arrange in the future will bear interest at variable rates. If interest rates rise, our costs relative to those obligations will also rise. As of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the weighted average interest rate on the credit facility debt was approximately 7.0% and 6.8%, respectively, the weighted average interest rate on the high-yield notes was approximately 9.9% and 9.9%, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on the convertible notes was approximately 5.7% and 5.7%, respectively, resulting in a blended weighted average interest rate of 8.9% and 8.8%, respectively. The interest rate on approximately 82% and 83% of the total principal amount of our debt was effectively fixed, including the effects of our interest rate hedge agreements as of March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively.
Services. We expect that a substantial portion of our near-term growth will be achieved through revenues from high-speed data services, digital video, bundled service packages, and to a lesser extent various commercial services that take advantage of cables broadband capacity. We may not be able to offer these advanced services successfully to our customers or provide adequate customer service and these advanced services may not generate adequate revenues. Also, if the vendors we use for these services are not financially viable over time, we may experience disruption of service and incur costs to find alternative vendors. In addition, the technology involved in our product and service offerings generally requires that we have permission to use intellectual property and that such property not infringe on rights claimed by others. If it is determined that the product or service being utilized infringes on the rights of others, we may be sued or be precluded from using the technology.
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Increasing Programming Costs. Programming has been, and is expected to continue to be, our largest operating expense item. In recent years, the cable industry has experienced a rapid escalation in the cost of programming, particularly sports programming. We expect programming costs to continue to increase because of a variety of factors, including inflationary or negotiated annual increases, additional programming being provided to customers and increased costs to purchase programming. The inability to fully pass these programming cost increases on to our customers would have an adverse impact on our cash flow and operating margins. As measured by programming costs, and excluding premium services (substantially all of which were renegotiated and renewed in 2003), as of March 31, 2005 approximately 10% of our current programming contracts were expired, and approximately another 34% are scheduled to expire at or before the end of 2005. There can be no assurance that these agreements will be renewed on favorable or comparable terms. To the extent that we are unable to reach agreement with certain programmers on terms that we believe are reasonable we may be forced to remove such programming channels from our line-up, which could result in a further loss of customers.
Share Lending Agreement. The anticipated issuance of 150 million shares of our Class A common stock offered pursuant to a share lending agreement executed by Charter in connection with the issuance of the 5.875% convertible senior notes in November 2004, is essentially analogous to a sale of shares coupled with a forward contract for the reacquisition of the shares at a future date. An instrument that requires physical settlement by repurchase of a fixed number of shares in exchange for cash is considered a forward purchase instrument. While the share lending agreement does not require a cash payment upon return of the shares, physical settlement is required (i.e., the 150 million shares must be returned at the end of the arrangement.) The net effect on shareholders deficit of the share lending agreement (exclusive of the adjustment for the fair value of the stock borrow facility discussed below) which includes our requirement to lend the shares and the counterparties requirement to return the shares, is expected to de minimis and will represent the cash received upon lending of the shares and will be equal to the par value of the common stock to be issued.
The shares to be issued are required to be returned, in accordance with the contractual arrangement, and will be treated in basic and diluted earnings per share as if they were already returned and retired. Consequently, there will be no impact of the 150 million shares of common stock subject to the share lending agreement in the earnings per share calculation.
The share lending agreement was entered into to facilitate the ability of the purchasers of the 5.875% convertible senior notes to improve or enhance their yield on the notes and as such was a cost of the 5.875% notes issuance transaction. We determined that the fair value of the stock borrow facility was approximately $13 million on the date of issuance of these notes. Therefore, we recorded such value at issuance as an increase to deferred financing fees and additional paid in capital in our consolidated financial statements. We are amortizing the value of the stock borrow facility to interest expense over the 5-year term of these notes.
Utilization of Net Operating Loss Carryforwards. As of March 31, 2004, we had approximately $5.6 billion of tax net operating losses (resulting in a gross deferred tax asset of approximately $2.2 billion), expiring in the years 2005 through 2025. Due to uncertainties in projected future taxable income, valuation allowances have been established against the gross deferred tax assets for book accounting purposes except for deferred benefits available to offset certain deferred tax liabilities. Currently, such tax net operating losses can accumulate and be used to offset any of our future taxable income. An ownership change as defined in the applicable federal income tax rules, would place significant limitations, on an annual basis, on the use of such net operating losses to offset any future taxable income we may generate. Such limitations, in conjunction with the net operating loss expiration provisions, could effectively eliminate our ability to use a substantial portion of our net operating losses to offset future taxable income.
The anticipated issuance of 150 million shares of our Class A common stock offered pursuant to a share lending agreement executed by Charter in connection with the issuance of the 5.875% convertible senior notes in November 2004, as well as possible future conversions of our convertible notes, significantly increases the risk that we will experience an ownership change in the future for tax purposes, resulting in a material limitation on the use of a substantial amount of our existing net operating loss carryforwards. We do not believe that the issuance of shares associated with the share lending agreement would result in our experiencing an ownership change. However, future transactions and the timing of such transactions could cause an ownership change. Such transactions include additional issuances of common stock by us (including but not limited to issuances upon future conversion of our 5.875% convertible senior notes or as contemplated in the proposed settlement of derivative class action litigation), reacquisitions of the borrowed shares by us, or acquisitions or sales of shares by certain holders of our shares,
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including persons who have held, currently hold, or accumulate in the future five percent or more of our outstanding stock (including upon an exchange by Paul Allen or his affiliates, directly or indirectly, of membership units of Charter Holdco into our Class A common stock). Many of the foregoing transactions are beyond our control.
Class A Common Stock and Notes Price Volatility. The market price of our Class A common stock and our publicly traded notes has been and is likely to continue to be highly volatile. We expect that the price of our securities may fluctuate in response to various factors, including the factors described in this section and various other factors, which may be beyond our control. These factors beyond our control could include: financial forecasts by securities analysts; new conditions or trends in the cable or telecommunications industry; general economic and market conditions and specifically, conditions related to the cable or telecommunications industry; any change in our debt ratings; the development of improved or competitive technologies; the use of new products or promotions by us or our competitors; changes in accounting rules or interpretations; new regulatory legislation adopted in the United States; and any action taken or requirements imposed by NASDAQ if our Class A common stock trades below $1.00 per share for over 30 consecutive trading days. On March 31, 2005, our Class A common stock closed on NASDAQ at $1.60 per share.
In addition, the securities market in general, and the Nasdaq National Market and the market for cable television securities in particular, have experienced significant price fluctuations. Volatility in the market price for companies may often be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our Class A common stock and our notes, regardless of our operating performance. In the past, securities litigation has often commenced following periods of volatility in the market price of a companys securities, and several purported class action lawsuits were filed against us in 2001 and 2002, following a decline in our stock price.
Economic Slowdown; Global Conflict. It is difficult to assess the impact that the general economic slowdown and global conflict will have on future operations. However, the economic slowdown has resulted and could continue to result in reduced spending by customers and advertisers, which could reduce our revenues, and also could affect our ability to collect accounts receivable and maintain customers. Reductions in operating revenues would likely negatively affect our ability to make expected capital expenditures and could also result in our inability to meet our obligations under our financing agreements. These developments could also have a negative impact on our financing and variable interest rate agreements through disruptions in the market or negative market conditions.
Regulation and Legislation. Cable system operations are extensively regulated at the federal, state, and local level, including rate regulation of basic service and equipment and municipal approval of franchise agreements and their terms, such as franchise requirements to upgrade cable plant and meet specified customer service standards. Additional legislation and regulation is always possible. There have been recent calls to impose indecency restrictions on cable networks.
Cable operators also face significant regulation of their channel carriage. They currently can be required to devote substantial capacity to the carriage of programming that they would not carry voluntarily, including certain local broadcast signals, local public, educational and government access programming, and unaffiliated commercial leased access programming. This carriage burden could increase in the future, particularly if cable systems were required to carry both the analog and digital versions of local broadcast signals (dual carriage) or to carry multiple program streams included with a single digital broadcast transmission (multicast carriage). Additional government mandated broadcast carriage obligations could disrupt existing programming commitments, interfere with our preferred use of limited channel capacity and limit our ability to offer services that would maximize customer appeal and revenue potential. Although the FCC issued a decision on February 10, 2005, confirming an earlier ruling against mandating either dual carriage or multicast carriage, that decision has been appealed. In addition, Congress could legislate additional carriage obligations.
There is also uncertainty whether local franchising authorities, state regulators, the FCC, or the U.S. Congress will impose obligations on cable operators to provide unaffiliated Internet service providers with regulated access to cable plant. If they were to do so, and the obligations were found to be lawful, it could complicate our operations in general, and our Internet operations in particular, from a technical and marketing standpoint. These open access obligations could adversely impact our profitability and discourage system upgrades and the introduction of new products and services. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently vacated in part an FCC ruling defining cable modem service as an information service and remanded for further proceedings. The Ninth Circuit held that cable modem service is not cable service but is part telecommunications service and part
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information service. The decision has been appealed to the United States Supreme Court. However, if it is not reversed, the decision may lead to our having to contribute to the federal governments universal service fund, to comply with open access requirements, and to subject our high-speed data operations generally to other common carrier regulations. As we offer other advanced services over our cable system, we are likely to face additional calls for regulation of our capacity and operation. These regulations, if adopted, could adversely affect our operations.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
No material changes in reported market risks have occurred since the filing of our December 31, 2004 Form 10-K.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, management, including our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this quarterly report. The evaluation was based in part upon reports and affidavits provided by a number of executives. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and forms.
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the above evaluation, Charters management believes that its controls provide such reasonable assurances.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
Securities Class Actions and Derivative Suits
Fourteen putative federal class action lawsuits (the Federal Class Actions) were filed against Charter and certain of its former and present officers and directors in various jurisdictions allegedly on behalf of all purchasers of Charters securities during the period from either November 8 or November 9, 1999 through July 17 or July 18, 2002. Unspecified damages were sought by the plaintiffs. In general, the lawsuits alleged that Charter utilized misleading accounting practices and failed to disclose these accounting practices and/or issued false and misleading financial statements and press releases concerning Charters operations and prospects. The Federal Class Actions were specifically and individually identified in public filings made by Charter prior to the date of this quarterly report.
In October 2002, Charter filed a motion with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the Panel) to transfer the Federal Class Actions to the Eastern District of Missouri. On March 12, 2003, the Panel transferred the six Federal Class Actions not filed in the Eastern District of Missouri to that district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the eight Federal Class Actions already pending there. The Panels transfer order assigned the Federal Class Actions to Judge Charles A. Shaw. By virtue of a prior court order, StoneRidge Investment Partners LLC became lead plaintiff upon entry of the Panels transfer order. StoneRidge subsequently filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint. The Court subsequently consolidated the Federal Class Actions into a single action (the Consolidated Federal Class Action) for pretrial purposes. On June 19, 2003, following a status and scheduling conference with the parties, the Court issued a Case Management Order setting forth a schedule for the pretrial phase of the Consolidated Federal Class Action. Motions to dismiss the Consolidated Amended Complaint were filed. On February 10, 2004, in response to a joint motion made by StoneRidge and defendants Charter, Vogel and Allen, the court entered an order providing, among other things, that: (1) the parties who filed such motion engage in a mediation within ninety (90) days; and (2) all proceedings in the Consolidated Federal Class Actions were stayed until May 10, 2004. On May 11, 2004, the Court extended the stay in the Consolidated Federal Class Action for an additional sixty (60) days. On July 12, 2004, the parties submitted a joint motion to again extend the stay, this time until September 10, 2004. The Court granted that extension on July 20, 2004. On August 5, 2004, Stoneridge, Charter and the individual defendants who were the subject of the suit entered into a Memorandum of Understanding setting forth agreements in principle to settle the Consolidated Federal Class Action. These parties subsequently entered into Stipulations of Settlement dated as of January 24, 2005 (described more fully below) which incorporate the terms of the August 5, 2004 Memorandum of Understanding.
The Consolidated Federal Class Action is entitled:
| In re Charter Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation, MDL Docket No. 1506 (All Cases), StoneRidge Investments Partners, LLC, Individually and On Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, v. Charter Communications, Inc., Paul Allen, Jerald L. Kent, Carl E. Vogel, Kent Kalkwarf, David G. Barford, Paul E. Martin, David L. McCall, Bill Shreffler, Chris Fenger, James H. Smith, III, Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Motorola, Inc. and Arthur Andersen, LLP, Consolidated Case No. 4:02-CV-1186-CAS. |
On September 12, 2002, a shareholders derivative suit (the State Derivative Action) was filed in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri (the Missouri State Court) against Charter and its then current directors, as well as its former auditors. The plaintiffs allege that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and procedures. Unspecified damages, allegedly on Charters behalf, were sought by the plaintiffs.
The consolidated State Derivative Action is entitled:
| Kenneth Stacey, Derivatively on behalf of Nominal Defendant Charter Communications, Inc., v. Ronald L. Nelson, Paul G. Allen, Marc B. Nathanson, Nancy B. Peretsman, William Savoy, John H. Tory, Carl E. Vogel, Larry W. Wangberg, and Charter Communications, Inc. |
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On March 12, 2004, an action substantively identical to the State Derivative Action was filed in the Missouri State Court, against Charter and certain of its current and former directors, as well as its former auditors. The plaintiffs in that case alleged that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and procedures. Unspecified damages, allegedly on Charters behalf, were sought by plaintiffs. On July 14, 2004, the Court consolidated this case with the State Derivative Action.
This action is entitled:
| Thomas Schimmel, Derivatively on behalf on Nominal Defendant Charter Communications, Inc., v. Ronald L. Nelson, Paul G. Allen, Marc B. Nathanson, Nancy B. Peretsman, William D. Savoy, John H. Tory, Carl E. Vogel, Larry W. Wangberg, and Arthur Andersen, LLP, and Charter Communications, Inc. |
Separately, on February 12, 2003, a shareholders derivative suit (the Federal Derivative Action) was filed against Charter and its then current directors in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The plaintiff in that suit alleged that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties and grossly mismanaged Charter by failing to establish and maintain adequate internal controls and procedures. Unspecified damages, allegedly on Charters behalf, were sought by the plaintiffs.
The Federal Derivative Action is entitled:
| Arthur Cohn, Derivatively on behalf of Nominal Defendant Charter Communications, Inc., v. Ronald L. Nelson, Paul G. Allen, Marc B. Nathanson, Nancy B. Peretsman, William Savoy, John H. Tory, Carl E. Vogel, Larry W. Wangberg, and Charter Communications, Inc. |
As noted above, Charter and the individual defendants entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on August 5, 2004 setting forth agreements in principle regarding settlement of the Consolidated Federal Class Action, the State Derivative Action(s) and the Federal Derivative Action (the Actions). Charter and various other defendants in those actions subsequently entered into Stipulations of Settlement dated as of January 24, 2005, setting forth a settlement of the Actions in a manner consistent with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding. The Stipulations of Settlement, along with various supporting documentation, were filed with the Court on February 2, 2005. The Stipulations of Settlement provide that, in exchange for a release of all claims by plaintiffs against Charter and its former and present officers and directors named in the Actions, Charter would pay to the plaintiffs a combination of cash and equity collectively valued at $144 million, which would include the fees and expenses of plaintiffs counsel. Of this amount, $64 million would be paid in cash (by Charters insurance carriers) and the balance would be paid in shares of Charter Class A common stock having an aggregate value of $40 million and ten-year warrants to purchase shares of Charter Class A common stock having an aggregate warrant value of $40 million, with such values in each case being determined pursuant to formulas set forth in the Stipulations of Settlement. The warrants would have an exercise price equal to 150% of the fair market value (as defined) of Charter Class A common stock as of the date of the entry of the order of final judgment approving the settlement. In addition, Charter would issue additional shares of its Class A common stock to its insurance carrier having an aggregate value of $5 million. Under this formula, we expect (based on recent trading prices of our Class A common stock) that the number of shares issued will be determined based on a per share value equal to the average closing price over the thirty calendar day period immediately preceding the final valuation date (which is the later of the date on which a final judgment is entered or the date of entry of an order approving the award of fees and costs to the class action plaintiffs counsel). Warrants are expected to become exercisable approximately one year from the date of the final judgment and will have an exercise price equal to 150% of the volume weighted average price of Charters Class A common stock over the thirty day period immediately preceding the final valuation date. The warrants will be valued based on a Black Scholes valuation method. Accordingly, any further declines in our stock price prior to the final valuation date could result in more shares and warrants being issued to the plaintiffs in the settlement. In the event that the valuation formula in the Stipulations provides for a per share value of less than $2.25, Charter may elect to terminate the settlement. As a result, in the second quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a $149 million litigation liability within other long-term liabilities and a $64 million insurance receivable as part of other non-current assets on its consolidated balance sheet and an $85 million special charge on its consolidated statement of operations. Additionally, as part of the settlements, Charter will also commit to a variety of corporate governance changes, internal practices and public disclosures, some of which have already been undertaken and none of which are inconsistent with measures Charter is taking in connection with the recent conclusion of the SEC investigation described below. Documents related to the settlement of the Actions have now been executed and filed. On February 15, 2005, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri gave preliminary approval to
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the settlement of the Actions. The settlement of each of the lawsuits remains conditioned upon, among other things, final judicial approval of the settlements following notice to the class, and dismissal with prejudice of the consolidated derivative actions now pending in Missouri State Court, which are related to the Federal Derivative Actions. The hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for May 23, 2005.
Government Investigations
In August 2002, Charter became aware of a grand jury investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri into certain of its accounting and reporting practices, focusing on how Charter reported customer numbers, and its reporting of amounts received from digital set-top terminal suppliers for advertising. The U.S. Attorneys Office has publicly stated that Charter is not a target of the investigation. Charter was also advised by the U. S. Attorneys Office that no current officer or member of its board of directors is a target of the investigation. On July 24, 2003, a federal grand jury charged four former officers of Charter with conspiracy and mail and wire fraud, alleging improper accounting and reporting practices focusing on revenue from digital set-top terminal suppliers and inflated customer account numbers. Each of the indicted former officers pled guilty to single conspiracy counts related to the original mail and wire fraud charges and were sentenced on April 22, 2005. Charter fully cooperated with the investigation, and following the sentencings, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced that its investigation was concluded and that no further indictments would issue.
On November 4, 2002, Charter received an informal, non-public inquiry from the staff of the SEC. The SEC issued a formal order of investigation dated January 23, 2003, and subsequently served document and testimony subpoenas on Charter and a number of its former employees. The investigation and subpoenas generally concerned Charters prior reports with respect to its determination of the number of customers, and various of its accounting policies and practices including its capitalization of certain expenses and dealings with certain vendors, including programmers and digital set-top terminal suppliers. On July 27, 2004, the SEC and Charter reached a final agreement to settle the investigation. In the Settlement Agreement and Cease and Desist Order, Charter agreed to entry of an administrative order prohibiting any future violations of United States securities laws and requiring certain other remedial internal practices and public disclosures. Charter neither admitted nor denied any wrongdoing, and the SEC assessed no fine against Charter.
Indemnification
Charter is generally required to indemnify each of the named individual defendants in connection with the matters described above pursuant to the terms of its bylaws and (where applicable) such individual defendants employment agreements. In accordance with these documents, in connection with the pending grand jury investigation, the now-settled SEC investigation and the above-described lawsuits, some of Charters current and former directors and current and former officers have been advanced certain costs and expenses incurred in connection with their defense. See Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions Indemnification Advances for greater detail. On February 22, 2005, Charter filed suit against four of its former officers who were indicted in the course of the grand jury investigation. These suits seek to recover the legal fees and other related expenses advanced to these individuals by Charter for the grand jury investigation, SEC investigation and class action and related lawsuits.
Other Litigation
In October 2001, two customers, Nikki Nicholls and Geraldine M. Barber, filed a class action suit against Charter Holdco in South Carolina Court of Common Pleas (the South Carolina Class Action), purportedly on behalf of a class of Charter Holdcos customers, alleging that Charter Holdco improperly charged them a wire maintenance fee without request or permission. They also claimed that Charter Holdco improperly required them to rent analog and/or digital set-top terminals even though their television sets were cable ready. A substantively identical case was filed in the Superior Court of Athens Clarke County, Georgia by Emma S. Tobar on March 26, 2002 (the Georgia Class Action), alleging a nationwide class for these claims. Charter Holdco removed the South Carolina Class Action to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina in November 2001, and moved to dismiss the suit in December 2001. The federal judge remanded the case to the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas in August 2002 without ruling on the motion to dismiss. The plaintiffs subsequently moved for a default judgment, arguing that upon return to state court, Charter Holdco should have, but did not, file a new motion to dismiss. The state court judge granted the plaintiffs motion over Charter Holdcos objection in September 2002. Charter Holdco immediately appealed that decision to the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court, but those courts ruled that until a final judgment was entered against Charter Holdco, they lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
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In January 2003, the Court of Common Pleas granted the plaintiffs motion for class certification. In October and November 2003, Charter Holdco filed motions (a) asking that court to set aside the default judgment, and (b) seeking dismissal of plaintiffs suit for failure to state a claim. In January 2004, the Court of Common Pleas granted in part and denied in part Charter Holdcos motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. It also took under advisement Charter Holdcos motion to set aside the default judgment. In April 2004, the parties to both the Georgia and South Carolina Class Actions participated in a mediation. The mediator made a proposal to the parties to settle the lawsuits. In May 2004, the parties accepted the mediators proposal and reached a tentative settlement, subject to final documentation and court approval. As a result of the tentative settlement, we recorded a special charge of $9 million in our consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter of 2004. On July 8, 2004, the Superior Court of Athens Clarke County, Georgia granted a motion to amend the Tobar complaint to add Nicholls, Barber and April Jones as plaintiffs in the Georgia Class Action and to add any potential class members in South Carolina. The court also granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement on that date. On August 2, 2004, the parties submitted a joint request to the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas to stay the South Carolina Class Action pending final approval of the settlement and on August 17, 2004, that court granted the parties request. On November 10, 2004, the court granted final approval of the settlement, rejecting positions advanced by two objectors to the settlement. On December 13, 2004 the court entered a written order formally approving that settlement. On January 11, 2005, certain class members appealed the order entered by the Georgia court. Those objectors voluntarily dismissed their appeal with prejudice on February 8, 2005. On February 9, 2005, the South Carolina Court of Common Pleas entered a court order of dismissal for the South Carolina Class Action. Additionally, one of the objectors to this settlement recently filed a similar, but not identical, lawsuit.
The South Carolina Class Action was entitled:
| Nikki Nicholls and Geraldine M. Barber, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC and City of Spartanburg filed on October 29, 2001. |
The Georgia Class Action was entitled:
| Emma S. Tobar, Nikki Nicholls, Geraldine M. Barber and April Jones, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated v. Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC, et al, originally filed on March 26, 2002. |
Outcome
In addition to the matters set forth above, Charter is also party to other lawsuits and claims that arose in the ordinary course of conducting its business. In the opinion of management, after taking into account recorded liabilities, the outcome of these other lawsuits and claims are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or our liquidity.
Item 6. Exhibits.
The index to the exhibits begins on page 52 of this quarterly report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Charter Communications, Inc. has duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC., | ||||||
Registrant | ||||||
Dated: May 3, 2005 | By: | /s/ Paul E. Martin | ||||
Name: | Paul E. Martin | |||||
Title: | Interim Chief Financial Officer, | |||||
Senior Vice President and | ||||||
Corporate Controller | ||||||
(Principal Financial Officer and | ||||||
Principal Accounting Officer) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | ||
Number | Description of Document | |
3.1(a)
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Charter Communications, Inc. (Originally incorporated July 22, 1999) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 3 to the registration statement on Form S-1 of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on October 18, 1999 (File No. 333-83887)). | |
3.1(b)
|
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Charter Communications, Inc. filed May 10, 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(b) to the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on March 29, 2002 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
3.2
|
Amended and Restated By-laws of Charter Communications, Inc. as of June 6, 2001 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on November 14, 2001 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
3.3
|
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated By-laws of Charter Communications, Inc. as of October 3, 2003 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Charter Communications, Inc.s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 3, 2003 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
3.4
|
Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated By-laws of Charter Communications, Inc. as of October 28, 2003 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Charter Communications, Inc.s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 3, 2003 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
3.5
|
Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated By-laws of Charter Communications, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Charter Communications, Inc.s current report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2004). | |
3.6
|
Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated By-laws of Charter Communications, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Charter Communications, Inc.s current report on Form 8-K filed on October 22, 2004). | |
10.1
|
Stipulation of Settlement, dated as of January 24, 2005, regarding settlement of Consolidated Federal Class Action entitled In Re Charter Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on March 3, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.2
|
Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, dated as of February 1, 2005, by and among Charter Communications, Inc. and certain other insureds, on the one hand, and Certain Underwriters at Lloyds of London and certain subscribers, on the other hand. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on March 3, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.3
|
Stipulation of Settlement, dated as of January 24, 2005, regarding settlement of Federal Derivative Action, Arthur J. Cohn v. Ronald L. Nelson et al and Charter Communications, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on March 3, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.4+
|
Description of Long-Term Incentive Program to the Charter Communications, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18(g) to the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Charter Communications Holdings, LLC on March 31, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.5+
|
Amendment to Employment Offer Letter, dated January 27, 2005, by and between Charter Communications, Inc. and Derek Chang. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed January 28, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.6+
|
Executive Services Agreement, dated as of January 17, 2005, between Charter Communications, Inc. and Robert P. May (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on January 21, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.7+
|
Separation Agreement and Release for Steven A. Schumm, dated as of February 8, 2005 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on February 11, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.8+
|
Separation Agreement and Release for Carl E. Vogel, dated as of February 17, 2005 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on February 22, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.9+
|
Separation Agreement and Release for Thomas A. Cullen, dated as of March 15, 2005 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on March 17, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.10+
|
Description of Charter Communications, Inc. 2005 Executive Bonus Plan (Incorporated by |
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Exhibit | ||
Number | Description of Document | |
reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on March 3, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | ||
10.11+*
|
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2005, by and between Michael J. Lovett and Charter Communications, Inc. | |
15.1*
|
Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Statements. | |
31.1*
|
Certificate of Interim Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |
31.2*
|
Certificate of Interim Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |
32.1*
|
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Interim Chief Executive Officer). | |
32.2*
|
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Interim Chief Financial Officer). |
* | Document attached | |
+ | Management compensatory plan or arrangement |
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