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EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - CCO HOLDINGS LLCccoh9302017exh-322.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - CCO HOLDINGS LLCccoh9302017exh-321.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - CCO HOLDINGS LLCccoh9302017exh-312.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - CCO HOLDINGS LLCccoh9302017exh-311.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
FORM 10-Q
______________
(Mark One)
x
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
or
 
 
 
o
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Transition Period From             to             
Commission File Number:
 001-37789
 
333-112593-01
CCO Holdings, LLC
CCO Holdings Capital Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
86-1067239
Delaware
 
20-0257904
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
 
 
400 Atlantic Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
 
(203) 905-7801
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o    Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer x    Smaller reporting company o    Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x

All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of CCO Holdings Capital Corp. are held by CCO Holdings, LLC. All of the limited liability company membership interests of CCO Holdings, LLC are held by CCH I Holdings, LLC (a subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc., a reporting company under the Exchange Act). There is no public trading market for any of the aforementioned limited liability company membership interests or shares of capital stock.

CCO Holdings, LLC and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. meet the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) to Form 10-K and are therefore filing with the reduced disclosure format.

Number of shares of common stock of CCO Holdings Capital Corporation outstanding as of September 30, 2017: 1









CCO HOLDINGS, LLC
CCO HOLDINGS CAPITAL CORP.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to those documents. In this quarterly report, “CCO Holdings,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to CCO Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries.


i



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the forward-looking statements set forth in the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections under Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this quarterly report. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “will,” “may,” “intend,” “estimated,” “aim,” “on track,” “target,” “opportunity,” “tentative,” “positioning,” “designed,” “create,” “predict,” “project,” “initiatives,” “seek,” “would,” “could,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “upside,” “increases” and “potential,” among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, in our annual report on Form 10-K, and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:

our ability to promptly, efficiently and effectively integrate acquired operations;
our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flow from operations by offering video, Internet, voice, advertising and other services to residential and commercial customers, to adequately meet the customer experience demands in our markets and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition, the need for innovation and the related capital expenditures;
the impact of competition from other market participants, including but not limited to incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite operators, wireless broadband and telephone providers, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) providers, fiber to the home providers, video provided over the Internet by (i) market participants that have not historically competed in the multichannel video business, (ii) traditional multichannel video distributors, and (iii) content providers that have historically licensed cable networks to multichannel video distributors, and providers of advertising over the Internet;
general business conditions, economic uncertainty or downturn, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector;
our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to raise prices to offset, in whole or in part, the effects of higher programming costs (including retransmission consents);
our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including wireless products, our cloud-based user interface, Spectrum Guide®, and downloadable security for set-top boxes, and any other cloud-based consumer services and service platforms;
the effects of governmental regulation on our business or potential business combination transactions including costs, disruptions and possible limitations on operating flexibility related to, and our ability to comply with, regulatory conditions applicable to us as a result of the Time Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks, LLC Transactions;
any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation;
the ability to retain and hire key personnel;
the availability and access, in general, of funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) free cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital or credit markets; and
our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default provisions.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report.


ii



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.

CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions)
 
September 30,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 
(unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,974

 
$
1,324

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
 
 
 
$103 and $124, respectively
1,573

 
1,387

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
275

 
300

Total current assets
3,822

 
3,011

 
 
 
 
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated
 
 
 
depreciation of $16,350 and $11,085, respectively
33,066

 
32,718

Customer relationships, net
12,589

 
14,608

Franchises
67,316

 
67,316

Goodwill
29,554

 
29,509

Total investment in cable properties, net
142,525

 
144,151

 
 
 
 
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS
1,115

 
1,157

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
147,462

 
$
148,319

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
7,503

 
$
6,897

Payables to related party
636

 
621

Current portion of long-term debt
2,068

 
2,028

Total current liabilities
10,207

 
9,546

 
 
 
 
LONG-TERM DEBT
66,064

 
59,719

LOANS PAYABLE - RELATED PARTY
818

 
640

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
39

 
25

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
2,307

 
2,526

 
 
 
 
MEMBER'S EQUITY:
 
 
 
Member's equity
68,005

 
75,845

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(2
)
 
(7
)
Total CCO Holdings member's equity
68,003

 
75,838

Noncontrolling interests
24

 
25

Total member’s equity
68,027

 
75,863

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and member’s equity
$
147,462

 
$
148,319


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1



CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
REVENUES
$
10,458

 
$
10,037

 
$
30,979

 
$
18,728

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)
6,705

 
6,490

 
19,871

 
12,173

Depreciation and amortization
2,699

 
2,435

 
7,839

 
4,409

Other operating expenses, net
145

 
206

 
374

 
513

 
9,549

 
9,131

 
28,084

 
17,095

Income from operations
909

 
906

 
2,895

 
1,633

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
(795
)
 
(729
)
 
(2,268
)
 
(1,391
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 
(35
)
 
(110
)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net
17

 
71

 
(15
)
 
16

Other pension benefits (costs)
(17
)
 
13

 
9

 
533

Other expense, net
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(797
)
 
(647
)
 
(2,311
)
 
(954
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
112

 
259

 
584

 
679

Income tax benefit (expense)
(6
)
 
7

 
(35
)
 

Consolidated net income
106

 
266

 
549

 
679

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Net income attributable to CCO Holdings member
$
106

 
$
265

 
$
548

 
$
678



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2



CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Consolidated net income
$
106

 
$
266

 
$
549

 
$
679

Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments
1

 
2

 
4

 
6

Foreign currency translation adjustment
1

 
(1
)
 
1

 
(1
)
Consolidated comprehensive income
108

 
267

 
554

 
684

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Comprehensive income attributable to CCO Holdings member
$
108

 
$
266

 
$
553

 
$
683


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3



CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
$
549

 
$
679

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
7,839

 
4,409

Stock compensation expense
198

 
168

Accelerated vesting of equity awards
43

 
202

Noncash interest income, net
(284
)
 
(148
)
Other pension benefits
(9
)
 
(533
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
35

 
110

(Gain) loss on financial instruments, net
15

 
(16
)
Deferred income taxes
14

 
(14
)
Other, net
82

 
(10
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(77
)
 
(2
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
64

 
105

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other
6

 
483

Receivables from and payables to related party, including deferred management fees
46

 
105

Net cash flows from operating activities
8,521

 
5,538

 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(6,096
)
 
(3,437
)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures
276

 
86

Purchases of cable systems, net of cash acquired

 
(7
)
Other, net
(63
)
 
(8
)
Net cash flows from investing activities
(5,883
)
 
(3,366
)
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Borrowings of long-term debt
12,115

 
5,997

Repayments of long-term debt
(5,534
)
 
(4,120
)
Borrowings (repayments) loans payable - related parties
163

 
(253
)
Payments for debt issuance costs
(83
)
 
(283
)
Contributions from parent

 
478

Distributions to parent
(8,641
)
 
(3,084
)
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives

 
88

Other, net
(8
)
 
(4
)
Net cash flows from financing activities
(1,988
)
 
(1,181
)
 
 
 
 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
650

 
991

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
1,324

 
5

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
$
1,974

 
$
996

 
 
 
 
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST
$
2,544

 
$
1,479

CASH PAID FOR TAXES
$
21

 
$
3



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)



1.    Organization and Basis of Presentation

Organization

CCO Holdings, LLC (together with its subsidiaries, “CCO Holdings,” or the “Company”) is the second largest cable operator in the United States and a leading broadband communications company providing video, Internet and voice services to residential and business customers. In addition, the Company sells video and online advertising inventory to local, regional and national advertising customers and fiber-delivered communications and managed information technology solutions to larger enterprise customers. The Company also owns and operates regional sports networks and local sports, news and lifestyle channels and sells security and home management services to the residential marketplace.

CCO Holdings is a holding company whose principal assets are the equity interests in its operating subsidiaries. CCO Holdings is a direct subsidiary of CCH I Holdings, LLC (“CCH I”), which is an indirect subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”), Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”) and Spectrum Management Holding Company, LLC (“Spectrum Management”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CCO Holdings and all of its subsidiaries where the underlying operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated. Charter, Charter Holdings and Spectrum Management have performed financing, cash management, treasury and other services for CCO Holdings on a centralized basis. Changes in member’s equity in the consolidated balance sheets related to these activities have been considered cash receipts (contributions) and payments (distributions) for purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows and are reflected in financing activities.

The Company’s operations are managed and reported to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s chief operating decision maker, on a consolidated basis. The CEO assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations. Under this organizational and reporting structure, the Company has one reportable segment, cable services.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in CCO Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs; depreciation and amortization costs; purchase accounting valuations of assets and liabilities including, but not limited to, property, plant and equipment, intangibles and goodwill; pension benefits; income taxes; contingencies and programming expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2017 presentation.

2.     Mergers and Acquisitions

The Transactions

On May 18, 2016, the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Mergers dated as of May 23, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Time Warner Cable Inc. (“Legacy TWC”), Charter Communications, Inc. prior to the closing of the Merger Agreement (“Legacy Charter”), CCH I, LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Charter and certain other subsidiaries of CCH I, LLC were completed (the “TWC Transaction,” and together with the Bright House Transaction described below, the “Transactions”). As a result of the TWC Transaction, CCH I, LLC became the new public parent company that holds the operations of the combined companies and was renamed Charter Communications, Inc. As of the date of completion of the


5


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


Transactions, the total value of the TWC Transaction was approximately $85 billion, including cash, equity and Legacy TWC assumed debt.

Also, on May 18, 2016, Legacy Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”), the former parent of Bright House Networks, LLC (“Legacy Bright House”), completed their previously announced transaction, pursuant to a definitive Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), under which Charter acquired Legacy Bright House (the “Bright House Transaction”) for approximately $12.2 billion consisting of cash, convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings and common units of Charter Holdings. Pursuant to the Bright House Transaction, Charter became the owner of the membership interests in Legacy Bright House and the other assets primarily related to Legacy Bright House (other than certain excluded assets and liabilities and non-operating cash).

In connection with the TWC Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock to partially finance the cash portion of the TWC Transaction consideration, and in connection with the Bright House Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock (the “Liberty Transactions”).

Acquisition Accounting

Charter applied acquisition accounting to the Transactions. The total purchase price was allocated to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The fair values were primarily based on third-party valuations using assumptions developed by management and other information compiled by management including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values was recorded as goodwill.

The tables below present the final allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Transactions.

TWC Allocation of Purchase Price

Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,058

Current assets
1,417

Property, plant and equipment
21,413

Customer relationships
13,460

Franchises
54,085

Goodwill
28,337

Other noncurrent assets
1,040

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(4,107
)
Debt
(24,900
)
Deferred income taxes
(28,120
)
Other long-term liabilities
(3,162
)
Noncontrolling interests
(4
)
 
$
60,517


Charter made measurement period adjustments to the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the TWC Transaction during the six months ended June 30, 2017 upon completion of the measurement period, including a decrease to working capital of $73 million and a decrease of $28 million to deferred income tax liabilities, resulting in a net increase of $45 million to goodwill.



6


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


Bright House Allocation of Purchase Price

Current assets
$
131

Property, plant and equipment
2,884

Customer relationships
2,150

Franchises
7,225

Goodwill
44

Other noncurrent assets
86

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(330
)
Other long-term liabilities
(12
)
Noncontrolling interests
(22
)
 
$
12,156


In connection with the Transactions, subsidiaries of Charter contributed down to the Company the net assets and liabilities of Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House except for the deferred tax liabilities of Charter, as noted above, and net assets of approximately $1.0 billion primarily comprised of cash and cash equivalents used as a source for the cash portion of the TWC purchase price.

Selected Pro Forma Financial Information

The following unaudited pro forma financial information of the Company is based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Legacy Charter, Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House and is intended to provide information about how the Transactions and related financing may have affected the Company’s historical consolidated financial statements if they had closed as of January 1, 2015. The pro forma financial information below is based on available information and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. The pro forma financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of what the Company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the transactions described above occurred on the date indicated. The pro forma financial information also should not be considered representative of the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations.

 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Revenues
$
29,748

Net income attributable to CCO Holdings member
$
1,112




7


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


3.    Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets consist of the following as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Amount
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Net Carrying Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Franchises
 
$
67,316

 
$

 
$
67,316

 
$
67,316

 
$

 
$
67,316

Goodwill
 
29,554

 

 
29,554

 
29,509

 

 
29,509

Other intangible assets
 

 

 

 
4

 

 
4

 
 
$
96,870

 
$

 
$
96,870

 
$
96,829

 
$

 
$
96,829

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finite-lived intangible assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer relationships
 
$
18,227

 
$
(5,638
)
 
$
12,589

 
$
18,226

 
$
(3,618
)
 
$
14,608

Other intangible assets
 
673

 
(181
)
 
492

 
615

 
(128
)
 
487

 
 
$
18,900

 
$
(5,819
)
 
$
13,081

 
$
18,841

 
$
(3,746
)
 
$
15,095


Amortization expense related to customer relationships and other intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $664 million and $2.1 billion, respectively, and was $748 million and $1.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
    
The Company expects amortization expense on its finite-lived intangible assets will be as follows:

Three months ended December 31, 2017
 
$
662

2018
 
2,470

2019
 
2,187

2020
 
1,895

2021
 
1,611

Thereafter
 
4,256

 
 
$
13,081


Actual amortization expense in future periods will differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives, impairments, adoption of new accounting standards and other relevant factors.

4.    Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accounts payable – trade
$
519

 
$
416

Deferred revenue
405

 
352

Accrued liabilities:
 
 
 
Programming costs
1,947

 
1,783

Labor
741

 
953

Capital expenditures
1,389

 
1,107

Interest
994

 
958

Taxes and regulatory fees
572

 
529

Other
936

 
799

 
$
7,503

 
$
6,897



8


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)



5.    Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Principal Amount
 
Accreted Value
 
Principal Amount
 
Accreted Value
CCO Holdings, LLC:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.250% senior notes due March 15, 2021
$
500

 
$
497

 
$
500

 
$
496

6.625% senior notes due January 31, 2022

 

 
750

 
741

5.250% senior notes due September 30, 2022
1,250

 
1,234

 
1,250

 
1,232

5.125% senior notes due February 15, 2023
1,000

 
992

 
1,000

 
992

5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2023
1,150

 
1,142

 
1,150

 
1,141

5.750% senior notes due September 1, 2023
500

 
496

 
500

 
496

5.750% senior notes due January 15, 2024
1,000

 
992

 
1,000

 
991

5.875% senior notes due April 1, 2024
1,700

 
1,686

 
1,700

 
1,685

5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2025
750

 
745

 
750

 
744

5.750% senior notes due February 15, 2026
2,500

 
2,463

 
2,500

 
2,460

5.500% senior notes due May 1, 2026
1,500

 
1,489

 
1,500

 
1,487

5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027
800

 
794

 
800

 
794

5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027
3,250

 
3,215

 

 

5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028
1,500

 
1,486

 

 

Charter Communications Operating, LLC:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.579% senior notes due July 23, 2020
2,000

 
1,987

 
2,000

 
1,983

4.464% senior notes due July 23, 2022
3,000

 
2,976

 
3,000

 
2,973

4.908% senior notes due July 23, 2025
4,500

 
4,461

 
4,500

 
4,458

3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028
1,000

 
985

 

 

4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028
1,250

 
1,237

 

 

6.384% senior notes due October 23, 2035
2,000

 
1,981

 
2,000

 
1,980

6.484% senior notes due October 23, 2045
3,500

 
3,466

 
3,500

 
3,466

5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2047
2,500

 
2,506

 

 

6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055
500

 
495

 
500

 
495

Credit facilities
8,768

 
8,681

 
8,916

 
8,814

Time Warner Cable, LLC:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.850% senior notes due May 1, 2017

 

 
2,000

 
2,028

6.750% senior notes due July 1, 2018
2,000

 
2,068

 
2,000

 
2,135

8.750% senior notes due February 14, 2019
1,250

 
1,356

 
1,250

 
1,412

8.250% senior notes due April 1, 2019
2,000

 
2,177

 
2,000

 
2,264

5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2020
1,500

 
1,588

 
1,500

 
1,615

4.125% senior notes due February 15, 2021
700

 
732

 
700

 
739

4.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021
1,000

 
1,048

 
1,000

 
1,056

5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a)
838

 
905

 
770

 
834

6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 2037
1,500

 
1,687

 
1,500

 
1,691

7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 2038
1,500

 
1,790

 
1,500

 
1,795

6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 2039
1,500

 
1,725

 
1,500

 
1,730

5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 2040
1,200

 
1,258

 
1,200

 
1,259

5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 2041
1,250

 
1,258

 
1,250

 
1,258



9


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b)
871

 
839

 
800

 
771

4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 2042
1,250

 
1,137

 
1,250

 
1,135

Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 2023
1,000

 
1,243

 
1,000

 
1,273

8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 2033
1,000

 
1,315

 
1,000

 
1,324

Total debt
66,777

 
68,132

 
60,036

 
61,747

Less current portion:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.850% senior notes due May 1, 2017

 

 
(2,000
)
 
(2,028
)
6.750% senior notes due July 1, 2018
(2,000
)
 
(2,068
)
 

 

Long-term debt
$
64,777

 
$
66,064

 
$
58,036

 
$
59,719


(a) 
Principal amount includes £625 million valued at $838 million and $770 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.
(b) 
Principal amount includes £650 million valued at $871 million and $800 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

The accreted values presented in the table above represent the principal amount of the debt less the original issue discount at the time of sale, deferred financing costs, and, in regards to the Legacy TWC debt assumed, fair value premium adjustments as a result of applying acquisition accounting plus the accretion of those amounts to the balance sheet date. However, the amount that is currently payable if the debt becomes immediately due is equal to the principal amount of the debt. In regards to the fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”), the principal amount of the debt and any premium or discount into US dollars is remeasured as of each balance sheet date. See Note 7. The Company has availability under the Charter Operating credit facilities of approximately $2.9 billion as of September 30, 2017.

CCO Holdings

In February 2016, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. ("CCO Holdings Capital") jointly issued $1.7 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2024 and, in April 2016, they issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.500% senior notes due 2026 at a price of 100.075% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds from both issuances were used to repurchase all of CCO Holdings’ 7.000% senior notes due 2019, 7.375% senior notes due 2020 and 6.500% senior notes due 2021 and to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. These debt repurchases resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $110 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

In February 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027. The net proceeds were used to redeem CCO Holdings’ 6.625% senior notes due 2022, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $33 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to these transactions.

In March 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 99.0% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, as well as cash on hand, were used in April 2017 to redeem Time Warner Cable, LLC's 5.850% senior notes due 2017, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to these transactions.

In April 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 100.5% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In August 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.



10


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


In October 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023 (the "2023 Notes") and an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028 at a price of 98.5% of the aggregate principal amount (together with the notes issued in February, March, April and October 2017 described above, the "Notes"). The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

The Notes are senior debt obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital and rank equally with all other current and future unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital. They are structurally subordinated to all obligations of subsidiaries of CCO Holdings.

CCO Holdings may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time at a premium. Beginning in 2025 (2021 for 2023 Notes), the optional redemption price declines to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

In addition, at any time prior to varying dates in 2020 (2019 for the 2023 Notes), CCO Holdings may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings (as defined in the indenture); provided that certain conditions are met. In the event of specified change of control events, CCO Holdings must offer to purchase the outstanding Notes from the holders at a purchase price equal to 101% of the total principal amount of the Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

Charter Operating

In January 2017, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 18, 2016 (the “Credit Agreement”) decreasing the applicable LIBOR margin on both the term loan E and term loan F to 2.00% and eliminating the LIBOR floor. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to these transactions.

In April 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 99.968% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In July 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028 at a price of 99.166% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 106.529% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In September 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028 at a price of 99.757% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 98.969% of the aggregate principal amount (collectively together with the notes issued in April and July 2017 described above, the "Charter Operating Notes"). The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

The Charter Operating Notes are guaranteed by CCO Holdings, Time Warner Cable, LLC, Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC and substantially all of the operating subsidiaries of Charter Operating. In addition, the Charter Operating Notes are secured by a perfected first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Charter Operating to the extent such liens can be perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code by the filing of a financing statement. The liens rank equally with the liens on the collateral securing obligations under the Charter Operating credit facilities and continue to exist as long as the liens securing such facilities exist. Charter Operating may redeem some or all of the Charter Operating notes at any time at a premium.

6.    Loans Payable - Related Party

Loans payable - related party as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consists of loans from Charter Communications Holdings Company, LLC (“Charter Holdco”) to the Company of $655 million and $640 million, respectively. Loans payable -


11


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


related party as of September 30, 2017 also includes a loan from Charter to the Company of $163 million. Interest accrues on loans payable - related party at LIBOR plus 1.75%.

7.     Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on variable debt and foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and does not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Interest rate derivative instruments are used to manage interest costs and to reduce the Company’s exposure to increases in floating interest rates. The Company manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. Using interest rate derivative instruments, the Company agrees to exchange, at specified intervals through 2017, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional principal amounts. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $850 million in notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments outstanding. The notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged were determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.

Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to effectively convert £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The cross-currency swaps have maturities of June 2031 and July 2042. The Company is required to post collateral on the cross-currency derivative instruments when the derivative contracts are in a liability position. In May 2016, the Company entered into a collateral holiday agreement for 80% of both the 2031 and 2042 cross-currency swaps, which eliminates the requirement to post collateral for three years.

The effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets is presented in the table below:

 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Interest Rate Derivatives
 
 
 
Accrued interest
$
1

 
$
5

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
$
(1
)
 
$
(5
)
 
 
 
 
Cross-Currency Derivatives
 
 
 
Other long-term liabilities
$
125

 
$
251


The Company’s interest rate and cross-currency derivative instruments are not designated as hedges and are marked to fair value each period, with the impact recorded as a gain or loss on financial instruments, net in the consolidated statements of operations. While these derivative instruments are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, management continues to believe such instruments are closely correlated with the respective debt, thus managing associated risk.

The effect of financial instruments on the consolidated statements of operations is presented in the table below.
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Gain (loss) on Financial Instruments, Net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value of interest rate derivative instruments
$

 
$
7

 
$
4

 
$
5

Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments
68

 
17

 
126

 
(168
)
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars
(50
)
 
49

 
(141
)
 
196

Loss on termination of interest rate derivative instruments

 

 

 
(11
)
Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss due to discontinuance of hedge accounting
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
(4
)
 
(6
)
 
$
17

 
$
71

 
$
(15
)
 
$
16



12


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)



8.    Fair Value Measurements

The accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, as follows:

Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment, however, is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

A portion of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were invested in money market funds. The money market funds are valued at the closing price reported by the fund sponsor from an actively traded exchange which approximates fair value. The money market funds potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk. The amount invested within any one financial instrument did not exceed $500 million and $250 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no significant concentrations of financial instruments in a single investee, industry or geographic location.

Interest rate derivative instruments are valued using a present value calculation based on an implied forward LIBOR curve (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk). The weighted average pay rate for the Company’s currently effective interest rate derivative instruments was 1.59% at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (exclusive of applicable spreads). The cross-currency derivative instruments are valued using a present value calculation based on expected forward interest and exchange rates (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk).

Financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the table below.

 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
$
1,312

 
$

 
$
1,003

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate derivative instruments
$

 
$
1

 
$

 
$
5

Cross-currency derivative instruments
$

 
$
125

 
$

 
$
251




13


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


A summary of the carrying value and fair value of debt as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is as follows:

 
 
September 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Fair Value
Senior notes and debentures
 
$
59,451

 
$
62,657

 
$
52,933

 
$
55,203

Credit facilities
 
$
8,681

 
$
8,788

 
$
8,814

 
$
8,943


The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior notes and debentures as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is based on quoted market prices in active markets and is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy, while the estimated fair value of the Company’s credit facilities is based on quoted market prices in inactive markets and is classified within Level 2.

Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as equity-method investments, franchises, property, plant, and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist.  No material impairments were recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. Upon closing of the Transactions, all of Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House nonfinancial assets and liabilities were recorded at fair values. See Note 2.

9.     Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, consist of the following for the periods presented:

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Programming
$
2,699

 
$
2,404

 
$
7,952

 
$
4,648

Regulatory, connectivity and produced content
523

 
515

 
1,553

 
944

Costs to service customers
1,943

 
2,016

 
5,798

 
3,663

Marketing
629

 
596

 
1,812

 
1,143

Transition costs
23

 
32

 
104

 
78

Other
888

 
927

 
2,652

 
1,697

 
$
6,705

 
$
6,490

 
$
19,871

 
$
12,173


Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, premium, digital, video on demand, and pay-per-view programming. Regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs represent payments to franchise and regulatory authorities, costs directly related to providing video, Internet and voice services as well as payments for sports, local and news content produced by the Company. Included in regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs is content acquisition costs for the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball games and Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball games which are recorded as games are exhibited over the applicable season. Costs to service customers include costs related to field operations, network operations and customer care for the Company’s residential and small and medium business customers, including internal and third-party labor for installations, service and repairs, maintenance, bad debt expense, billing and collection, occupancy and vehicle costs. Marketing costs represent the costs of marketing to current and potential commercial and residential customers including labor costs. Transition costs represent incremental costs incurred to integrate the TWC and Bright House operations and to increase the scale of the Company’s business as a result of the Transactions. See Note 2. Other includes corporate overhead, advertising sales expenses, indirect costs associated with the Company’s enterprise business customers and regional sports and news networks, property tax and insurance expense and stock compensation expense, among others.
 


14


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


10.     Other Operating Expenses, Net

Other operating expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Merger and restructuring costs
$
67

 
$
205

 
$
293

 
$
513

Special charges, net
80

 
4

 
86

 
10

Gain on sale of assets, net
(2
)
 
(3
)
 
(5
)
 
(10
)
 
$
145

 
$
206

 
$
374

 
$
513


Merger and restructuring costs

Merger and restructuring costs represent costs incurred in connection with merger and acquisition transactions and related restructuring, such as advisory, legal and accounting fees, employee retention costs, employee termination costs related to the Transactions and other exit costs. The Company expects to incur additional merger and restructuring costs in connection with the Transactions. Changes in accruals for merger and restructuring costs from December 31, 2016 through September 30, 2017 are presented below:

 
Employee Retention Costs
 
Employee Termination Costs
 
Transaction and Advisory Costs
 
Other Costs
 
Total
Liability, December 31, 2015
$

 
$

 
$
33

 
$

 
$
33

Liability assumed in the Transactions
80

 
9

 
3

 

 
92

Costs incurred
26

 
337

 
66

 
31

 
460

Cash paid
(99
)
 
(102
)
 
(77
)
 
(31
)
 
(309
)
Remaining liability, December 31, 2016
7

 
244

 
25

 

 
276

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs incurred
4

 
186

 
3

 
57

 
250

Cash paid
(9
)
 
(253
)
 
(4
)
 
(45
)
 
(311
)
Remaining liability, September 30, 2017
$
2

 
$
177

 
$
24

 
$
12

 
$
215


In addition to the costs incurred indicated above, the Company recorded $6 million and $43 million of expense related to accelerated vesting of equity awards of terminated employees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $57 million and $202 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Special charges, net

Special charges, net primarily includes employee termination costs not related to the Transactions and net amounts of litigation settlements. In 2017, special charges, net also includes an $83 million charge related to the Company's withdrawal liability from a multiemployer pension plan.

Gain on sale of assets, net

Gain on sale of assets, net represents the net gain recognized on the sales and disposals of fixed assets and cable systems.

11.    Income Taxes

CCO Holdings is a single member limited liability company not subject to income tax. CCO Holdings holds all operations through indirect subsidiaries. The majority of these indirect subsidiaries are limited liability companies that are not subject to income tax.


15


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


Certain indirect subsidiaries that are required to file separate returns are subject to federal and state tax. CCO Holdings’ tax provision reflects the tax provision of the entities required to file separate returns.

Generally, the taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of CCO Holdings are passed through to its indirect members, Charter and A/N. Charter is responsible for its share of taxable income or loss of CCO Holdings allocated to it in accordance with the Charter Holdings Limited Liability Company Agreement (“LLC Agreement”) and partnership tax rules and regulations. Charter also records financial statement deferred tax assets and liabilities related to its investment, and its underlying net assets, in CCO Holdings.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded income tax expense of $6 million and $35 million, respectively, and income tax benefit of $7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was insignificant. Income tax expense is generally recognized through increases in deferred tax liabilities as well as through current federal and state income tax expense.

In determining the Company’s tax provision for financial reporting purposes, the Company establishes a reserve for uncertain tax positions unless such positions are determined to be “more likely than not” of being sustained upon examination, based on their technical merits. There is considerable judgment involved in making such a determination. The Company has recorded unrecognized tax benefits totaling approximately $158 million and $159 million, excluding interest and penalties, as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company does not currently anticipate that its reserve for uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease during 2017; however, various events could cause the Company’s current expectations to change in the future. These uncertain tax positions, if ever recognized in the financial statements, would be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as part of the income tax provision.

No tax years for Charter, Charter Holdings, or Charter Holdco, the Company’s indirect parent companies, for income tax purposes, are currently under examination by the IRS. Legacy Charter’s tax years ending 2014 through 2016 remain subject to examination and assessment. Years prior to 2014 remain open solely for purposes of examination of Legacy Charter’s loss and credit carryforwards. The IRS is currently examining Legacy TWC’s income tax returns for 2011 through 2014. Legacy TWC’s tax year 2015 remains subject to examination and assessment. Prior to Legacy TWC’s separation from Time Warner Inc. (“Time Warner”) in March 2009 (the “Separation”), Legacy TWC was included in the consolidated U.S. federal and certain state income tax returns of Time Warner. The IRS is currently examining Time Warner’s 2008 through 2010 income tax returns. Time Warner’s income tax returns for 2005 to 2007, which are periods prior to the Separation, were settled with the exception of an immaterial item that has been referred to the IRS Appeals Division. The Company does not anticipate that these examinations will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company is also subject to ongoing examinations of the Company’s tax returns by state and local tax authorities for various periods. Activity related to these state and local examinations did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, nor does the Company anticipate a material impact in the future.

12.     Related Party Transactions

On May 23, 2015, in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement and the amendment of the Contribution Agreement, Charter entered into the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement with Liberty Broadband, A/N and Legacy Charter (the “Stockholders Agreement”) and the LLC Agreement with Liberty Broadband and A/N. As of the closing of the Merger Agreement and the Contribution Agreement on May 18, 2016, the Stockholders Agreement replaced Legacy Charter’s existing stockholders agreement with Liberty Broadband, dated September 29, 2014, and superseded the amended and restated stockholders agreement among Legacy Charter, Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N, dated March 31, 2015.

Under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the number of Charter’s directors is fixed at 13, and includes its CEO. Upon the closing of the Bright House Transaction, two designees selected by A/N became members of the board of directors of Charter and three designees selected by Liberty Broadband continued as members of the board of directors of Charter. The remaining eight directors are not affiliated with either A/N or Liberty Broadband. Each of A/N and Liberty Broadband is entitled to nominate at least one director to each of the committees of Charter’s board of directors, subject to applicable stock exchange listing rules and certain specified voting or equity ownership thresholds for each of A/N and Liberty Broadband, and provided that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefit Committee each have at least a majority of directors independent from A/N, Liberty Broadband and the Company (referred to as the “unaffiliated directors”). Each of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee is currently comprised of three unaffiliated


16


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


directors and one designee of each of A/N and Liberty Broadband. A/N and Liberty Broadband also have certain other committee designation and other governance rights. Upon the closing of the Bright House Transaction, Mr. Thomas Rutledge, the Company’s CEO, became the chairman of the board of Charter.

In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into a letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis once Charter or Charter Holdings have repurchased shares of Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units from A/N and its affiliates for an aggregate purchase price of $537 million which threshold has been reached.

The Company is aware that Dr. John Malone may be deemed to have a 37.9% voting interest in Liberty Interactive and is Chairman of the board of directors, an executive officer position, of Liberty Interactive. Liberty Interactive owns 38.2% of the common stock of HSN, Inc. (“HSN”) and has the right to elect 20% of the board members of HSN. Liberty Interactive wholly owns QVC, Inc. (“QVC”). The Company has programming relationships with HSN and QVC which pre-date the transaction with Liberty Media Corporation. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded payments in aggregate of approximately $17 million and $50 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded payments in aggregate of approximately $18 million and $33 million, respectively, from HSN and QVC as part of channel carriage fees and revenue sharing arrangements for home shopping sales made to customers in the Company’s footprint.

Dr. Malone and Mr. Steven Miron, each a member of Charter’s board of directors, also serve on the board of directors of Discovery Communications, Inc., (“Discovery”) and the Company is aware that Dr. Malone owns 5.1% in the aggregate of the common stock of Discovery and has a 28.5% voting interest in Discovery for the election of directors. The Company is aware that Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (“A/N PP”), an affiliate of A/N and in which Mr. Miron is the CEO, owns 100% of the Series A preferred stock of Discovery and 100% of the Series C preferred stock of Discovery, representing approximately 34.6% of the outstanding equity of Discovery’s stock, on an as-converted basis. A/N PP has the right to appoint three directors out of a total of eleven directors to Discovery’s board to be elected by the holders of Discovery’s Series A preferred stock. In addition, Dr. Malone is a member of the board of directors of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. ("Lions Gate", parent company of Starz, Inc.) and owns approximately 5.9% in the aggregate of the common stock of Lions Gate and has 8.1% of the voting power, pursuant to his ownership of Lions Gate Class A voting shares. The Company purchases programming from both Discovery and Lions Gate pursuant to agreements entered into prior to Dr. Malone and Mr. Miron joining Charter’s board of directors. Based on publicly available information, the Company does not believe that either Discovery or Lions Gate would currently be considered related parties. The amounts paid in the aggregate to Discovery and Lions Gate represent less than 3% of total operating costs and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

The Company and its parent companies have agreements with certain equity-method investees pursuant to which the Company has made or received related party transaction payments. The Company and its parent companies recorded payments to equity-method investees totaling $62 million and $208 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $67 million and $108 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company recorded advertising revenues from transactions with equity-method investees totaling $3 million and $8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $3 million and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

13.     Contingencies

In August 2015, a purported stockholder of Charter, Matthew Sciabacucchi, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery, on behalf of a putative class of Charter stockholders, challenging the transactions between Charter, TWC, A/N, and Liberty Broadband announced by Charter on May 26, 2015. The lawsuit names as defendants Liberty Broadband, Legacy Charter, the board of directors of Charter, and Charter. Plaintiff alleged that the Liberty Transactions improperly benefit Liberty Broadband at the expense of other Charter shareholders, and that Charter issued a false and misleading proxy statement in connection with the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions.  Plaintiff requested, among other things, that the Delaware Court of Chancery enjoin the September 21, 2015 special meeting of Charter stockholders at which Charter stockholders were asked to vote on the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions until the defendants disclosed certain information relating to Charter, the Transactions


17


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


and the Liberty Transactions. The disclosures demanded by the plaintiff included (i) certain unlevered free cash flow projections for Charter and (ii) a Form of Proxy and Right of First Refusal Agreement (“Proxy”) by and among Liberty Broadband, A/N, Legacy Charter and Charter, which was referenced in the description of the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated May 23, 2015, among Legacy Charter, Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N. On September 9, 2015, Charter issued supplemental disclosures containing unlevered free cash flow projections for Charter. In return, the plaintiff agreed its disclosure claims were moot and withdrew its application to enjoin the Charter stockholder vote on the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions. Charter filed a motion to dismiss this litigation and on May 31, 2017, the court issued an opinion, concluding a number of issues but reserving ruling on Charter’s motion until further briefing can be done regarding whether plaintiff’s claims are direct or derivative. The parties are presently providing the additional briefing that the court seeks. Charter denies any liability, believes that it has substantial defenses, and intends to vigorously defend this suit. Although Charter is unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit, it does not expect the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition or cash flows.

The California Attorney General and the Alameda County, California District Attorney are investigating whether certain of Legacy Charter’s waste disposal policies, procedures and practices are in violation of the California Business and Professions Code and the California Health and Safety Code. That investigation was commenced in January 2014. A similar investigation involving Legacy TWC was initiated in February 2012. Charter is cooperating with these investigations. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these investigations, it does not expect that the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

On December 19, 2011, Sprint Communications Company L.P. (“Sprint”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas alleging that Legacy TWC infringed 12 U.S. patents purportedly relating to Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services. Over the course of the litigation Sprint dismissed its claims relating to five of the asserted patents, and shortly before trial Sprint dropped its claims with respect to two additional patents.  A trial on the remaining five patents began on February 13, 2017.  On March 3, 2017 the jury returned a verdict of $140 million against Legacy TWC and further concluded that Legacy TWC had willfully infringed Sprint’s patents. The court subsequently declined to enhance the damage award as a result of the purported willful infringement. On May 30, 2017, the court awarded Sprint an additional $6 million, representing pre-judgment interest on the damages award. On June 28, 2017, the Company filed its notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition to its appeal, the Company will continue to pursue indemnity from one of its vendors.  The impact of the verdict was reflected in the adjustment to net current liabilities as described in Note 2. The Company does not expect that the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on its operations or financial condition.  The ultimate outcome of this litigation or the pursuit of indemnity against the Company’s vendor cannot be predicted.
 
On October 23, 2015, the New York Office of the Attorney General (the “NY AG”) began an investigation of Legacy TWC's advertised Internet speeds and other Internet product advertising. On February 1, 2017, the NY AG filed suit in the Supreme Court for the State of New York alleging that Legacy TWC's advertising of Internet speeds was false and misleading. The suit seeks restitution and injunctive relief. On May 26, 2017, the Company moved to dismiss the NY AG’s complaint. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously. However, no assurances can be made that such defenses would ultimately be successful. At this time, the Company does not expect that the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on its operations, financial condition or cash flows.

The Company and its parent companies are defendants or co-defendants in several lawsuits involving alleged infringement of various patents relating to various aspects of their businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases. In the event that a court ultimately determines that the Company infringes on any intellectual property rights, the Company may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require the Company or its vendors to modify certain products and services the Company offers to its subscribers, as well as negotiate royalty or license agreements with respect to the patents at issue. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any such claims nor can it reasonably estimate a range of possible loss.

The Company and its parent companies are party to lawsuits, claims and regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of conducting their business, including lawsuits claiming violation of wage and hour laws and breach of contract by vendors, including by one of its programmers. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against the Company cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated


18


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Whether or not the Company ultimately prevails in any particular lawsuit or claim, litigation can be time consuming and costly and injure the Company’s reputation.

14.     Stock Compensation Plans

Charter’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock units and restricted stock.  Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented after applying the parent company merger ratio as a result of the Transactions, as applicable.

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Stock options
20,900

 
275,400

 
1,167,100

 
5,980,800

Restricted stock

 
400

 
9,500

 
10,400

Restricted stock units
5,100

 
39,300

 
283,000

 
890,700


Charter stock options and restricted stock units cliff vest upon the three year anniversary of each grant. Certain stock options and restricted stock units vest based on achievement of stock price hurdles. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date and restricted stock units have no voting rights. Restricted stock generally vests one year from the date of grant. Legacy TWC restricted stock units that were converted into Charter restricted stock units generally vest 50% on each of the third and fourth anniversary of the grant date. Legacy TWC stock options that were converted into Charter stock options vest ratably over a four-year period and expire ten years from the grant date.

As of September 30, 2017, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $242 million for stock options, $2 million for restricted stock and $209 million for restricted stock units and the weighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized is three years for stock options, one year for restricted stock and two years for restricted stock units.

The Company recorded $64 million and $198 million of stock compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively and $81 million and $168 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, which is included in operating costs and expenses. The Company also recorded $6 million and $43 million of expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $57 million and $202 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, related to accelerated vesting of equity awards of terminated employees which is recorded in merger and restructuring costs.

15.     Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors two qualified defined benefit pension plans, the TWC Pension Plan and the TWC Union Pension Plan, that provide pension benefits to a majority of Legacy TWC employees. The Company also provides a nonqualified defined benefit pension plan for certain employees under the TWC Excess Pension Plan.
 
Pension benefits are based on formulas that reflect the employees’ years of service and compensation during their employment period. Actuarial gains or losses are changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from changes in assumptions. The Company has elected to follow a mark-to-market pension accounting policy for recording the actuarial gains or losses annually during the fourth quarter, or earlier if a remeasurement event occurs during an interim period.



19


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


The components of net periodic pension cost (benefit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Service cost
$

 
$
51

 
$

 
$
86

Interest cost
33

 
34

 
101

 
55

Expected return on plan assets
(46
)
 
(47
)
 
(140
)
 
(70
)
Pension curtailment gain

 

 

 
(675
)
Remeasurement loss, net
30

 

 
30

 
157

Net periodic pension cost (benefit)
$
17

 
$
38

 
$
(9
)
 
$
(447
)

The service cost component of net periodic pension cost (benefit) is recorded in operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations while the remaining components are recorded in other pension benefits (costs). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, settlements for lump-sum distributions to qualified and nonqualified pension plan participants exceeded the estimated annual interest cost of the plans. As a result, the pension liability and pension asset values were reassessed as of September 30, 2017 utilizing remeasurement date assumptions in accordance with the Company's mark-to-market pension accounting policy to record gains and losses in the period in which a remeasurement event occurs. The $30 million remeasurement loss recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily driven by the adoption of the revised lump sum conversion mortality tables published by the Internal Revenue Service effective January 1, 2018, and the effects of a decrease of the discount rate from 4.20% at December 31, 2016 to 3.88% at September 30, 2017. The effects of these changes were partially offset by a gain to record pension assets to fair value at September 30, 2017. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets remains at 6.50%.

The $675 million pension curtailment gain and $157 million net remeasurement loss recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 resulted from an amendment to the plans made subsequent to the TWC Transaction. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company amended the pension plans to freeze future benefit accruals to current active plan participants, driving the recognition of the pension curtailment gain, as no future compensation increases or future service will be credited to participants of the pension plans. Upon announcement and approval of the plan amendment, the assumptions underlying the pension liability and pension asset values were reassessed utilizing remeasurement date assumptions, resulting in the net remeasurement loss.

The Company made no cash contributions to the qualified pension plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016; however, the Company may make discretionary cash contributions to the qualified pension plans in the future. Such contributions will be dependent on a variety of factors, including current and expected interest rates, asset performance, the funded status of the qualified pension plans and management’s judgment. For the nonqualified unfunded pension plan, the Company will continue to make contributions during 2017 to the extent benefits are paid.

16.     Consolidating Schedules

Each of Charter Operating, TWC, LLC, TWCE, CCO Holdings and certain subsidiaries jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the outstanding debt securities of the others (other than the CCO Holdings notes) on an unsecured senior basis and the condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered. Certain Charter Operating subsidiaries that are regulated telephone entities only become guarantor subsidiaries upon approval by regulators. This information is not intended to present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the individual companies or groups of companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
The “Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries” column is presented to comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

Condensed consolidating financial statements as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 follow.


20


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
1,974

 
$

 
$
1,974

Accounts receivable, net

 
1,573

 

 
1,573

Receivables from related party
51

 

 
(51
)
 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 
275

 

 
275

Total current assets
51

 
3,822

 
(51
)
 
3,822

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net

 
33,066

 

 
33,066

Customer relationships, net

 
12,589

 

 
12,589

Franchises

 
67,316

 

 
67,316

Goodwill

 
29,554

 

 
29,554

Total investment in cable properties, net

 
142,525

 

 
142,525

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES
85,011

 

 
(85,011
)
 

LOANS RECEIVABLE – RELATED PARTY
511

 

 
(511
)
 

OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS

 
1,115

 

 
1,115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
85,573

 
$
147,462

 
$
(85,573
)
 
$
147,462

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
339

 
$
7,164

 
$

 
$
7,503

Payables to related party

 
687

 
(51
)
 
636

Current portion of long-term debt

 
2,068

 

 
2,068

Total current liabilities
339

 
9,919

 
(51
)
 
10,207

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LONG-TERM DEBT
17,231

 
48,833

 

 
66,064

LOANS PAYABLE – RELATED PARTY

 
1,329

 
(511
)
 
818

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 
39

 

 
39

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 
2,307

 

 
2,307

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MEMBER’S EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Controlling interest
68,003

 
85,011

 
(85,011
)
 
68,003

Noncontrolling interests

 
24

 

 
24

Total member’s equity
68,003

 
85,035

 
(85,011
)
 
68,027

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and member’s equity
$
85,573

 
$
147,462

 
$
(85,573
)
 
$
147,462




21


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
1,324

 
$

 
$
1,324

Accounts receivable, net

 
1,387

 

 
1,387

Receivables from related party
62

 

 
(62
)
 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 
300

 

 
300

Total current assets
62

 
3,011

 
(62
)
 
3,011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net

 
32,718

 

 
32,718

Customer relationships, net

 
14,608

 

 
14,608

Franchises

 
67,316

 

 
67,316

Goodwill

 
29,509

 

 
29,509

Total investment in cable properties, net

 
144,151

 

 
144,151

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES
88,760

 

 
(88,760
)
 

LOANS RECEIVABLE – RELATED PARTY
494

 

 
(494
)
 

OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS

 
1,157

 

 
1,157

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
89,316

 
$
148,319

 
$
(89,316
)
 
$
148,319

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
219

 
$
6,678

 
$

 
$
6,897

Payables to related party

 
683

 
(62
)
 
621

Current portion of long-term debt

 
2,028

 

 
2,028

Total current liabilities
219

 
9,389

 
(62
)
 
9,546

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LONG-TERM DEBT
13,259

 
46,460

 

 
59,719

LOANS PAYABLE – RELATED PARTY

 
1,134

 
(494
)
 
640

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

 
25

 

 
25

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 
2,526

 

 
2,526

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MEMBER’S EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Controlling interest
75,838

 
88,760

 
(88,760
)
 
75,838

Noncontrolling interests

 
25

 

 
25

Total member’s equity
75,838

 
88,785

 
(88,760
)
 
75,863

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and member’s equity
$
89,316

 
$
148,319

 
$
(89,316
)
 
$
148,319




22


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)



CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
REVENUES
$

 
$
30,979

 
$

 
$
30,979

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 
19,871

 

 
19,871

Depreciation and amortization

 
7,839

 

 
7,839

Other operating expenses, net

 
374

 

 
374

 

 
28,084

 

 
28,084

Income from operations

 
2,895

 

 
2,895

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
(631
)
 
(1,637
)
 

 
(2,268
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(33
)
 
(2
)
 

 
(35
)
Loss on financial instruments, net

 
(15
)
 

 
(15
)
Other pension benefits

 
9

 

 
9

Other expense, net

 
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
Equity in income of subsidiaries
1,212

 

 
(1,212
)
 

 
548

 
(1,647
)
 
(1,212
)
 
(2,311
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
548

 
1,248

 
(1,212
)
 
584

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 
(35
)
 

 
(35
)
Consolidated net income
548

 
1,213

 
(1,212
)
 
549

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Net income
$
548

 
$
1,212

 
$
(1,212
)
 
$
548




23


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)



CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
REVENUES
$

 
$
18,728

 
$

 
$
18,728

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 
12,173

 

 
12,173

Depreciation and amortization

 
4,409

 

 
4,409

Other operating expenses, net

 
513

 

 
513

 

 
17,095

 

 
17,095

Income (loss) from operations

 
1,633

 

 
1,633

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
(539
)
 
(852
)
 

 
(1,391
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
(110
)
 

 

 
(110
)
Gain on financial instruments, net

 
16

 

 
16

Other pension benefits

 
533

 

 
533

Other expense, net

 
(2
)
 

 
(2
)
Equity in income of subsidiaries
1,327

 

 
(1,327
)
 

 
678

 
(305
)
 
(1,327
)
 
(954
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Incomebefore income taxes
678

 
1,328

 
(1,327
)
 
679

INCOME TAX BENEFIT

 

 

 

Consolidated net income
678

 
1,328

 
(1,327
)
 
679

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Net income
$
678

 
$
1,327

 
$
(1,327
)
 
$
678




24


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)



CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
Consolidated net income
$
548

 
$
1,213

 
$
(1,212
)
 
$
549

Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments
4

 
4

 
(4
)
 
4

Foreign currency translation adjustment
1

 
1

 
(1
)
 
1

Consolidated comprehensive income
553

 
1,218

 
(1,217
)
 
554

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Comprehensive income
$
553

 
$
1,217

 
$
(1,217
)
 
$
553


CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
Consolidated net income
$
678

 
$
1,328

 
$
(1,327
)
 
$
679

Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments
6

 
6

 
(6
)
 
6

Foreign currency translation adjustment
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
1

 
(1
)
Consolidated comprehensive income
$
683

 
$
1,333

 
$
(1,332
)
 
$
684

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Comprehensive income
$
683

 
$
1,332

 
$
(1,332
)
 
$
683







25


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
(504
)
 
$
9,025

 
$

 
$
8,521

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 
(6,096
)
 

 
(6,096
)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures

 
276

 

 
276

Contributions to subsidiaries
(693
)
 

 
693

 

Distributions from subsidiaries
5,912

 

 
(5,912
)
 

Other, net

 
(63
)
 

 
(63
)
Net cash flows from investing activities
5,219

 
(5,883
)
 
(5,219
)
 
(5,883
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowings of long-term debt
4,747

 
7,368

 

 
12,115

Repayments of long-term debt
(775
)
 
(4,759
)
 

 
(5,534
)
Borrowings loans payable - related parties

 
163

 

 
163

Payments for debt issuance costs
(46
)
 
(37
)
 

 
(83
)
Contributions from parent

 
693

 
(693
)
 

Distributions to parent
(8,641
)
 
(5,912
)
 
5,912

 
(8,641
)
Other, net

 
(8
)
 

 
(8
)
Net cash flows from financing activities
(4,715
)
 
(2,492
)
 
5,219

 
(1,988
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 
650

 

 
650

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 
1,324

 

 
1,324

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
$

 
$
1,974

 
$

 
$
1,974



26


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


CCO Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guarantor Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
CCO Holdings
 
Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries
 
Eliminations
 
CCO Holdings Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
$
(533
)
 
$
6,071

 
$

 
$
5,538

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 
(3,437
)
 

 
(3,437
)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures

 
86

 

 
86

Purchases of cable systems, net of cash acquired

 
(7
)
 

 
(7
)
Contribution to subsidiary
(437
)
 

 
437

 

Distributions from subsidiaries
3,455

 

 
(3,455
)
 

Other, net

 
(8
)
 

 
(8
)
Net cash flows from investing activities
3,018

 
(3,366
)
 
(3,018
)
 
(3,366
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowings of long-term debt
3,201

 
2,796

 

 
5,997

Repayments of long-term debt
(2,937
)
 
(1,183
)
 

 
(4,120
)
Repayments loans payable - related parties
(71
)
 
(182
)
 

 
(253
)
Payments for debt issuance costs
(73
)
 
(210
)
 

 
(283
)
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives

 
88

 

 
88

Contributions from parent
478

 
437

 
(437
)
 
478

Distributions to parent
(3,084
)
 
(3,455
)
 
3,455

 
(3,084
)
Other, net
1

 
(5
)
 

 
(4
)
Net cash flows from financing activities
(2,485
)
 
(1,714
)
 
3,018

 
(1,181
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 
991

 

 
991

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 
5

 

 
5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
$

 
$
996

 
$

 
$
996



27


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


17.     Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Accounting Standards Adopted January 1, 2017

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which includes multiple provisions intended to simplify various aspects of the accounting for share-based payments. The new standard (1) requires all excess tax benefits and deficiencies to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement in the period in which they occur regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period, (2) requires classification of excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statements of cash flows, (3) allows an entity to make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur and (4) causes the threshold under which employee share-based awards partially settled in cash can qualify for equity classification to increase to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdiction. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for interim and annual periods after December 15, 2016 (January 1, 2017 for the Company). The new standard generally requires a modified retrospective transition through a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period of adoption, with certain provisions requiring either a prospective or retrospective transition. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017. On January 1, 2017, the Company also established an accounting policy election to assume zero forfeitures for stock award grants and account for forfeitures when they occur which prospectively impacts stock compensation expense. Other aspects of adoption ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost ("ASU 2017-07"), which requires employers to report the service cost component of net periodic pension cost in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. The standard also requires the other components of net periodic cost be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of a subtotal of income from operations. ASU 2017-07 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The new standard requires retrospective application and allows a practical expedient that permits an employer to use the amounts disclosed in its pension plan footnote for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2017 and utilized the practical expedient to estimate the impact on the prior comparative period information presented in interim and annual financial statements. The Company previously recorded service cost with other compensation costs in operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, and recorded other pension benefits (costs), in other operating expenses, net. Adoption of the standard results in the reclassification of other pension benefits (costs) to other expenses, net (non-operating). Adopting the standard will reduce 2016 income from operations presented for comparative purposes in the 2017 annual financial statements by $899 million with a corresponding decrease to other expenses of $899 million, with no impact to net income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the adoption of the standard resulted in reductions of income from operations by $13 million and $533 million, respectively, with corresponding decreases to other expenses, with no impact to net income. ASU 2017-07 does not impact the consolidated balance sheets or statements of cash flows.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which is a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP.  The new standard provides a single principles-based, five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers, which steps are to (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for the Company).  The Company has substantially completed the review of its revenue arrangements and does not currently expect that the adoption of the new standard will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. However, the adoption is anticipated to result in the deferral of residential installation revenues and enterprise commission expenses over a period of time instead of recognized immediately. The adoption is also anticipated to result in the reclassification to operating costs and expenses the amortization of up-front fees paid to market and serve customers who reside in residential multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) instead of amortized as an intangible to depreciation and amortization expense. The new standard also requires additional disclosures regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s revenue transactions. The Company intends to adopt the provisions of the guidance using a cumulative effect adjustment as of the January 1, 2018 adoption date.



28


CCO HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)


In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Lessees are allowed to account for short-term leases (i.e., leases with a term of 12 months or less) off-balance sheet, consistent with current operating lease accounting. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Classification will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (January 1, 2019 for the Company). The new standard requires a modified retrospective transition through a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements including identifying the population of leases, evaluating technology solutions and collecting lease data.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”), which clarifies how entities should classify cash receipts and cash payments related to eight specific cash flow matters on the statement of cash flows, with the objective of reducing existing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”), which eliminates step two from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new standard, to the extent the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the Company will record an impairment charge equal to the difference. The impairment charge recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 (January 1, 2020 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU 2017-09"), which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting. ASU 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the effective date. ASU 2017-09 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2017-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.



29



Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

General

CCO Holdings, LLC (“CCO Holdings”) is a holding company whose principal assets are the equity interests in its operating subsidiaries. CCO Holdings is a direct subsidiary of CCH I Holdings, LLC (“CCH I”), which is an indirect subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”), Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”) and Spectrum Management Holding Company, LLC (“Spectrum Holdings”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CCO Holdings and all of its subsidiaries where the underlying operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.

We are the second largest cable operator in the United States and a leading broadband communications services company providing video, Internet and voice services to approximately 27.0 million residential and business customers at September 30, 2017. In addition, we sell video and online advertising inventory to local, regional and national advertising customers and fiber-delivered communications and managed information technology ("IT") solutions to larger enterprise customers. We also own and operate regional sports networks and local sports, news and community channels and sell security and home management services to the residential marketplace.

The Transactions

On May 18, 2016, the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Mergers dated as of May 23, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Time Warner Cable Inc. (“Legacy TWC”), Charter Communications, Inc. prior to the closing of the Merger Agreement (“Legacy Charter”), CCH I, LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Charter and certain other subsidiaries of CCH I, LLC were completed (the “TWC Transaction,” and together with the Bright House Transaction described below, the “Transactions”). As a result of the TWC Transaction, CCH I, LLC became the new public parent company that holds the operations of the combined companies and was renamed Charter Communications, Inc.

Also, on May 18, 2016, Legacy Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”), the former parent of Bright House Networks, LLC (“Legacy Bright House”), completed their previously announced transaction, pursuant to a definitive Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), under which Charter acquired Legacy Bright House (the “Bright House Transaction”). Pursuant to the Bright House Transaction, Charter became the owner of the membership interests in Legacy Bright House and the other assets primarily related to Legacy Bright House (other than certain excluded assets and liabilities and non-operating cash).

In connection with the TWC Transaction, Legacy Charter and Liberty Broadband completed their previously announced transactions pursuant to their investment agreement, in which Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock to partially finance the cash portion of the TWC Transaction consideration, and in connection with the Bright House Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock (the “Liberty Transactions”).

Comcast Wireless Cooperation Agreement

In May 2017, Charter announced an agreement with Comcast Corporation (“Comcast”) to, for one year, explore potential opportunities for operational cooperation in our respective wireless businesses to accelerate and enhance each company’s ability to participate in the national wireless marketplace. Charter and Comcast have each separately activated a mobile virtual network operator (“MVNO”) reseller agreement with Verizon Wireless, and have each agreed to explore working together in a number of potential operational areas in the wireless space, including: creating common operating platforms; technical standards development and harmonization; device forward and reverse logistics; and emerging wireless technology platforms. The efficiencies created are expected to provide more choice, innovative products and competitive prices for customers in each of our respective footprints. Additionally, the companies have agreed to work only together with respect to national mobile network operators, through potential commercial arrangements, including MVNOs and other material transactions in the wireless industry, for a period of one year. We intend to consider and pursue opportunities in the wireless space which may include entering into joint ventures or partnerships with wireless or cable providers which may require significant investment in our wireless business. There is no assurance we will enter into such arrangements or that if we do, that they will be successful.

Overview

Since 2012, Legacy Charter has actively invested in its network and operations and has improved the quality and value of the products and packages that it offers. Through the roll-out of Spectrum pricing and packaging ("SPP") across Legacy Charter, we have simplified our offers and improved our packaging of products, delivering more value to new and existing customers. Further,


30



through the transition of our Legacy Charter markets to our all-digital platform, we increased our offerings to more than 200 HD channels in most of the Legacy Charter markets and offered Internet speeds of at least 60 or 100 Mbps, among other benefits. We believe that this product set combined with improved customer service, as we insource our workforce in our call centers and in our field operations, has led to lower customer churn and longer customer lifetimes.

In September 2016, we began launching SPP to Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House markets and as of September 30, 2017, we offer SPP in all Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House markets. In the second half of 2017, we began converting the remaining Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House analog markets to an all-digital platform. The bulk of this all-digital initiative will take place in 2018. Our corporate organization, as well as our marketing, sales and product development departments, are now centralized. Field operations are managed through eleven regional areas, each designed to represent a combination of designated marketing areas and managed with largely the same set of field employees that were with the three legacy companies prior to completion of the Transactions. Over a multi-year period, Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House customer care centers will migrate to Legacy Charter's model of using segmented, virtualized, U.S.-based in-house call centers. We are focused on deploying superior products and service with minimal service disruptions as we integrate our information technology and network operations. We expect customer and financial results to trend similarly to Legacy Charter following the implementation of Legacy Charter's operating strategies across the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House markets. As a result of implementing our operating strategy across Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House, we cannot be certain that we will be able to grow revenues or maintain our margins at recent historical rates.

We realized revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and income from operations during the periods presented as follows (in millions; all percentages are calculated using whole numbers. Minor differences may exist due to rounding).

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
 
Actual
Revenues
$
10,458

 
$
10,037

 
4.2
%
 
$
30,979

 
$
18,728

 
65.4
%
Adjusted EBITDA
$
3,817

 
$
3,628

 
5.2
%
 
$
11,306

 
$
6,723

 
68.2
%
Income from operations
$
909

 
$
906

 
0.3
%
 
$
2,895

 
$
1,633

 
77.3
%

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
Actual
 
Pro forma
 
% Change
Revenues
$
30,979

 
$
29,748

 
4.1
%
Adjusted EBITDA
$
11,306

 
$
10,596

 
6.7
%
Income from operations
$
2,895

 
$
2,805

 
3.2
%

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income plus net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, (gain) loss on financial instruments, net, other pension (benefits) costs, other (income) expense, net and other operating (income) expenses, such as merger and restructuring costs, special charges and gain (loss) on sale or retirement of assets. See “—Use of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow” for further information on Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. 

Growth in total revenue and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to growth in our Internet and commercial businesses, and growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to the Transactions. On a pro forma basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, total revenue growth was primarily due to growth in our Internet and commercial businesses offset by an early contract termination benefit at Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House in 2016 and lower advertising sales revenue due to a decrease in political and local advertising. In addition to the items noted above, Adjusted EBITDA growth on a pro forma basis was affected by increases in programming costs and transition costs offset by decreases in costs to service customers and other operating expenses. Income from operations on a pro forma basis was additionally affected by an increase in depreciation and amortization offset by a decrease in merger and restructuring costs.

On a pro forma basis, income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 has been reduced from what was previously reported by $549 million to reflect the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, Improving the


31



Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost ("ASU 2017-07"). For more information, see Note 17 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

We incurred the following transition costs in connection with the Transactions (in millions).

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Operating expenses
$
23

 
$
32

 
$
104

 
$
78

Other operating expenses
$
67

 
$
205

 
$
293

 
$
513

Capital expenditures
$
125

 
$
109

 
$
287

 
$
273


Amounts included in transition operating expenses and transition capital expenditures represent incremental costs incurred to integrate the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House operations and to bring the three companies’ systems and processes into a uniform operating structure.  Costs are incremental and would not be incurred absent the integration.  Other operating expenses associated with the Transactions represent merger and restructuring costs and include advisory, legal and accounting fees, employee retention costs, employee termination costs and other exit costs. 

All customer statistics as of September 30, 2017 include the operations of Legacy TWC, Legacy Bright House and Legacy Charter, each of which is based on individual legacy company reporting methodology. These methodologies differ and their differences may be material. Statistical reporting will be conformed over time to a single reporting methodology. The following table summarizes our customer statistics for video, Internet and voice as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands except per customer data and footnotes).

 
Approximate as of
 
September 30,
 
2017 (a)
 
2016 (a)(b)
Customer Relationships (c)
 
 
 
Residential
25,470

 
24,551

Small and Medium Business
1,523

 
1,367

Total Customer Relationships
26,993

 
25,918

 
 
 
 
Residential Primary Service Units (“PSU”)
 
 
 
Video
16,542

 
16,887

Internet
22,282

 
21,017

Voice
10,405

 
10,288

 
49,229

 
48,192

 
 
 
 
Monthly Residential Revenue per Residential Customer (d)
$
110.12

 
$
109.70

 
 
 
 
Small and Medium Business PSUs
 
 
 
Video
440

 
388

Internet
1,321

 
1,185

Voice
881

 
751

 
2,642

 
2,324

 
 
 
 
Monthly Small and Medium Business Revenue per Customer (e)
$
206.64

 
$
214.53

 
 
 
 
Enterprise PSUs (f)
108

 
93


(a)
We calculate the aging of customer accounts based on the monthly billing cycle for each account. On that basis, as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, customers include approximately 218,300 and 200,900 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 60 days past due, approximately 20,300 and 15,200 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 90 days past due, and approximately 12,000 and 8,900 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 120 days past due.


32



(b)
In the second quarter of 2017, we conformed the seasonal customer program in the Legacy Bright House footprint to our program. Prior to the plan change, Legacy Bright House customers enrolling in the seasonal plan were charged a one-time fee and counted as customer disconnects, and as new connects, when moving off the seasonal plan. Under our seasonal plan, residential customers pay a reduced monthly fee while the seasonal plan is active and remain reported as customers. Excluding the impact of net customer disconnect activity related to the previous seasonal plan, Legacy Bright House residential customer relationships, video, Internet and voice PSUs at September 30, 2016 would have been higher by approximately 54,000, 48,000, 66,000 and 45,000 respectively.
(c)
Customer relationships include the number of customers that receive one or more levels of service, encompassing video, Internet and voice services, without regard to which service(s) such customers receive. Customers who reside in residential multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) and that are billed under bulk contracts are counted based on the number of billed units within each bulk MDU. Total customer relationships excludes enterprise customer relationships.
(d)
Monthly residential revenue per residential customer is calculated as total residential video, Internet and voice quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average residential customer relationships during the respective quarter.
(e)
Monthly small and medium business revenue per customer is calculated as total small and medium business quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average small and medium business customer relationships during the respective quarter.
(f)
Enterprise PSUs represent the aggregate number of fiber service offerings counting each separate service offering as an individual PSU.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

For a discussion of our critical accounting policies and the means by which we develop estimates therefore, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from the critical accounting policies described in our Form 10-K.

Results of Operations

We completed the Transactions on May 18, 2016 and have included the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House operating results since that date. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), operating results from Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House prior to the closing of the Transactions have been excluded. For purposes of management’s discussion and analysis, we have given explanations of increases and decreases in our results of operations on an actual basis, as well as on a pro forma basis assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015. Due to the size of the Transactions, we believe that providing a discussion of our results of operations on a pro forma basis provides management and investors a more meaningful perspective on our financial and operational performance and trends. The results of operations data on a pro forma basis are provided for illustrative purposes only and are based on available information and assumptions that we believe are reasonable and do not purport to represent what our actual consolidated results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.

See Exhibit 99.1 in CCO Holdings' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 10, 2016 for pro forma financial information for each quarter of 2015 and the first and second quarter of 2016.



33



The following table sets forth the consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented (dollars in millions, except per share data):

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues
$
10,458

 
$
10,037

 
$
30,979

 
$
18,728

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)
6,705

 
6,490

 
19,871

 
12,173

Depreciation and amortization
2,699

 
2,435

 
7,839

 
4,409

Other operating expenses, net
145

 
206

 
374

 
513

 
9,549

 
9,131

 
28,084

 
17,095

Income from operations
909

 
906

 
2,895

 
1,633

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
(795
)
 
(729
)
 
(2,268
)
 
(1,391
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 
(35
)
 
(110
)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net
17

 
71

 
(15
)
 
16

Other pension benefits (costs)
(17
)
 
13

 
9

 
533

Other expense, net
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(2
)
 
(797
)
 
(647
)
 
(2,311
)
 
(954
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
112

 
259

 
584

 
679

Income tax benefit (expense)
(6
)
 
7

 
(35
)
 

Consolidated net income
106

 
266

 
549

 
679

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to CCO Holdings member
$
106

 
$
265

 
$
548

 
$
678


Revenues. Total revenues grew $421 million and $12.3 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016, respectively, primarily due to increases in the number of residential Internet and commercial business customers as well as price adjustments offset by a decrease in basic video customers and advertising sales, and in the nine month period due to the Transactions which increased total revenues by approximately $11.4 billion. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, total revenue growth was 4.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016.
    


34



Revenues by service offering were as follows (dollars in millions; all percentages are calculated using whole numbers. Minor differences may exist due to rounding):

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
 
2017
 
2016
 
% Change
 
Actual
Video
$
4,213

 
$
4,094

 
2.9
 %
 
$
12,416

 
$
7,869

 
57.8
%
Internet
3,556

 
3,206

 
10.9
 %
 
10,467

 
5,960

 
75.6
%
Voice
611

 
728

 
(16.1
)%
 
1,955

 
1,286

 
51.9
%
Residential revenue
8,380

 
8,028

 
4.4
 %
 
24,838

 
15,115

 
64.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small and medium business
931

 
867

 
7.4
 %
 
2,755

 
1,589

 
73.3
%
Enterprise
553

 
508

 
8.9
 %
 
1,640

 
903

 
81.6
%
Commercial revenue
1,484

 
1,375

 
8.0
 %
 
4,395

 
2,492

 
76.3
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertising sales
373

 
420

 
(11.1
)%
 
1,091

 
729

 
49.9
%
Other
221

 
214

 
3.0
 %
 
655

 
392

 
66.9
%
 
$
10,458

 
$
10,037

 
4.2
 %
 
$
30,979

 
$
18,728

 
65.4
%

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
Actual
 
Pro forma
 
% Change
Video
$
12,416

 
$
12,292

 
1.0
 %
Internet
10,467

 
9,376

 
11.6
 %
Voice
1,955

 
2,186

 
(10.6
)%
Residential revenue
24,838

 
23,854

 
4.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small and medium business
2,755

 
2,518

 
9.4
 %
Enterprise
1,640

 
1,499

 
9.4
 %
Commercial revenue
4,395

 
4,017

 
9.4
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertising sales
1,091

 
1,190

 
(8.2
)%
Other
655

 
687

 
(4.8
)%
 
$
30,979

 
$
29,748

 
4.1
 %




35



Video revenues consist primarily of revenues from basic and digital video services provided to our residential customers, as well as franchise fees, equipment rental and video installation revenue. Residential video customers decreased by 345,000 from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017.

The increase in video revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments
$
140

 
$
169

Increase in video on demand and pay-per-view
55

 
45

Decrease in average basic video customers
(76
)
 
(102
)
TWC Transaction

 
3,806

Bright House Transaction

 
629

 
$
119

 
$
4,547


On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in video revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments
$
299

Increase in video on demand and pay-per-view
46

Decrease in average basic video customers
(221
)
 
$
124


Residential Internet customers grew by 1,265,000 customers from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The increase in Internet revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in average residential Internet customers
$
205

 
$
410

Price adjustments, bundle revenue allocation and service level changes
145

 
258

TWC Transaction

 
3,268

Bright House Transaction

 
571

 
$
350

 
$
4,507




36



On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in Internet revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in average residential Internet customers
$
629

Price adjustments, bundle revenue allocation and service level changes
462

 
$
1,091


Residential voice customers grew by 117,000 customers from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The change in voice revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments
$
(126
)
 
$
(180
)
Increase in average residential voice customers
9

 
20

TWC Transaction

 
707

Bright House Transaction

 
122

 
$
(117
)
 
$
669


On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the decrease in voice revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments
$
(271
)
Increase in average residential voice customers
40

 
$
(231
)

Small and medium business PSUs grew by 318,000 from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The increase in small and medium business commercial revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in small and medium business customers
$
100

 
$
195

Price adjustments
(36
)
 
(58
)
TWC Transaction

 
890

Bright House Transaction

 
139

 
$
64

 
$
1,166



37




On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in small and medium business commercial revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in small and medium business customers
$
299

Price adjustments
(62
)
 
$
237


Enterprise PSUs increased 15,000 from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. Enterprise commercial revenues increased $45 million and $737 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016, respectively, primarily due to growth in customers and in the nine month period due to the Transactions which increased enterprise commercial revenues by $655 million. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, enterprise commercial revenues increased $141 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to growth in customers.

Advertising sales revenues consist primarily of revenues from commercial advertising customers, programmers and other vendors, as well as local cable and advertising on regional sports and news channels. Advertising sales revenues decreased $47 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to a decrease in political advertising. Advertising sales revenues increased $362 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to the Transactions which increased advertising sales revenues by $425 million. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, advertising sales revenues decreased $99 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to a decrease in political and local advertising.

Other revenues consist of revenue from regional sports and news channels (excluding intercompany charges or advertising sales on those channels), home shopping, late payment fees, wire maintenance fees and other miscellaneous revenues. Other revenues increased $7 million and $263 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016. The Transactions increased other revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 by $255 million. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, other revenues decreased by $32 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to a settlement incurred in 2016 related to an early contract termination at Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House.

Operating costs and expenses. The increases in our operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, are attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Programming
$
295

 
$
3,304

Regulatory, connectivity and produced content
8

 
609

Costs to service customers
(73
)
 
2,135

Marketing
33

 
669

Transition costs
(9
)
 
26

Other
(39
)
 
955

 
$
215

 
$
7,698




38



Programming costs were approximately $2.7 billion and $2.4 billion, representing 40% and 37% of total operating costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $8.0 billion and $4.6 billion, representing 40% and 38% of total operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in operating costs and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to an increase in programming costs and the Transactions.

The change in other expense is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Corporate costs
$
(35
)
 
$
225

Enterprise
4

 
240

Advertising sales expense
12

 
245

Property tax and insurance
1

 
115

Stock compensation expense
(17
)
 
30

Other
(4
)
 
100

 
$
(39
)
 
$
955


The increase in other expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to the Transactions.

On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, increases in our operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, are attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Programming
$
724

Regulatory, connectivity and produced content
(17
)
Costs to service customers
(135
)
Marketing
8

Transition costs
26

Other
(106
)
 
$
500


On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, programming costs were approximately $7.2 billion, representing 37% of total operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, digital, premium, video on demand, and pay-per-view programming. The increase in programming costs for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and nine months ended September 30, 2017, on a pro forma basis assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 is primarily a result of contractual rate adjustments, including renewals and increases in amounts paid for retransmission consents, higher expanded basic package customers and higher pay-per-view events offset by synergies as a result of the Transactions.  We expect programming expenses will continue to increase due to a variety of factors, including annual increases imposed by programmers with additional selling power as a result of media consolidation, increased demands by owners of broadcast stations for payment for retransmission consent or linking carriage of other services to retransmission consent, and additional programming, particularly new services. We have been unable to fully pass these increases on to our customers nor do we expect to be able to do so in the future without a potential loss of customers.


39




Costs to service customers decreased $73 million and $135 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and nine months ended September 30, 2017, on a pro forma basis assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 due to benefits from combining Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House into Charter, including lower employee benefit and maintenance costs, higher labor and material capitalization with increases in placement of new customer equipment and improved productivity.

On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in other expense is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Corporate costs
$
(139
)
Enterprise
21

Advertising sales expense
38

Property tax and insurance
(15
)
Stock compensation expense
(21
)
Other
10

 
$
(106
)

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $264 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily as a result of higher capital expenditures in the current year. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $3.4 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily as a result of additional depreciation and amortization related to the Transactions, inclusive of the incremental amounts as a result of the higher fair values recorded in acquisition accounting.

Other operating expenses, net. The decrease in other operating expenses, net are attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Merger and restructuring costs
$
(138
)
 
$
(220
)
Special charges, net
76

 
76

(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net
1

 
5

 
$
(61
)
 
$
(139
)

The decrease in merger and restructuring costs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 is primarily due to a decrease of approximately $118 million and $208 million, respectively, of employee termination and retention costs. The increase in special charges, net during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 is primarily due to an $83 million charge related to the Company's withdrawal liability from a multiemployer pension plan. See Note 10 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense increased by $66 million and $877 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 primarily as a result of an increase in weighted average debt outstanding primarily due to the issuance of notes in 2017. Interest expense associated with debt assumed from Legacy TWC also increased interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 by approximately $350 million as well as interest expense associated with debt incurred to fund the Transactions by approximately $369 million.


40




Loss on extinguishment of debt. Loss on extinguishment of debt of $35 million and $110 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily represents losses recognized as a result of repurchases of CCO Holdings, LLC ("CCO Holdings") notes. For more information, see Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net. We recorded a gain of $17 million and a loss of $15 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively and gains of $71 million and $16 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Gains and losses on financial instruments are recognized due to changes in the fair value of our interest rate and our cross currency derivative instruments, and the foreign currency remeasurement of the fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”) into U.S. dollars. For more information, see Note 7 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Other pension benefits (costs). Other pension benefits decreased by $30 million and $524 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016. The decrease during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 was primarily due to a third quarter 2017 remeasurement as a result of significant lump sum settlement payments to participants. The decrease during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 was also affected by a $675 million pension curtailment gain offset by an $157 million net remeasurement loss recognized in 2016 that resulted from an amendment to the plans made subsequent to the TWC Transaction. For more information, see Note 15 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Other expense, net. Other expense, net primarily represents equity losses on our equity-method investments.

Income tax benefit (expense). We recognized income tax expense of $6 million and $35 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and income tax benefit of $7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was insignificant. Income tax expense is recognized primarily through increases in deferred tax liabilities, as well as through current federal and state income tax expense. For more information, see Note 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest relates to our third-party
interest in CV of Viera, LLP, a consolidated joint venture in a small cable system in Florida assumed in the Transactions.

Net income attributable to CCO Holdings member. Net income attributable to CCO Holdings member decreased from $265 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $106 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, and from $678 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to $548 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily as a result of the factors described above. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, net income attributable to CCO Holdings member was $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Use of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow

We use certain measures that are not defined by GAAP to evaluate various aspects of our business. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, consolidated net income and net cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are reconciled to consolidated net income and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, below.

Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of our businesses as well as other non-cash or special items, and is unaffected by our capital structure or investment activities. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and our cash cost of financing. These costs are evaluated through other financial measures.

Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.

Management and Charter’s board of directors use Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to assess our performance and our ability to service our debt, fund operations and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under our credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with


41



the covenants contained in the facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)). For the purpose of calculating compliance with leverage covenants, we use Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, excluding certain expenses paid by our operating subsidiaries to other Charter entities. Our debt covenants refer to these expenses as management fees, which were $262 million and $791 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $330 million and $634 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Actual
Consolidated net income
$
106

 
$
266

 
$
549

 
$
679

Plus: Interest expense, net
795

 
729

 
2,268

 
1,391

Income tax (benefit) expense
6

 
(7
)
 
35

 

Depreciation and amortization
2,699

 
2,435

 
7,839

 
4,409

Stock compensation expense
64

 
81

 
198

 
168

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 
35

 
110

(Gain) loss on financial instruments, net
(17
)
 
(71
)
 
15

 
(16
)
Other pension (benefits) costs
17

 
(13
)
 
(9
)
 
(533
)
Other, net
147

 
208

 
376

 
515

Adjusted EBITDA
$
3,817

 
$
3,628

 
$
11,306

 
$
6,723

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash flows from operating activities
$
2,893

 
$
2,790

 
$
8,521

 
$
5,538

Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(2,393
)
 
(1,748
)
 
(6,096
)
 
(3,437
)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures
79

 
(52
)
 
276

 
86

Free cash flow
$
579

 
$
990

 
$
2,701

 
$
2,187

 
Nine Months Ended
 
September 30, 2016
 
Pro forma
Consolidated net income
$
1,113

Plus: Interest expense, net
2,160

Depreciation and amortization
7,054

Stock compensation expense
219

Loss on extinguishment of debt
110

Gain on financial instruments, net
(16
)
Other pension benefits
(549
)
Other, net
505

Adjusted EBITDA
$
10,596


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.

2017 Financing Activities

In January 2017, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 18, 2016 decreasing the applicable LIBOR margin on both the term loan E and term loan F to 2.00% and eliminating the LIBOR floor.



42



In February 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027. The net proceeds were used to redeem CCO Holdings’ 6.625% senior notes due 2022, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

In March 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 99.0% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, as well as cash on hand, were used in April 2017 to redeem Time Warner Cable, LLC's 5.850% senior notes due 2017, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

In April 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 100.5% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.
 
In April 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 99.968% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In July 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028 at a price of 99.166% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 106.529% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In August 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In September 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028 at a price of 99.757% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 98.969% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In October 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023 and an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028 at a price of 98.5% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

Overview of Our Contractual Obligations and Liquidity

We have significant amounts of debt. The principal amount of our debt as of September 30, 2017 was $66.8 billion, consisting of $8.8 billion of credit facility debt, $40.6 billion of investment grade senior secured notes and $17.4 billion of high-yield senior unsecured notes. Our business requires significant cash to fund principal and interest payments on our debt. 

Our projected cash needs and projected sources of liquidity depend upon, among other things, our actual results, and the timing and amount of our expenditures. Free cash flow was $579 million and $2.7 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and was $990 million and $2.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, the amount available under our credit facilities was approximately $2.9 billion and cash on hand was approximately $2.0 billion. We expect to utilize free cash flow, cash on hand and availability under our credit facilities as well as future refinancing transactions to further extend the maturities of our obligations. The timing and terms of any refinancing transactions will be subject to market conditions. Additionally, we may, from time to time, and depending on market conditions and other factors, use cash on hand and the proceeds from securities offerings or other borrowings to retire our debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases, tender offers or redemption provisions. We believe we have sufficient liquidity from cash on hand, free cash flow and Charter Operating’s revolving credit facility as well as access to the capital markets to fund our projected cash needs.



43



We continue to evaluate the deployment of our cash on hand and anticipated future free cash flow including to invest in our business growth and other strategic opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions as well as distributions to our parent company for stock repurchases and dividends. Charter's target leverage remains at 4 to 4.5 times, and up to 3.5 times at the Charter Operating level. We may increase the total amount of our indebtedness to maintain leverage within Charter's target leverage range. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, Charter purchased approximately 9.5 million and 21.9 million shares, respectively, of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $3.5 billion and $7.6 billion, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $5.2 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock without taking into account shares or units that may be purchased from A/N. Charter is not obligated to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and the timing of any purchases that may occur cannot be predicted and will largely depend on market conditions and other potential uses of capital. Purchases may include open market purchases, tender offers or negotiated transactions. To the extent such purchases occur, CCO Holdings and its subsidiaries are the primary source for funding such purchases through distributions to their parent companies. As possible acquisitions, swaps or dispositions arise, we actively review them against our objectives including, among other considerations, improving the operational efficiency, clustering, product development or technology capabilities of our business and achieving appropriate return targets, and we may participate to the extent we believe these possibilities present attractive opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that we will actually complete any acquisitions, dispositions or system swaps, or that any such transactions will be material to our operations or results.

In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into a letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis once Charter or Charter Holdings have repurchased shares of Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units from A/N and its affiliates for an aggregate purchase price of $537 million which threshold has been reached. Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 1.4 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $355.83, or $493 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, and 2.7 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $341.49, or $922 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow decreased $411 million and increased $514 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the corresponding prior periods in 2016 due to the following (dollars in millions).

 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
 
Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in Adjusted EBITDA
$
189

 
$
4,583

Decrease in merger and restructuring costs
87

 
61

Increase in capital expenditures
(645
)
 
(2,659
)
Decrease (increase) in cash paid for interest, net
61

 
(1,059
)
Changes in working capital, excluding change in accrued interest
(123
)
 
(418
)
Other, net
20

 
6

 
$
(411
)
 
$
514


Limitations on Distributions

Distributions by us and our subsidiaries to a parent company for payment of principal on parent company notes are restricted under indentures and credit facilities governing our indebtedness, unless there is no default under the applicable indenture and credit facilities, and unless each applicable subsidiary’s leverage ratio test is met at the time of such distribution. As of September 30, 2017, there was no default under any of these indentures or credit facilities, and each subsidiary met its applicable leverage ratio tests based on September 30, 2017 financial results. Such distributions would be restricted, however, if any such subsidiary fails to meet these tests at the time of the contemplated distribution. There can be no assurance that they will satisfy these tests at the


44



time of the contemplated distribution. Distributions by Charter Operating for payment of principal on parent company notes are further restricted by the covenants in its credit facilities.

However, without regard to leverage, during any calendar year or any portion thereof during which the borrower is a flow-through entity for tax purposes, and so long as no event of default exists, the borrower may make distributions to the equity interests of the borrower in an amount sufficient to make permitted tax payments.

In addition to the limitation on distributions under the various indentures discussed above, distributions by our subsidiaries may be limited by applicable law, including the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, under which our subsidiaries may only make distributions if they have “surplus” as defined in the act.

Historical Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities

Cash and Cash Equivalents. We held $2.0 billion and $1.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $3.0 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to an increase in Adjusted EBITDA of $4.6 billion offset by an increase in cash paid for interest, net of $1.1 billion as a result of the Transactions as well as changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the change in accrued interest, that provided $418 million less cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $5.9 billion and $3.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in cash used was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures as a result of the Transactions.

Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $2.0 billion and $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in cash used was primarily due to an increase in distributions offset by an increase in borrowings of long-term debt exceeding repayments.

Capital Expenditures

We have significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements.  Capital expenditures were $2.4 billion and $6.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $1.7 billion and $3.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.  The increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016 was driven by the Transactions. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, capital expenditures increased $439 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016. The increase during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016 was primarily due to higher spend on customer premise equipment due to the launch of SPP and our all-digital initiative and higher scalable infrastructure costs and support primarily due to the timing of spend. See the table below for more details.
 
The actual amount of our capital expenditures in 2017 will depend on a number of factors, including the pace of transition planning to service a larger customer base as a result of the Transactions, our all-digital transition in the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House markets and growth rates of both our residential and commercial businesses.

Our capital expenditures are funded primarily from cash flows from operating activities and borrowings on our credit facility. In addition, our accrued liabilities related to capital expenditures increased by $276 million and $86 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.



45



The following tables present our major capital expenditures categories on an actual and pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, in accordance with National Cable and Telecommunications Association (“NCTA”) disclosure guidelines for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The disclosure is intended to provide more consistency in the reporting of capital expenditures among peer companies in the cable industry. These disclosure guidelines are not required disclosures under GAAP, nor do they impact our accounting for capital expenditures under GAAP (dollars in millions):

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Actual
Customer premise equipment (a)
$
855

 
$
662

 
$
2,579

 
$
1,177

Scalable infrastructure (b)
632

 
441

 
1,282

 
937

Line extensions (c)
319

 
249

 
864

 
467

Upgrade/rebuild (d)
163

 
156

 
415

 
307

Support capital (e)
424

 
240

 
956

 
549

Total capital expenditures
$
2,393

 
$
1,748

 
$
6,096

 
$
3,437

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures included in total related to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial services
$
339

 
$
306

 
$
941

 
$
566

Transition (f)
$
125

 
$
109

 
$
287

 
$
273

 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Pro Forma
Customer premise equipment (a)
$
2,074

Scalable infrastructure (b)
1,556

Line extensions (c)
751

Upgrade/rebuild (d)
461

Support capital (e)
815

Total capital expenditures
$
5,657

 
 
Capital expenditures included in total related to:
 
Commercial services
$
931

Transition (f)
$
273


(a)
Customer premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer residence to secure new customers and revenue generating units. It also includes customer installation costs and customer premise equipment (e.g., set-top boxes and cable modems).
(b)
Scalable infrastructure includes costs not related to customer premise equipment, to secure growth of new customers and revenue generating units, 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)
Transition represents incremental costs incurred to integrate the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House operations and to bring the three companies' systems and processes into a uniform operating structure.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

See Note 17 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards.



46



Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We use derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on variable debt and foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and do not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Interest rate derivative instruments are used to manage interest costs and to reduce our exposure to increases in floating interest rates. We manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable-rate debt. Using interest rate derivative instruments, we agree to exchange, at specified intervals through 2017, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional principal amounts.

Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to effectively convert £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The cross-currency derivative instruments have maturities of June 2031 and July 2042. We are required to post collateral on the cross-currency derivative instruments when such instruments are in a liability position. In May 2016, we entered into a collateral holiday agreement for 80% of both the 2031 and 2042 cross-currency swaps, which eliminates the requirement to post collateral for three years. For more information, see Note 7 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”
      
As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate on the credit facility debt, including the effects of our interest rate swap agreements, was approximately 3.3% and 2.9%, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on the senior notes was approximately 5.7% and 5.9%, respectively, resulting in a blended weighted average interest rate of 5.4% as of both time periods. The interest rate on approximately 88% and 87% of the total principal amount of our debt was effectively fixed, including the effects of our interest rate swap agreements as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
  
The table set forth below summarizes the fair values and contract terms of financial instruments subject to interest rate risk maintained by us as of September 30, 2017 (dollars in millions).

 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
Fair Value
Debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-Rate
$

 
$
2,000

 
$
3,250

 
$
3,500

 
$
2,200

 
$
47,059

 
$
58,009

 
$
62,657

Average Interest Rate
%
 
6.75
%
 
8.44
%
 
4.19
%
 
4.32
%
 
5.64
%
 
5.70
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable Rate
$
49

 
$
197

 
$
296

 
$
1,716

 
$
2,928

 
$
3,582

 
$
8,768

 
$
8,788

Average Interest Rate
3.13
%
 
3.58
%
 
3.77
%
 
4.07
%
 
4.07
%
 
4.68
%
 
4.29
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Variable to Fixed-Rate
$
850

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
850

 
$
1

Average Pay Rate
3.84
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.84
%
 
 
Average Receive Rate
3.68
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
%
 
3.68
%
 
 

As of September 30, 2017, we had $850 million in notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments outstanding. The notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of our exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged are determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.

The estimated fair value of the interest rate derivative instruments is determined using a present value calculation based on an implied forward LIBOR curve (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk). Interest rates on variable-rate debt are estimated using the average implied forward LIBOR for the year of maturity based on the yield curve in effect at September 30, 2017 including applicable bank spread.

Item 4.     Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this quarterly report. The evaluation was


47



based upon reports and certifications provided by a number of executives. Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and 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 SEC’s rules and forms.

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the evaluation, we believe that our controls provide such reasonable assurances.

On May 18, 2016, we completed the Transactions and as a result, we have incorporated internal controls over significant processes specific to the Transactions and to activities post-Transactions that we believe to be appropriate and necessary in consideration of the related integration, including controls associated with the Transactions for the valuations of certain Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House assets and liabilities assumed, as well as adoption of common financial reporting and internal control practices for the combined company. In January 2017, we consolidated our separate human resource platforms into one platform which resulted in significant changes to the nature and type of certain internal controls for the most recent fiscal quarter. As we further integrate Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House, we will continue to validate the effectiveness and integration of internal controls.

Except as described above in the preceding paragraph, during the quarter ended September 30, 2017, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.




48



PART II

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes “Legal Proceedings” under Item 3 of Part I. Other than as described in Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements,” there have been no material changes from the legal proceedings described in our Form 10-K.

Item 1A.     Risk Factors.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes "Risk Factors" under Item 1A of Part I. There have been no material changes from the updated risk factors described in our Form 10-K.

Item 6.     Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.


49



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, CCO Holdings, LLC and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. have duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
 
CCO HOLDINGS, LLC
 
 
Registrant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Kevin D. Howard
 
 
 
 
Kevin D. Howard
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President - Finance, Controller and
Date: October 27, 2017
 
 
 
Chief Accounting Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CCO HOLDINGS CAPITAL CORP.
 
 
Registrant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Kevin D. Howard
 
 
 
 
Kevin D. Howard
 
 
 
 
Senior Vice President - Finance, Controller and
Date: October 27, 2017
 
 
 
Chief Accounting Officer





S- 1




Exhibit Index
Exhibit
 
Description
 
 
 
10.1
 
10.2
 
10.3
 
10.4
 
10.5
 
10.6
 
10.7
 
10.8
 
31.1*
 
31.2*
 
32.1*
 
32.2*
 
101**
 
The following financial statements from CCO Holdings, LLC's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2017, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

_____________
*
Filed herewith.
**
This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78r) or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference

E- 1




into any filing under the Securities Act or Securities Exchange Act, except to the extent that the company specifically incorporates it by reference.


E- 2