UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________ to _________
Commission file number: 333-77499
333-77499-01
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC *
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation *
(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)
Delaware Delaware | 43-1843179 43-1843177 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
12405 Powerscourt Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63131
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
(314) 965-0555
(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have 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 registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, or non-accelerated filers. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes oNo þ
Number of shares of common stock of Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation outstanding as of May 15, 2007: 100
* Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation meet the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) to Form 10-Q and are therefore filing with the reduced disclosure format.
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Period ended March 31, 2007
Table of Contents
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | Page |
Item 1. Financial Statements - Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries | |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007 | |
and December 31, 2006 | 4 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three | |
months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 | 5 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the | |
three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 | 6 |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 7 |
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 23 |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures | 33 |
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | |
Item 1. Legal Proceedings | 34 |
Item 1A. Risk Factors | 34 |
Item 6. Exhibits | 38 |
SIGNATURES | S-1 |
EXHIBIT INDEX | E-1 |
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") allows us to "incorporate by reference" information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this quarterly report. In addition, information that we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede information contained in this quarterly report. In this quarterly report, "we," "us" and "our" refer to Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the forward-looking statements set forth in the "Results of Operations" and "Liquidity and Capital Resources" sections under Part I, Item 2. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in this quarterly report. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under "Risk Factors" under Part II, Item 1A. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "will," "may," "intend," "estimated," "aim," "on track," "target," "opportunity" and "potential" among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
· | the availability, in general, of funds to meet interest payment obligations under our and our parent companies’ debt and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through cash flows from operating activities, further borrowings or other sources and, in particular, our and our parent companies’ ability to be able to provide under the applicable debt instruments such funds (by dividend, investment or otherwise) to the applicable obligor of such debt; |
· | our and our parent companies’ ability to comply with all covenants in our and our parent companies’ indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which could trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default provisions; |
· | our and our parent companies’ ability to pay or refinance debt prior to or when it becomes due and/or refinance that debt through new issuances, exchange offers or otherwise, including restructuring our and our parent companies’ balance sheet and leverage position; |
· | competition from other distributors, including incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite operators, wireless broadband providers and DSL providers; |
· | difficulties in introducing and operating our telephone services, such as our ability to adequately meet customer expectations for the reliability of voice services, and our ability to adequately meet demand for installations and customer service; |
· | our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flows from operating activities by offering video, high-speed Internet, telephone and other services, and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition; |
· | our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to adequately raise prices to offset the effects of higher programming costs; |
· | general business conditions, economic uncertainty or slowdown; and |
· | the effects of governmental regulation, including but not limited to local franchise authorities, on our business. |
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report.
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
March 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash of $110 and $0, respectively | $ | 184 | $ | 38 | |||
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of | |||||||
$16 and $16, respectively | 156 | 194 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 25 | 23 | |||||
Total current assets | 365 | 255 | |||||
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | |||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated | |||||||
depreciation of $7,925 and $7,602, respectively | 5,143 | 5,181 | |||||
Franchises, net | 9,218 | 9,223 | |||||
Total investment in cable properties, net | 14,361 | 14,404 | |||||
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 288 | 275 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 15,014 | $ | 14,934 | |||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S DEFICIT | |||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 1,346 | $ | 1,181 | |||
Payables to related party | 120 | 118 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 1,466 | 1,299 | |||||
LONG-TERM DEBT | 18,866 | 18,654 | |||||
LOANS PAYABLE - RELATED PARTY | 4 | 3 | |||||
DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEES - RELATED PARTY | 14 | 14 | |||||
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | 366 | 362 | |||||
MINORITY INTEREST | 194 | 192 | |||||
MEMBER’S DEFICIT | |||||||
Member’s deficit | (5,894 | ) | (5,591 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (2 | ) | 1 | ||||
Total member’s deficit | (5,896 | ) | (5,590 | ) | |||
Total liabilities and member’s deficit | $ | 15,014 | $ | 14,934 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
REVENUES | $ | 1,425 | $ | 1,320 | |||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | |||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) | 631 | 604 | |||||
Selling, general and administrative | 303 | 272 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 331 | 350 | |||||
Asset impairment charges | -- | 99 | |||||
Other operating expenses, net | 4 | 3 | |||||
1,269 | 1,328 | ||||||
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations | 156 | (8 | ) | ||||
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSES): | |||||||
Interest expense, net | (454 | ) | (450 | ) | |||
Other income (expense), net | (4 | ) | 10 | ||||
(458 | ) | (440 | ) | ||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes | (302 | ) | (448 | ) | |||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Loss from continuing operations | (304 | ) | (450 | ) | |||
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX | -- | 15 | |||||
Net loss | $ | (304 | ) | $ | (435 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (304 | ) | $ | (435 | ) | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 331 | 358 | |||||
Asset impairment charges | -- | 99 | |||||
Noncash interest expense | 7 | 46 | |||||
Other, net | 13 | (6 | ) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 38 | 60 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other | 189 | 87 | |||||
Receivables from and payables to related party, including deferred management fees | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | |||
Net cash flows from operating activities | 266 | 205 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (298 | ) | (241 | ) | |||
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | (32 | ) | (7 | ) | |||
Purchase of cable system | -- | (42 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 9 | 14 | |||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | (321 | ) | (276 | ) | |||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
Borrowings of long-term debt | 911 | 415 | |||||
Repayments of long-term debt | (691 | ) | (759 | ) | |||
Proceeds from issuance of debt | -- | 440 | |||||
Payments for debt issuance costs | (20 | ) | (10 | ) | |||
Contributions | 1 | -- | |||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | 201 | 86 | |||||
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 146 | 15 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | 38 | 14 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $ | 184 | $ | 29 | |||
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST | $ | 304 | $ | 240 | |||
NONCASH TRANSACTIONS: | |||||||
Issuance of debt by Charter Communications Operating, LLC | $ | -- | $ | 37 | |||
Retirement of Renaissance Media Group LLC debt | $ | -- | $ | (37 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") is a holding company whose principal assets at March 31, 2007 are the equity interests in its operating subsidiaries. Charter Holdings is a subsidiary of CCHC, LLC (“CCHC”) which is a subsidiary of Charter Communications Holdings Company, LLC ("Charter Holdco"), which is a subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Charter Holdings and all of its subsidiaries where the underlying operations reside, which are collectively referred to herein as the "Company." As part of the September 2006 exchange of Charter Holdings’ notes for CCH I notes, CCHC contributed its 70% interest in the Class A preferred equity interests of CC VIII, LLC (“CC VIII”) to CCH I, LLC (“CCH I”). The contribution of the CC VIII interest was accounted for as a transaction among entities under common control, and accordingly financial statements of Charter Holdings reflect the contribution as if it had occurred on the date CCHC obtained the CC VIII interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.
The Company is a broadband communications company operating in the United States. The Company offers to residential and commercial customers traditional cable video programming (analog and digital video), high-speed Internet services, advanced broadband services such as high definition television, Charter OnDemand™, and digital video recorder service, and, in many of our markets, telephone service. The Company sells its cable video programming, high-speed Internet, telephone, and advanced broadband services on a subscription basis. The Company also sells local advertising on cable networks.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in Charter Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs; depreciation and amortization costs; impairments of property, plant and equipment, franchises and goodwill; income taxes; and contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain 2006 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2007 presentation, including discontinued operations as discussed in Note 3.
2. Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company incurred net losses of $304 million and $435 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company’s net cash flows from operating activities were $266 million and $205 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The Company has a significant level of debt. The Company's long-term financing as of March 31, 2007 consists of $5.6 billion of credit facility debt and $13.3 billion accreted value of high-yield notes. For the remaining three quarterly periods of 2007, $105 million of the Company’s debt matures, which was paid on April 2, 2007 upon maturity of Charter Holdings’ 8.250% senior notes. In 2008, $55 million of the Company’s debt matures, and in 2009, $469 million matures. Of the debt that was scheduled to mature in 2009, $187 million was subject to a call redemption
7
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
that closed in April 2007, and $40 million was repurchased in a tender offer that closed in April 2007. In 2010 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become due under the Company’s remaining long-term debt obligations.
The Company requires significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital expenditures and ongoing operations. The Company has historically funded these requirements through cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under its credit facilities, equity contributions from Charter Holdco, sales of assets, issuances of debt securities, and cash on hand. However, the mix of funding sources changes from period to period. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company generated $266 million of net cash flows from operating activities, after paying cash interest of $304 million. In addition, the Company used approximately $298 million for purchases of property, plant and equipment. Finally, the Company generated net cash flows from financing activities of $201 million, as a result of refinancing transactions completed during the period.
The Company expects that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, and the amounts available under its credit facilities will be adequate to meet its and its parent companies’ cash needs through 2008. The Company believes that cash flows from operating activities and amounts available under the Company’s credit facilities may not be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations and satisfy its and its parent companies’ interest and principal repayment obligations in 2009, and will not be sufficient to fund such needs in 2010 and beyond. The Company has been advised that Charter continues to work with its financial advisors concerning its approach to addressing liquidity, debt maturities, and overall balance sheet leverage.
Credit Facility Availability
The Company’s ability to operate depends upon, among other things, its continued access to capital, including credit under the Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) credit facilities. The Charter Operating credit facilities, along with the Company’s indentures and the CCO Holdings, LLC (“CCO Holdings”) credit facilities, contain certain restrictive covenants, some of which require the Company to maintain specified leverage ratios, meet financial tests, and provide annual audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from the Company’s independent auditors. As of March 31, 2007, the Company was in compliance with the covenants under its indentures and credit facilities, and the Company expects to remain in compliance with those covenants for the next twelve months. As of March 31, 2007, the Company’s potential availability under its revolving credit facility totaled approximately $1.4 billion, none of which was limited by covenant restrictions. Continued access to the Company’s credit facilities is subject to the Company remaining in compliance with these covenants, including covenants tied to the Company’s leverage ratio. If any event of non-compliance were to occur, funding under the credit facilities may not be available and defaults on some or potentially all of the Company’s debt obligations could occur. An event of default under any of the Company’s debt instruments could result in the acceleration of its payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in cross-defaults under its other debt obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Parent Company Debt Obligations
Any financial or liquidity problems of the Company’s parent companies could cause serious disruption to the Company’s business and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.
Limitations on Distributions
As long as Charter’s convertible notes remain outstanding and are not otherwise converted into shares of common stock, Charter must pay interest on the convertible senior notes and repay the principal amount in November 2009. Charter’s ability to make interest payments on its convertible senior notes, and, in 2009, to repay the outstanding principal of its convertible senior notes of $413 million, net of $450 million of convertible senior notes held by CCHC, will depend on its ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or distributions from Charter Holdco and its subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2007, Charter Holdco was owed $4 million in intercompany loans from its subsidiaries and had $8 million in cash, which were available to pay interest and principal on Charter's convertible senior notes. In addition, Charter has $50 million of U.S. government securities pledged as security for the semi-
8
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
annual interest payments on Charter’s convertible senior notes scheduled in 2007. As long as CCHC continues to hold the $450 million of Charter’s convertible senior notes, CCHC will receive interest payments from the government securities pledged for Charter’s convertible senior notes. The cumulative amount of interest payments expected to be received by CCHC is $40 million and may be available to be distributed to pay semiannual interest due in 2008 and May 2009 on the outstanding principal amount of $413 million of Charter’s convertible senior notes, although CCHC may use those amounts for other purposes.
Distributions by Charter’s subsidiaries to a parent company (including Charter, Charter Holdco, CCHC and Charter Holdings) for payment of principal on parent company notes, are restricted under the indentures governing the CCH I Holdings, LLC (“CIH”) notes, CCH I notes, CCH II, LLC (“CCH II”) notes, CCO Holdings notes, and Charter Operating notes and under the CCO Holdings credit facilities unless there is no default under the applicable indenture and credit facilities, and each applicable subsidiary’s leverage ratio test is met at the time of such distribution. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, there was no default under any of these indentures or credit facilities. However, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries did not meet their applicable leverage ratio tests based on March 31, 2007 financial results. As a result, distributions from certain of the Company’s subsidiaries to their parent companies would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be restricted unless those tests are met. Distributions by Charter Operating for payment of principal on parent company notes are further restricted by the covenants in its credit facilities.
Distributions by CIH, CCH I, CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating to a parent company for payment of parent company interest are permitted if there is no default under the aforementioned indentures and CCO Holdings credit facilities.
The indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on Charter’s convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the distribution, Charter Holdings can incur additional debt under the leverage ratio of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures, and other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, there was no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures and the other specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings did not meet the leverage ratio test of 8.75 to 1.0 based on March 31, 2007 financial results. As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter Holdco would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be restricted unless that test is met. During periods in which distributions are restricted, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments (that are not restricted payments) in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the indentures.
Recent Financing Transactions
In March 2007, Charter Operating entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Charter Operating Credit Agreement”) which provides for a $1.5 billion senior secured revolving line of credit, a continuation of the existing $5.0 billion term loan facility (which was refinanced with new term loans in April 2007), and a $1.5 billion new term loan facility, which was funded in March and April 2007. In March 2007, CCO Holdings entered into a credit agreement which consisted of a $350 million term loan facility funded in March and April 2007. In April 2007, Charter Holdings completed a cash tender offer to purchase up to $100 million, including premiums and accrued interest, of its outstanding notes. In addition, Charter Holdings redeemed $187 million of its 8.625% senior notes due April 1, 2009 and CCO Holdings redeemed $550 million of its senior floating rate notes due December 15, 2010. These redemptions closed in April 2007. See Note 6.
3. Sale of Assets
In 2006, the Company sold certain cable television systems serving a total of approximately 356,000 analog video customers in 1) West Virginia and Virginia to Cebridge Connections, Inc. (the “Cebridge Transaction”); 2) Illinois and Kentucky to Telecommunications Management, LLC, doing business as New Wave Communications (the “New Wave Transaction”) and 3) Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah to Orange Broadband Holding Company, LLC
9
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
(the “Orange Transaction”) for a total sales price of approximately $971 million. The Company used the net proceeds from the asset sales to reduce borrowings, but not commitments, under the revolving portion of the Company’s credit facilities. These cable systems met the criteria for assets held for sale. As such, the assets were written down to fair value less estimated costs to sell resulting in asset impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2006 of approximately $99 million related to the New Wave Transaction and the Orange Transaction. The Company determined that the West Virginia and Virginia cable systems comprise operations and cash flows that for financial reporting purposes meet the criteria for discontinued operations. Accordingly, the results of operations for the West Virginia and Virginia cable systems have been presented as discontinued operations, net of tax for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
Summarized consolidated financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2006 for the West Virginia and Virginia cable systems is as follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 | ||||
Revenues | $ | 54 | ||
Net income | $ | 15 |
4. Franchises and Goodwill
Franchise rights represent the value attributed to agreements with local authorities that allow access to homes in cable service areas acquired through the purchase of cable systems. Management estimates the fair value of franchise rights at the date of acquisition and determines if the franchise has a finite life or an indefinite-life as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Franchises that qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142 are tested for impairment annually each October 1 based on valuations, or more frequently as warranted by events or changes in circumstances. Franchises are aggregated into essentially inseparable asset groups to conduct the valuations. The asset groups generally represent geographical clustering of the Company’s cable systems into groups by which such systems are managed. Management believes such grouping represents the highest and best use of those assets.
As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets are presented in the following table:
March 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | ||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Franchises with indefinite lives | $ | 9,203 | $ | -- | $ | 9,203 | $ | 9,207 | $ | -- | $ | 9,207 | |||||||
Goodwill | 61 | -- | 61 | 61 | -- | 61 | |||||||||||||
$ | 9,264 | $ | -- | $ | 9,264 | $ | 9,268 | $ | -- | $ | 9,268 | ||||||||
Finite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Franchises with finite lives | $ | 23 | $ | 8 | $ | 15 | $ | 23 | $ | 7 | $ | 16 |
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the net carrying amount of indefinite-lived and finite-lived franchises was reduced by $4 million, related to cable asset sales completed in the first quarter of 2007. Franchise amortization expense represents the amortization relating to franchises that did not qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142, including costs associated with franchise renewals. Franchise amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was approximately $1 million. The Company expects that amortization expense on franchise assets will be approximately $3 million annually for each of the next five years. Actual amortization expense in future
10
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
periods could differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives and other relevant factors.
5. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006:
March 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | ||||||
Accounts payable - trade | $ | 141 | $ | 81 | |||
Accrued capital expenditures | 65 | 97 | |||||
Accrued expenses: | |||||||
Interest | 538 | 395 | |||||
Programming costs | 311 | 268 | |||||
Franchise-related fees | 43 | 68 | |||||
Compensation | 56 | 74 | |||||
Other | 192 | 198 | |||||
$ | 1,346 | $ | 1,181 |
6. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006:
March 31, 2007 | December 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||
Principal Amount | Accreted Value | Principal Amount | Accreted Value | ||||||||||
Long-Term Debt | |||||||||||||
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC: | |||||||||||||
8.250% senior notes due April 1, 2007 | $ | 105 | $ | 105 | $ | 105 | $ | 105 | |||||
8.625% senior notes due April 1, 2009 | 187 | 187 | 187 | 187 | |||||||||
10.000% senior notes due April 1, 2009 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 105 | |||||||||
10.750% senior notes due October 1, 2009 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | |||||||||
9.625% senior notes due November 15, 2009 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | |||||||||
10.250% senior notes due January 15, 2010 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | |||||||||
11.750% senior discount notes due January 15, 2010 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | |||||||||
11.125% senior discount notes due January 15, 2011 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | |||||||||
13.500% senior discount notes due January 15, 2011 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | |||||||||
9.920% senior discount notes due April 1, 2011 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | |||||||||
10.000% senior notes due May 15, 2011 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | |||||||||
11.750% senior discount notes due May 15, 2011 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | |||||||||
12.125% senior discount notes due January 15, 2012 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 91 | |||||||||
CCH I Holdings, LLC: | |||||||||||||
11.125% senior notes due January 15, 2014 | 151 | 151 | 151 | 151 | |||||||||
13.500% senior discount notes due January 15, 2014 | 581 | 581 | 581 | 581 | |||||||||
9.920% senior discount notes due April 1, 2014 | 471 | 471 | 471 | 471 | |||||||||
10.000% senior notes due May 15, 2014 | 299 | 299 | 299 | 299 | |||||||||
11.750% senior discount notes due May 15, 2014 | 815 | 815 | 815 | 815 | |||||||||
12.125% senior discount notes due January 15, 2015 | 217 | 217 | 217 | 216 | |||||||||
CCH I, LLC: |
11
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
11.000% senior notes due October 1, 2015 | 3,987 | 4,089 | 3,987 | 4,092 | |||||||||
CCH II, LLC: | |||||||||||||
10.250% senior notes due September 15, 2010 | 2,198 | 2,190 | 2,198 | 2,190 | |||||||||
10.250% senior notes due October 1, 2013 | 250 | 261 | 250 | 262 | |||||||||
CCO Holdings, LLC: | |||||||||||||
Senior floating notes due December 15, 2010 | 550 | 550 | 550 | 550 | |||||||||
8¾% senior notes due November 15, 2013 | 800 | 795 | 800 | 795 | |||||||||
Charter Communications Operating, LLC: | |||||||||||||
8.000% senior second lien notes due April 30, 2012 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | |||||||||
8 3/8% senior second lien notes due April 30, 2014 | 770 | 770 | 770 | 770 | |||||||||
Credit Facilities | 5,610 | 5,610 | 5,395 | 5,395 | |||||||||
$ | 18,766 | $ | 18,866 | $ | 18,551 | $ | 18,654 |
The accreted values presented above generally represent the principal amount of the notes less the original issue discount at the time of sale plus the accretion to the balance sheet date except as follows. Certain of the CIH notes, CCH I notes and CCH II notes issued in exchange for Charter Holdings notes and Charter convertible notes in 2006 and 2005 are recorded for financial reporting purposes at values different from the current accreted value for legal purposes and notes indenture purposes (the amount that is currently payable if the debt becomes immediately due). As of March 31, 2007, the accreted value of the Company’s debt for legal purposes and notes indenture purposes is approximately $18.6 billion.
In March 2007, Charter Operating entered into the Charter Operating Credit Agreement which provides for a $1.5 billion senior secured revolving line of credit, a continuation of the existing $5.0 billion term loan facility (the “Existing Term Loan”), and a $1.5 billion new term loan facility (the “New Term Loan”), which was funded in March and April 2007. Borrowings under the Charter Operating Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on either LIBOR or a base rate, plus in either case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin for LIBOR loans under the New Term Loan and revolving loans is 2.00% above LIBOR. The revolving line of credit commitments terminate in March 2013. The Existing Term Loan and the New Term Loan are subject to amortization at 1% of their initial principal amount per annum. The New Term Loan amortization commences on March 31, 2008. The remaining principal amount of the New Term Loan will be due in March 2014.
The terms of the Existing Term Loan were amended in March 2007. The refinancing of the $5.0 billion Existing Term Loan with new term loans was permitted under the Charter Operating Credit Agreement and occurred in April 2007, with pricing (LIBOR plus 2.00%) and amortization profile of such term loan matching the New Term Loan described above. The Charter Operating Credit Agreement also modified the quarterly consolidated leverage ratio to be less restrictive.
In March 2007, CCO Holdings entered into a credit agreement (the “CCO Holdings Credit Agreement”) which consisted of a $350 million term loan facility (the “Term Facility”). The Term Facility matures in September 2014 (the “Maturity Date”). The CCO Holdings Credit Agreement also provides for additional incremental term loans (the “Incremental Loans”) maturing on the dates set forth in the notices establishing such term loans, but no earlier than the Maturity Date. Borrowings under the CCO Holdings Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on either LIBOR or a base rate plus, in either case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin for LIBOR term loans, other than Incremental Loans, is 2.50% above LIBOR. The applicable margin with respect to Incremental Loans is to be agreed upon by CCO Holdings and the lenders when the Incremental Loans are established. The CCO Holdings Credit Agreement is secured by the equity interests of Charter Operating, and all proceeds thereof.
As part of the refinancing, the existing $350 million revolving/term credit facility was terminated. A $1 million loss was recognized related to the write-off of unamortized deferred debt financing costs related to this facility.
Prior to March 31, 2007, $110 million was transferred to the trustee for use to pay off the remaining principal and interest of the Charter Holdings 8.250% senior notes due April 1, 2007. Such amount was not funded to bond holders
12
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
until April 2, 2007. The cash held by the trustee was reflected as restricted cash at March 31, 2007. In April 2007, Charter Holdings completed a tender offer, in which $97.0 million of Charter Holdings’ notes were accepted in exchange for $100 million of total consideration, including premiums and accrued interest. In addition, Charter Holdings redeemed $187 million of its 8.625% senior notes due April 1, 2009 and CCO Holdings redeemed $550 million of its senior floating rate notes due December 15, 2010. These redemptions closed in April 2007.
7. Minority Interest
Minority interest on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 primarily represents preferred membership interests in CC VIII, an indirect subsidiary of Charter Holdings, of $194 million and $192 million, respectively. This preferred interest is held by Mr. Allen, Charter’s Chairman and controlling shareholder. Approximately 5.6% of CC VIII’s income is allocated to minority interest.
8. Comprehensive Loss
The Company reports changes in the fair value of interest rate agreements designated as hedging the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate debt obligations, that meet the effectiveness criteria of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Comprehensive loss was $307 million and $436 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
9. Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company uses interest rate risk management derivative instruments, including but not limited to interest rate swap agreements and interest rate collar agreements (collectively referred to herein as interest rate agreements) to manage its interest costs. The Company’s policy is to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt within a targeted range. Using interest rate swap agreements, the Company has agreed to exchange, at specified intervals through 2013, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional principal amounts.
The Company’s hedging policy does not permit it to hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. The Company does, however, have certain interest rate derivative instruments that have been designated as cash flow hedging instruments. Such instruments effectively convert variable interest payments on certain debt instruments into fixed payments. For qualifying hedges, SFAS No. 133 allows derivative gains and losses to offset related results on hedged items in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company has formally documented, designated and assessed the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, other income (expense), net includes $0 and gains of $2 million, respectively, which represent cash flow hedge ineffectiveness on interest rate hedge agreements. This ineffectiveness arises from differences between critical terms of the agreements and the related hedged obligations. Changes in the fair value of interest rate agreements designated as hedging instruments of the variability of cash flows associated with floating rate debt obligations that meet the effectiveness criteria of SFAS No. 133 are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, losses of $2 million and $1 million, respectively, related to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amounts are subsequently reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment in the same periods in which the related interest on the floating-rate debt obligations affects earnings (losses).
Certain interest rate derivative instruments are not designated as hedges as they do not meet the effectiveness criteria specified by SFAS No. 133. However, management believes such instruments are closely correlated with the respective debt, thus managing associated risk. Interest rate derivative instruments not designated as hedges are marked to fair value, with the impact recorded as other income (expense) in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, other income (expense), net, includes losses of $1 million and gains of $6 million, respectively, resulting from interest rate derivative instruments not designated as hedges.
13
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding $3.4 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, in notional amounts of interest rate swaps. The notional amounts of interest rate instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged are determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.
10. Other Operating Expenses, Net
Other operating expenses, net consist of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Loss on sale of assets, net | $ | 3 | $ | -- | |||
Special charges, net | 1 | 3 | |||||
$ | 4 | $ | 3 |
Special charges, net for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 primarily represent severance associated with the closing of call centers and divisional restructuring.
11. Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments and hedging activities, net | $ | (1 | ) | $ | 8 | ||
Loss on extinguishment of debt | (1 | ) | -- | ||||
Minority interest | (2 | ) | -- | ||||
Loss on investments | -- | (1 | ) | ||||
Other, net | -- | 3 | |||||
$ | (4 | ) | $ | 10 |
12. Income Taxes
Charter Holdings is a single member limited liability company not subject to income tax. Charter Holdings holds all operations through indirect subsidiaries. The majority of these indirect subsidiaries are limited liability companies that are also not subject to income tax. However, certain of Charter Holdings’ indirect subsidiaries are corporations that are subject to income tax.
As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company had net deferred income tax liabilities of approximately $200 million. The deferred tax liabilities relate to certain of the Company’s indirect subsidiaries, which file separate income tax returns.
14
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
During each of the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded $2 million of income tax expense. Income tax expense is recognized through current federal and state income tax expense as well as increases to the deferred tax liabilities of certain of the Company’s indirect corporate subsidiaries.
Charter Holdco is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the tax years ending December 31, 2003 and 2002. In addition, one of the Company’s indirect corporate subsidiaries is under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the tax year ended December 31, 2004. The Company’s results (excluding the indirect corporate subsidiaries, with the exception of the indirect corporate subsidiary under examination) for these years are subject to this examination. Management does not expect the results of this examination to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
13. Contingencies
The Company and its parents are defendants or co-defendants in several unrelated lawsuits claiming infringement of various patents relating to various aspects of its businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases, and, in many cases, the Company expects that any potential liability would be the responsibility of its equipment vendors pursuant to applicable contractual indemnification provisions. In the event that a court ultimately determines that the Company infringes on any intellectual property rights, it may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require the Company or its vendors to modify certain products and services the Company offers to its subscribers. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, the lawsuits could be material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations of any one period, and no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
The Company and its parents are party to other lawsuits and claims that arise in the ordinary course of conducting its business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against the Company or its subsidiaries cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
14. Stock Compensation Plans
Charter has stock option plans (the “Plans”) which provide for the grant of non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock and/or restricted stock (not to exceed 20,000,000 shares of Charter Class A common stock), as each term is defined in the Plans. Employees, officers, consultants and directors of the Charter and its subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to receive grants under the Plans. Options granted generally vest over four years from the grant date, with 25% generally vesting on the anniversary of the grant date and ratably thereafter. Generally, options expire 10 years from the grant date. The Plans allow for the issuance of up to a total of 90,000,000 shares of Charter Class A common stock (or units convertible into Charter Class A common stock). During the three months ended March 31, 2007, Charter granted 3.8 million stock options and 6.7 million performance units under Charter’s Long-Term Incentive Program. The Company recorded $5 million and $4 million of stock compensation expense which is included in selling, general, and administrative expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
15. Consolidating Schedules
The accompanying condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, Financial Statements of Guarantors and Affiliates Whose Securities Collateralize an Issue Registered or Being Registered. 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.
15
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
As part of the September 2006 exchange of Charter Holdings notes for CCH I notes, CCHC contributed its 70% interest in the Class A preferred equity interests of CC VIII to CCH I. The contribution of the CC VIII interest was accounted for as a transaction among entities under common control, and accordingly financial statements of Charter Holdings reflect the contribution as if it had occurred on the date of the settlement with Paul Allen.
In 2005 and 2003, respectively, Charter Holdings entered into a series of transactions and contributions which had the effect of creating CIH, CCH I and CCH II as intermediate holding companies. The creation of these holding companies has each been accounted for as reorganizations of entities under common control. Accordingly, the accompanying financial schedules present the historical financial condition and results of operations of CIH, CCH I and CCH II as if the respective entities existed for all periods presented. Condensed consolidating financial statements as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and for the quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 follow.
16
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
Charter Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter Holdings | CIH | CCH I | CCH II | All Other Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Charter Holdings Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 111 | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | $ | 4 | $ | 63 | $ | -- | $ | 184 | ||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 156 | -- | 156 | |||||||||||||||
Receivables from related party | 22 | -- | -- | -- | -- | (22 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | -- | -- | -- | -- | 25 | -- | 25 | |||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 133 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 244 | (22 | ) | 365 | ||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,143 | -- | 5,143 | |||||||||||||||
Franchises, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 9,218 | -- | 9,218 | |||||||||||||||
Total investment in cable properties, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14,361 | -- | 14,361 | |||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES | -- | -- | 1,280 | 3,521 | -- | (4,801 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 5 | 19 | 47 | 24 | 193 | -- | 288 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 138 | $ | 22 | $ | 1,330 | $ | 3,549 | $ | 14,798 | $ | (4,823 | ) | $ | 15,014 | |||||||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 39 | $ | 96 | $ | 219 | $ | 23 | $ | 969 | $ | -- | $ | 1,346 | ||||||||
Payables to related party | -- | 2 | 5 | 4 | 131 | (22 | ) | 120 | ||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 39 | 98 | 224 | 27 | 1,100 | (22 | ) | 1,466 | ||||||||||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT | 967 | 2,534 | 4,089 | 2,451 | 8,825 | -- | 18,866 | |||||||||||||||
LOANS PAYABLE (RECEIVABLE) - RELATED PARTY | (113 | ) | -- | -- | (209 | ) | 326 | -- | 4 | |||||||||||||
DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEES - RELATED PARTY | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14 | -- | 14 | |||||||||||||||
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | -- | -- | -- | -- | 366 | -- | 366 | |||||||||||||||
MINORITY INTEREST | -- | -- | (452 | ) | -- | 646 | -- | 194 | ||||||||||||||
LOSSES IN EXCESS OF INVESTMENT | 5,141 | 2,531 | -- | -- | -- | (7,672 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
MEMBER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT) | (5,896 | ) | (5,141 | ) | (2,531 | ) | 1,280 | 3,521 | 2,871 | (5,896 | ) | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and member’s equity (deficit) | $ | 138 | $ | 22 | $ | 1,330 | $ | 3,549 | $ | 14,798 | $ | (4,823 | ) | $ | 15,014 |
17
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
Charter Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter Holdings | CIH | CCH I | CCH II | All Other Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Charter Holdings Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | -- | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | $ | 4 | $ | 28 | $ | -- | $ | 38 | ||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 194 | -- | 194 | |||||||||||||||
Receivables from related party | 28 | -- | -- | 8 | -- | (36 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | -- | -- | -- | -- | 23 | -- | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 28 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 245 | (36 | ) | 255 | ||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,181 | -- | 5,181 | |||||||||||||||
Franchises, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 9,223 | -- | 9,223 | |||||||||||||||
Total investment in cable properties, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14,404 | -- | 14,404 | |||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES | -- | -- | 1,553 | 3,847 | -- | (5,400 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 6 | 20 | 48 | 25 | 176 | -- | 275 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 34 | $ | 23 | $ | 1,604 | $ | 3,884 | $ | 14,825 | $ | (5,436 | ) | $ | 14,934 | |||||||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 25 | $ | 71 | $ | 110 | $ | 74 | $ | 901 | $ | -- | $ | 1,181 | ||||||||
Payables to related party | -- | 3 | 4 | -- | 147 | (36 | ) | 118 | ||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 25 | 74 | 114 | 74 | 1,048 | (36 | ) | 1,299 | ||||||||||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT | 967 | 2,533 | 4,092 | 2,452 | 8,610 | -- | 18,654 | |||||||||||||||
LOANS PAYABLE (RECEIVABLE) - RELATED PARTY | (105 | ) | -- | -- | (195 | ) | 303 | -- | 3 | |||||||||||||
DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEES - RELATED PARTY | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14 | -- | 14 | |||||||||||||||
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | -- | -- | -- | -- | 362 | -- | 362 | |||||||||||||||
MINORITY INTEREST | -- | -- | (449 | ) | -- | 641 | -- | 192 | ||||||||||||||
LOSSES IN EXCESS OF INVESTMENT | 4,737 | 2,153 | -- | -- | -- | (6,890 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
MEMBER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT) | (5,590 | ) | (4,737 | ) | (2,153 | ) | 1,553 | 3,847 | 1,490 | (5,590 | ) | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and member’s equity (deficit) | $ | 34 | $ | 23 | $ | 1,604 | $ | 3,884 | $ | 14,825 | $ | (5,436 | ) | $ | 14,934 |
18
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
Charter Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter Holdings | CIH | CCH I | CCH II | All Other Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Charter Holdings Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
REVENUES | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 1,425 | $ | -- | $ | 1,425 | ||||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) | -- | -- | -- | -- | 631 | -- | 631 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | -- | -- | -- | -- | 303 | -- | 303 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | -- | -- | -- | -- | 331 | -- | 331 | |||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4 | -- | 4 | |||||||||||||||
-- | -- | -- | -- | 1,269 | -- | 1,269 | ||||||||||||||||
Income from operations | -- | -- | -- | -- | 156 | -- | 156 | |||||||||||||||
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSES): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (22 | ) | (74 | ) | (108 | ) | (60 | ) | (190 | ) | -- | (454 | ) | |||||||||
Other income (expense), net | -- | -- | 3 | -- | (7 | ) | -- | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||
Equity in losses of subsidiaries | (282 | ) | (208 | ) | (103 | ) | (43 | ) | -- | 636 | -- | |||||||||||
(304 | ) | (282 | ) | (208 | ) | (103 | ) | (197 | ) | 636 | (458 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes | (304 | ) | (282 | ) | (208 | ) | (103 | ) | (41 | ) | 636 | (302 | ) | |||||||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | -- | -- | -- | -- | (2 | ) | -- | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (304 | ) | $ | (282 | ) | $ | (208 | ) | $ | (103 | ) | $ | (43 | ) | $ | 636 | $ | (304 | ) |
19
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
Charter Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter Holdings | CIH | CCH I | CCH II | All Other Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Charter Holdings Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
REVENUES | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 1,320 | $ | -- | $ | 1,320 | ||||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) | -- | -- | -- | -- | 604 | -- | 604 | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | -- | -- | -- | -- | 272 | -- | 272 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | -- | -- | -- | -- | 350 | -- | 350 | |||||||||||||||
Asset impairment charges | -- | -- | -- | -- | 99 | -- | 99 | |||||||||||||||
Other operating expenses, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | 3 | |||||||||||||||
-- | -- | -- | -- | 1,328 | -- | 1,328 | ||||||||||||||||
Income from operations | -- | -- | -- | -- | (8 | ) | -- | (8 | ) | |||||||||||||
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSES): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (45 | ) | (71 | ) | (95 | ) | (47 | ) | (192 | ) | -- | (450 | ) | |||||||||
Other income, net | -- | -- | 4 | -- | 6 | -- | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Equity in losses of subsidiaries | (390 | ) | (319 | ) | (228 | ) | (181 | ) | -- | 1,118 | -- | |||||||||||
(435 | ) | (390 | ) | (319 | ) | (228 | ) | (186 | ) | 1,118 | (440 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes | (435 | ) | (390 | ) | (319 | ) | (228 | ) | (194 | ) | 1,118 | (448 | ) | |||||||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | -- | -- | -- | -- | (2 | ) | -- | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations | (435 | ) | (390 | ) | (319 | ) | (228 | ) | (196 | ) | 1,118 | (450 | ) | |||||||||
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX | -- | -- | -- | -- | 15 | -- | 15 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (435 | ) | $ | (390 | ) | $ | (319 | ) | $ | (228 | ) | $ | (181 | ) | $ | 1,118 | $ | (435 | ) |
20
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
Charter Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter Holdings | CIH | CCH I | CCH II | All Other Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Charter Holdings Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (304 | ) | $ | (282 | ) | $ | (208 | ) | $ | (103 | ) | $ | (43 | ) | $ | 636 | $ | (304 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | -- | -- | -- | -- | 331 | -- | 331 | |||||||||||||||
Noncash interest expense | 1 | 1 | (1 | ) | 2 | 4 | -- | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Equity in losses of subsidiaries | 282 | 208 | 103 | 43 | -- | (636 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
Other, net | 2 | -- | (4 | ) | (1 | ) | 16 | -- | 13 | |||||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | -- | -- | -- | -- | 38 | -- | 38 | |||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | -- | -- | -- | -- | (4 | ) | -- | (4 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other | 12 | 25 | 110 | (50 | ) | 92 | -- | 189 | ||||||||||||||
Receivables from and payables to related party, including deferred management fees | (2 | ) | -- | -- | (4 | ) | 2 | -- | (4 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | (9 | ) | (48 | ) | -- | (113 | ) | 436 | -- | 266 | ||||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | -- | -- | -- | -- | (298 | ) | -- | (298 | ) | |||||||||||||
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | -- | -- | -- | -- | (32 | ) | -- | (32 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 9 | -- | 9 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | -- | -- | -- | -- | (321 | ) | -- | (321 | ) | |||||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings of long-term debt | -- | -- | -- | -- | 911 | -- | 911 | |||||||||||||||
Repayments of long-term debt | -- | -- | -- | -- | (691 | ) | -- | (691 | ) | |||||||||||||
Payments for debt issuance costs | -- | -- | -- | -- | (20 | ) | -- | (20 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net contributions (distributions) | 120 | 48 | -- | 113 | (280 | ) | -- | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | 120 | 48 | -- | 113 | (80 | ) | -- | 201 | ||||||||||||||
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 111 | -- | -- | -- | 35 | -- | 146 | |||||||||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | -- | 3 | 3 | 4 | 28 | -- | 38 | |||||||||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $ | 111 | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | $ | 4 | $ | 63 | $ | -- | $ | 184 |
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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except where indicated)
Charter Holdings | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Charter Holdings | CIH | CCH I | CCH II | All Other Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Charter Holdings Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (435 | ) | $ | (390 | ) | $ | (319 | ) | $ | (228 | ) | $ | (181 | ) | $ | 1,118 | $ | (435 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | -- | -- | -- | -- | 358 | -- | 358 | |||||||||||||||
Asset impairment charges | -- | -- | -- | -- | 99 | -- | 99 | |||||||||||||||
Noncash interest expense | 7 | 32 | (2 | ) | 1 | 8 | -- | 46 | ||||||||||||||
Equity in losses of subsidiaries | 390 | 319 | 228 | 181 | -- | (1,118 | ) | -- | ||||||||||||||
Other, net | -- | -- | (4 | ) | -- | (2 | ) | -- | (6 | ) | ||||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | -- | -- | -- | -- | 60 | -- | 60 | |||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | -- | -- | -- | 1 | (3 | ) | -- | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other | 19 | 38 | 82 | (41 | ) | (11 | ) | -- | 87 | |||||||||||||
Receivables from and payables to related party, including deferred management fees | 1 | -- | -- | 2 | (5 | ) | -- | (2 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net cash flows from operating activities | (18 | ) | (1 | ) | (15 | ) | (84 | ) | 323 | -- | 205 | |||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | -- | -- | -- | -- | (241 | ) | -- | (241 | ) | |||||||||||||
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures | -- | -- | -- | -- | (7 | ) | -- | (7 | ) | |||||||||||||
Purchase of cable system | -- | -- | -- | -- | (42 | ) | -- | (42 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other, net | -- | -- | -- | -- | 14 | -- | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Net cash flows from investing activities | -- | -- | -- | -- | (276 | ) | -- | (276 | ) | |||||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings of long-term debt | -- | -- | -- | -- | 415 | -- | 415 | |||||||||||||||
Borrowings (loans) from related parties | -- | -- | -- | (300 | ) | 300 | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||
Repayments of long-term debt | -- | -- | -- | -- | (759 | ) | -- | (759 | ) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of debt | -- | -- | -- | 440 | -- | -- | 440 | |||||||||||||||
Payments for debt issuance costs | -- | -- | -- | (10 | ) | -- | -- | (10 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net contributions (distributions) | 18 | -- | 8 | (44 | ) | 18 | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||
Net cash flows from financing activities | 18 | -- | 8 | 86 | (26 | ) | -- | 86 | ||||||||||||||
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | -- | (1 | ) | (7 | ) | 2 | 21 | -- | 15 | |||||||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period | -- | 3 | 8 | -- | 3 | -- | 14 | |||||||||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period | $ | -- | $ | 2 | $ | 1 | $ | 2 | $ | 24 | $ | -- | $ | 29 |
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") is a holding company whose principal assets at March 31, 2007 are the equity interests in its operating subsidiaries. Charter Holdings is a subsidiary of CCHC, LLC (“CCHC”), which is a subsidiary of Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC ("Charter Holdco"), which is a subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”). "We," "us" and "our" refer to Charter Holdings and/or its subsidiaries.
We are a broadband communications company operating in the United States. We offer our residential and commercial customers traditional cable video programming (analog and digital video, which we refer to as “video service”), high-speed Internet services, advanced broadband cable services (such as Charter OnDemand™ video service (“OnDemand”), high definition television service, and digital video recorder (“DVR”) service) and, in many of our markets, telephone service. We sell our cable video programming, high-speed Internet, telephone, and advanced broadband services on a subscription basis.
The following table summarizes our customer statistics for analog and digital video, residential high-speed Internet and residential telephone as of March 31, 2007 and 2006:
Approximate as of | |||||||
March 31, | March 31, | ||||||
2007 (a) | 2006 (a) | ||||||
Video Cable Services: | |||||||
Analog Video: | |||||||
Residential (non-bulk) analog video customers (b) | 5,146,700 | 5,640,200 | |||||
Multi-dwelling (bulk) and commercial unit customers (c) | 268,700 | 273,700 | |||||
Total analog video customers (b)(c) | 5,415,400 | 5,913,900 | |||||
Digital Video: | |||||||
Digital video customers (d) | 2,862,900 | 2,866,400 | |||||
Non-Video Cable Services: | |||||||
Residential high-speed Internet customers (e) | 2,525,900 | 2,322,400 | |||||
Residential telephone customers (f) | 572,600 | 191,100 |
After giving effect to sales of certain non-strategic cable systems in the third quarter of 2006 and in January 2007, analog video customers, digital video customers, high-speed Internet customers and telephone customers would have been 5,478,600, 2,683,500, 2,203,000 and 191,100, respectively, as of March 31, 2006.
(a) | "Customers" include all persons our corporate billing records show as receiving service (regardless of their payment status), except for complimentary accounts (such as our employees). At March 31, 2007 and 2006, "customers" include approximately 31,700 and 48,500 persons whose accounts were over 60 days past due in payment, approximately 4,100 and 11,900 persons whose accounts were over 90 days past due in payment, and approximately 2,000 and 7,800 of which were over 120 days past due in payment, respectively. |
(b) | "Analog video customers" include all customers who receive video services. |
(c) | Included within "video customers" are those in commercial and multi-dwelling structures, which are calculated on an equivalent bulk unit ("EBU") basis. EBU is calculated for a system by dividing the bulk price charged to accounts in an area by the most prevalent price charged to non-bulk residential customers in that market for the comparable tier of service. The EBU method of estimating analog video customers is consistent with the methodology used in determining costs paid to programmers and has been used consistently. |
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(d) | "Digital video customers" include all households that have one or more digital set-top boxes or cable cards deployed. |
(e) | "Residential high-speed Internet customers" represent those residential customers who subscribe to our high-speed Internet service. |
(f) | "Residential telephone customers" include all residential customers receiving telephone service. |
Overview
For the three months ended March 31, 2007, our operating income from continuing operations was $156 million, and for the three months ended March 31, 2006, our operating loss from continuing operations was $8 million. We had an operating margin of 11% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and a negative operating margin of 1% for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The increase in operating income from continuing operations and operating margins for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended, March 31, 2006 was principally due to asset impairment charges during 2006, which did not recur in 2007, combined with revenues increasing at a faster rate than expenses, reflecting increased operational efficiencies, improved geographic footprint, and benefits from improved third party contracts.
We have a history of net losses. Further, we expect to continue to report net losses for the foreseeable future. Our net losses are principally attributable to insufficient revenue to cover the combination of operating expenses and interest expenses we incur because of our high level of debt and depreciation expenses that we incur resulting from the capital investments we have made and continue to make in our cable properties. We expect that these expenses will remain significant.
Sale of Assets
In 2006, we sold cable systems serving a total of approximately 356,000 analog video customers for a total sales price of approximately $971 million. The Company used the net proceeds from the asset sales to reduce borrowings, but not commitments, under the revolving portion of the Company’s credit facilities. These cable systems met the criteria for assets held for sale. As such, the assets were written down to fair value less estimated costs to sell resulting in asset impairment charges during the three months ended March 31, 2006 of approximately $99 million. The results of operations for the West Virginia and Virginia cable systems have been presented as discontinued operations, net of tax for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
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 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006
The following table sets forth the percentages of revenues that items in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations constituted for the periods presented (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 1,425 | 100 | % | $ | 1,320 | 100 | % | |||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) | 631 | 44 | % | 604 | 46 | % | |||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 303 | 21 | % | 272 | 21 | % | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 331 | 24 | % | 350 | 26 | % | |||||||
Asset impairment charges | -- | -- | 99 | 8 | % | ||||||||
Other operating expenses, net | 4 | -- | 3 | -- | |||||||||
1,269 | 89 | % | 1,328 | 101 | % | ||||||||
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations | 156 | 11 | % | (8 | ) | (1 | )% | ||||||
Interest expense, net | (454 | ) | (450 | ) | |||||||||
Other income (expense), net | (4 | ) | 10 | ||||||||||
(458 | ) | (440 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes | (302 | ) | (448 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax expense | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | |||||||||
Loss from continuing operations | (304 | ) | (450 | ) | |||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | -- | 15 | |||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (304 | ) | $ | (435 | ) |
Revenues. Average monthly revenue per analog video customer increased to $88 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 from $78 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 primarily as a result of incremental revenues from OnDemand, DVR, and high-definition television services and rate adjustments. Average monthly revenue per analog video customer represents total quarterly revenue, divided by three, divided by the average number of analog video customers during the respective period.
Revenues by service offering were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 over 2006 | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | % of Revenues | Revenues | % of Revenues | Change | % Change | ||||||||||||||
Video | $ | 838 | 59 | % | $ | 831 | 63 | % | $ | 7 | 1 | % | |||||||
High-speed Internet | 296 | 21 | % | 245 | 19 | % | 51 | 21 | % | ||||||||||
Telephone | 63 | 4 | % | 20 | 1 | % | 43 | 215 | % | ||||||||||
Advertising sales | 63 | 4 | % | 68 | 5 | % | (5 | ) | (7 | %) | |||||||||
Commercial | 81 | 6 | % | 73 | 6 | % | 8 | 11 | % | ||||||||||
Other | 84 | 6 | % | 83 | 6 | % | 1 | 1 | % | ||||||||||
$ | 1,425 | 100 | % | $ | 1,320 | 100 | % | $ | 105 | 8 | % |
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Video revenues consist primarily of revenues from analog and digital video services provided to our non-commercial customers. Analog video customers decreased by 255,900 customers from March 31, 2006, 192,700 of which was related to asset sales, compared to March 31, 2007, while digital video customers increased by 116,400, offset by a loss of 62,900 customers related to asset sales. The increase in video revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
2007 compared to 2006 Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
Rate adjustments and incremental video services | $ | 23 | ||
Increase in digital video customers | 16 | |||
Decrease in analog video customers | (10 | ) | ||
System sales | (22 | ) | ||
$ | 7 |
High-speed Internet customers grew by 285,600 customers, offset by a loss of 37,200 customers related to asset sales, from March 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007. The increase in high-speed Internet revenues from our non-commercial customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
2007 compared to 2006 Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
Increase in high-speed Internet customers | $ | 37 | ||
Price increases | 18 | |||
System sales | (4 | ) | ||
$ | 51 |
Revenues from telephone services increased primarily as a result of an increase of 381,500 telephone customers from March 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007.
Advertising sales revenues consist primarily of revenues from commercial advertising customers, programmers and other vendors. Advertising sales revenues decreased primarily as a result of a decrease in national advertising sales. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, we received $4 million and $6 million, respectively, in advertising sales revenues from programmers.
Commercial revenues consist primarily of revenues from cable video and high-speed Internet services provided to our commercial customers. Commercial revenues increased primarily as a result of an increase in commercial high-speed Internet revenues offset by a decrease of $3 million related to asset sales.
Other revenues consist of revenues from franchise fees, equipment rental, customer installations, home shopping, dial-up Internet service, late payment fees, wire maintenance fees and other miscellaneous revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, franchise fees represented approximately 51% and 53%, respectively, of total other revenues. The increase in other revenues was primarily the result of increases in wire maintenance fees.
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Operating expenses. The increase in operating expenses is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
2007 compared to 2006 Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
Programming costs | $ | 28 | ||
Costs of providing high-speed Internet and telephone services | 9 | |||
Maintenance costs | 4 | |||
Advertising sales costs | 2 | |||
Other, net | 1 | |||
System sales | (18 | ) | ||
$ | 26 |
Programming costs were approximately $393 million and $376 million, representing 62% of total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for analog, premium, digital, OnDemand, and pay-per-view programming. The increase in programming costs is primarily a result of contractual rate increases. Programming costs were offset by the amortization of payments received from programmers in support of launches of new channels of $5 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. We expect programming expenses to continue to increase due to a variety of factors, including annual increases imposed by programmers, and additional programming, including high-definition and OnDemand programming, being provided to customers.
Selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
2007 compared to 2006 Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
Customer care costs | $ | 18 | ||
Marketing costs | 18 | |||
Employee costs | 7 | |||
Professional service costs | (8 | ) | ||
Other, net | 1 | |||
System sales | (5 | ) | ||
$ | 31 |
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $19 million and was primarily the result of systems sales and certain assets becoming fully depreciated.
Asset impairment charges. Asset impairment charges for the three months ended March 31, 2006 represent the write-down of assets related to cable asset sales to fair value less costs to sell. See Note 3 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”
Other operating expenses, net. The increase in other operating expenses, net is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
2007 compared to 2006 | ||||
Increase in losses on sales of assets | $ | 3 | ||
Decrease in special charges, net | (2 | ) | ||
$ | 1 |
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For more information, see Note 10 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”
Interest expense, net. Net interest expense increased by $4 million, which was a result of an increase in our average debt outstanding from $18.6 billion for the first quarter of 2006 to $18.8 billion for the first quarter of 2007. Our average borrowing rate decreased from 9.6% in the first quarter of 2006 to 9.5% in the first quarter of 2007.
Other income (expense), net. The change in other income (expense), net is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):
2007 compared to 2006 | ||||
Decrease in gain on derivative instruments and hedging activities, net | $ | (9 | ) | |
Increase in loss on extinguishment of debt | (1 | ) | ||
Increase in minority interest | (2 | ) | ||
Decrease in loss on investments | 1 | |||
Other, net | (3 | ) | ||
$ | (14 | ) |
For more information, see Note 11 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”
Income tax expense. Income tax expense was recognized through increases in deferred tax liabilities and current federal and state income tax expenses of our indirect corporate subsidiaries.
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax. Income from discontinued operations, net of tax decreased in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the first quarter of 2006 due to the sale of the West Virginia and Virginia systems in July 2006. For more information, see Note 3 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”
Net loss. The impact to net loss in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 of asset impairment charges and extinguishment of debt, was to increase net loss by approximately $1 million and $99 million, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Introduction
This section contains a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including a discussion of our cash position, sources and uses of cash, access to credit facilities and other financing sources, historical financing activities, cash needs, capital expenditures and outstanding debt.
We have a significant level of debt. Our long-term financing as of March 31, 2007 consists of $5.6 billion of credit facility debt and $13.3 billion accreted value of high-yield notes. For the remaining three quarterly periods of 2007, $105 million of our debt matures, which was paid on April 2, 2007 upon maturity of Charter Holdings’ 8.250% senior notes. In 2008, $55 million of our debt matures, and in 2009, $469 million matures. Of the debt that was scheduled to mature in 2009, $187 million was subject to a call redemption that closed in April 2007, and $40 million was repurchased in a tender offer that closed in April 2007. In 2010 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become due under our remaining long-term debt obligations.
Our business requires significant cash to fund debt service costs, capital expenditures and ongoing operations. We have historically funded these requirements through cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities, equity contributions from Charter Holdco, sales of assets, issuances of debt securities and cash on hand. However, the mix of funding sources changes from period to period. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, we generated $266 million of net cash flows from operating activities after paying cash interest of $304 million. In addition, we used approximately $298 million for purchases of property, plant and equipment. Finally,
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we had net cash flows provided by financing activities of $201 million. We expect that our mix of sources of funds will continue to change in the future based on overall needs relative to our cash flow and on the availability of funds under our credit facilities, our and our parent companies’ access to the debt and equity markets, the timing of possible asset sales and our ability to generate cash flows from operating activities. We continue to explore asset dispositions as one of several possible actions that we could take in the future to improve our liquidity, but we do not presently believe future asset sales to be a significant source of liquidity.
We expect that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, and the amounts available under our credit facilities will be adequate to meet our and our parent companies’ cash needs through 2008. We believe that cash flows from operating activities and amounts available under our credit facilities may not be sufficient to fund our operations and satisfy our and our parent companies’ interest and principal repayment obligations in 2009 and will not be sufficient to fund such needs in 2010 and beyond. We have been advised that Charter continues to work with its financial advisors concerning its approach to addressing liquidity, debt maturities and its overall balance sheet leverage.
Credit Facility Availability
Our ability to operate depends upon, among other things, our continued access to capital, including credit under the Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) credit facilities. The Charter Operating credit facilities, along with our indentures and the CCO Holdings, LLC (“CCO Holdings”) credit facilities, contain certain restrictive covenants, some of which require us to maintain specified leverage ratios and meet financial tests and to provide annual audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion from our independent auditors. As of March 31, 2007, we are in compliance with the covenants under our indentures and credit facilities, and we expect to remain in compliance with those covenants for the next twelve months. As of March 31, 2007, our potential availability under our revolving credit facility totaled approximately $1.4 billion, none of which was limited by covenant restrictions. Continued access to our credit facilities is subject to our remaining in compliance with these covenants, including covenants tied to our leverage ratio. If any events of non-compliance occur, funding under the credit facilities may not be available and defaults on some or potentially all of our debt obligations could occur. An event of default under any of our debt instruments could result in the acceleration of our payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in cross-defaults under our other debt obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Parent Company Debt Obligations
Any financial or liquidity problems of our parent companies could cause serious disruption to our business and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Limitations on Distributions
As long as Charter’s convertible notes remain outstanding and are not otherwise converted into shares of common stock, Charter must pay interest on the convertible senior notes and repay the principal amount in November 2009. Charter’s ability to make interest payments on its convertible senior notes, and, in 2009, to repay the outstanding principal of its convertible senior notes of $413 million, net of $450 million of convertible senior notes held by CCHC, will depend on its ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or distributions from Charter Holdco and its subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2007, Charter Holdco was owed $4 million in intercompany loans from its subsidiaries and had $8 million in cash, which were available to pay interest and principal on Charter's convertible senior notes. In addition, Charter has $50 million of U.S. government securities pledged as security for the semi-annual interest payments on Charter’s convertible senior notes scheduled in 2007. As long as CCHC continues to hold the $450 million of Charter’s convertible senior notes, CCHC will receive interest payments from the government securities pledged for the convertible senior notes. The cumulative amount of interest payments expected to be received by CCHC is $40 million and may be available to be distributed to pay semiannual interest due in 2008 and May 2009 on the outstanding principal amount of $413 million of Charter’s convertible senior notes, although CCHC may use those amounts for other purposes.
Distributions by Charter’s subsidiaries to a parent company (including Charter, Charter Holdco, CCHC, and Charter Holdings) for payment of principal on parent company notes, are restricted under the indentures governing the CCH I Holdings, LLC (“CIH”) notes, CCH I, LLC (“CCH I”) notes, CCH II, LLC (“CCH II”) notes, CCO Holdings notes, and Charter Operating notes and under the CCO Holdings credit facilities unless there is no default under the
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applicable indenture and credit facilities, and each applicable subsidiary’s leverage ratio test is met at the time of such distribution. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, there was no default under any of these indentures or credit facilities. However, certain of our subsidiaries did not meet their applicable leverage ratio tests based on March 31, 2007 financial results. As a result, distributions from certain of our subsidiaries to their parent companies would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be restricted unless those tests are met. Distributions by Charter Operating for payment of principal on parent company notes are further restricted by the covenants in its credit facilities.
Distributions by CIH, CCH I, CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating to a parent company for payment of parent company interest are permitted if there is no default under the aforementioned indentures and CCO Holdings Credit facilities.
The indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on Charter’s convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the distribution, Charter Holdings can incur additional debt under the leverage ratio of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures, and other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, there was no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures and the other specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings did not meet the leverage ratio test of 8.75 to 1.0 based on March 31, 2007 financial results. As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter Holdco would have been restricted at such time and will continue to be restricted unless that test is met. During periods in which distributions are restricted, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments (that are not restricted payments) in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the indentures.
In addition to the limitation on distributions under the various indentures discussed above, distributions by our subsidiaries may be limited by applicable law. See “Risk Factors — Because of our holding company structure, our outstanding notes are structurally subordinated in right of payment to all liabilities of our subsidiaries. Restrictions in our subsidiaries’ debt instruments and under applicable law limit their ability to provide funds to us or our various debt issuers.”
Access to Capital
Our significant amount of debt could negatively affect our ability to access additional capital in the future. Additionally, our ability to incur additional debt may be limited by the restrictive covenants in our indentures and credit facilities. No assurances can be given that we will not experience liquidity problems if we do not obtain sufficient additional financing on a timely basis as our debt becomes due or because of adverse market conditions, increased competition or other unfavorable events. If, at any time, additional capital or borrowing capacity is required beyond amounts internally generated or available under our credit facilities or through additional debt or equity financings, we would consider:
• | issuing equity at the Charter or Charter Holdco level, the proceeds of which could be loaned or contributed to us; | |
• | issuing debt securities that may have structural or other priority over our existing notes; | |
• | further reducing our expenses and capital expenditures, which may impair our ability to increase revenue and grow operating cash flows; | |
• | selling assets; or | |
• | requesting waivers or amendments with respect to our credit facilities, which may not be available on acceptable terms; and cannot be assured. |
If the above strategies are not successful, we could be forced to restructure our obligations or seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In addition, if we find it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar transaction, our noteholders might not receive principal and interest payments to which they are contractually entitled.
Recent Financing Transactions
On March 6, 2007, Charter Operating entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among Charter Operating, CCO Holdings, the several lenders from time to time that are parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other agents (the “Charter Operating Credit Agreement”).
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The Charter Operating Credit Agreement provides for a $1.5 billion senior secured revolving line of credit, a continuation of the existing $5.0 billion term loan facility (which was refinanced with new term loans in April 2007), and a $1.5 billion new term loan facility (the “New Term Loan”) which was funded in March and April 2007. Borrowings under the Charter Operating Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on either LIBOR or a base rate, plus in either case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin for LIBOR loans under the New Term Loan and revolving loans is 2.00% above LIBOR. The revolving line of credit commitments terminate on March 6, 2013. The Existing Term Loan and the New Term Loan are subject to amortization at 1% of their initial principal amount per annum. The New Term Loan amortization commences on March 31, 2008. The remaining principal amount of the New Term Loan will be due on March 6, 2014.
The terms of the Existing Term Loan have been amended effective March 6, 2007. The refinancing of the $5.0 billion Existing Term Loan with new term loans (“Replacement Existing Term Loan”) was permitted under the Charter Operating Credit Agreement and occurred in April 2007, with pricing (LIBOR plus 2.00%) and amortization profile of the Replacement Existing Term Loan matching the New Term Loan described above. The Charter Operating Credit Agreement contains financial covenants requiring Charter Operating to maintain a quarterly consolidated leverage ratio not to exceed 5 to 1 and a first lien leverage ratio not to exceed 4 to 1.
On March 6, 2007, CCO Holdings entered into a credit agreement among CCO Holdings, the several lenders from time to time that are parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain other agents (the “CCO Holdings Credit Agreement”). The CCO Holdings Credit Agreement consists of a $350 million term loan facility (the “Term Facility”). The term loan matures on September 6, 2014 (the “Maturity Date”). The CCO Holdings Credit Agreement also provides for additional incremental term loans (the “Incremental Loans”) maturing on the dates set forth in the notices establishing such term loans, but no earlier than the Maturity Date. Borrowings under the CCO Holdings Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on either LIBOR or a base rate plus, in either case, an applicable margin. The applicable margin for LIBOR term loans, other than Incremental Loans, is 2.50% above LIBOR. The applicable margin with respect to Incremental Loans is to be agreed upon by CCO Holdings and the lenders when the Incremental Loans are established. The CCO Holdings Credit Agreement is secured by the equity interests of Charter Operating, and all proceeds thereof.
We used a portion of the additional proceeds from the Charter Operating Credit Agreement and CCO Holdings Credit Agreement to redeem $550 million of CCO Holdings’ outstanding floating rate notes due 2010, to redeem approximately $187 million of Charter Holdings’ outstanding 8.625% senior notes due 2009, to fund the purchase of notes in a tender offer for total consideration (including premiums and accrued interest) of $100 million of certain Charter Holdings’ notes outstanding at Charter Holdings, and to repay $105 million of Charter Holdings’ notes maturing in April 2007. The remainder will be used for other general corporate purposes.
Historical Operating, Financing and Investing Activities
Our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2006 include the cash flows related to our discontinued operations.
We held $184 million in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2007, of which $110 million was held by the trustee and restricted for payment of bonds due April 1, 2007, compared to $38 million as of December 31, 2006. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, we generated $266 million of net cash flows from operating activities after paying cash interest of $304 million. In addition, we used approximately $298 million for purchases of property, plant and equipment. Finally, we had net cash flows provided by financing activities of $201 million.
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $61 million, or 30%, from $205 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to $266 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, net cash provided by operating activities increased primarily as a result of revenues increasing at a faster rate than cash expenses and changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided $76 million more cash during the three months ended March 31, 2007 than the corresponding period in 2006, offset by an increase of $43 million in interest on cash pay obligations during the same period.
Investing Activities. Net cash used by investing activities was $321 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to net cash used by investing activities of $276 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006, which was primarily related to an increase in purchases of property, plant, and equipment.
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Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $201 million and $86 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in cash provided during the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to the corresponding period in 2006, was primarily the result of increased borrowings of long-term debt and a decrease in repayments.
Capital Expenditures
We have significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements. Capital expenditures were $298 million and $241 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Capital expenditures increased as a result of increased spending on customer premise equipment to meet increased customer growth and increases in scalable infrastructure as a result of high-speed data network upgrades and telephone headend equipment. See the table below for more details.
Our capital expenditures are funded primarily from cash flows from operating activities, the issuance of debt and borrowings under credit facilities. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, our liabilities related to capital expenditures decreased $32 million and $7 million, respectively.
During 2007, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $1.2 billion. We expect that the nature of these expenditures will continue to be composed primarily of purchases of customer premise equipment related to telephone and other advanced services, support capital and for scalable infrastructure costs. We have and expect to continue to fund capital expenditures for 2007 primarily from cash flows from operating activities and borrowings under our credit facilities.
We have adopted capital expenditure disclosure guidance, which was developed by eleven publicly traded cable system operators, including us, with the support of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association ("NCTA"). The disclosure is intended to provide more consistency in the reporting of operating statistics in capital expenditures and customers among peer companies in the cable industry. These disclosure guidelines are not required disclosure under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), nor do they impact our accounting for capital expenditures under GAAP.
The following table presents our major capital expenditures categories in accordance with NCTA disclosure guidelines for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||
Customer premise equipment (a) | $ | 161 | $ | 130 | |||
Scalable infrastructure (b) | 49 | 34 | |||||
Line extensions (c) | 24 | 26 | |||||
Upgrade/Rebuild (d) | 12 | 9 | |||||
Support capital (e) | 52 | 42 | |||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 298 | $ | 241 |
(a) | Customer premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer residence to secure new customers, revenue units and additional bandwidth revenues. It also includes customer installation costs in accordance with SFAS No. 51, Financial Reporting by Cable Television Companies, and customer premise equipment (e.g., set-top terminals and cable modems, etc.). |
(b) | Scalable infrastructure includes costs, not related to customer premise equipment or our network, to secure growth of new customers, revenue units and additional bandwidth revenues or provide service enhancements (e.g., headend equipment). |
(c) | Line extensions include network costs associated with entering new service areas (e.g., fiber/coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment, make-ready and design engineering). |
(d) | Upgrade/rebuild includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks, including betterments. |
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(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). |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this quarterly report. The evaluation was based in part upon reports and certifications provided by a number of executives. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the above evaluation, our management believes that our controls provide such reasonable assurances.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.
We and our parent companies are defendants or co-defendants in several unrelated lawsuits claiming infringement of various patents relating to various aspects of our businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases, and, in many cases, we expect that any potential liability would be the responsibility of our equipment vendors pursuant to applicable contractual indemnification provisions. In the event that a court ultimately determines that we infringe on any intellectual property rights, we may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require us or our vendors to modify certain products and services we offer to our subscribers. While we believe the lawsuits are without merit and intend to defend the actions vigorously, the lawsuits could be material to our consolidated results of operations of any one period, and no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
We and our parent companies are party to other lawsuits and claims that arise in the ordinary course of conducting our business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against us or our subsidiaries cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 includes “Risk Factors” under Item 1A of Part I. Except for the updated risk factors described below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors described in our Form 10-K. The information below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in our Form 10-K.
Risks Related to Significant Indebtedness of Us and Our Subsidiaries
We and our parent companies have a significant amount of existing debt and may incur significant additional debt, including secured debt, in the future, which could adversely affect our and our parent companies’ financial health and our and their ability to react to changes in our business.
We and our parent companies have a significant amount of debt and may (subject to applicable restrictions in their debt instruments) incur additional debt in the future. As of March 31, 2007, our total debt was approximately $18.9 billion, our member’s deficit was approximately $5.9 billion and the deficiency of earnings to cover fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $300 million.
As of March 31, 2007, approximately $413 million aggregate principal amount of Charter’s convertible notes were outstanding, which matures in 2009. Charter will need to raise additional capital and/or receive distributions or payments from its subsidiaries in order to satisfy this debt obligation. An additional $450 million aggregate principal amount of Charter’s convertible notes was held by CCHC.
Because of its and our significant indebtedness, the ability of Charter and our ability to raise additional capital at reasonable rates or at all is uncertain, and the ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions or payments to us and our parent companies is subject to availability of funds and restrictions under our and our subsidiaries’ applicable debt instruments and under applicable law. If we find it necessary to engage in a recapitalization or other similar transaction, our noteholders might not receive principal and interest payments to which they are contractually entitled.
Our and our parent companies’ significant amount of debt could have other important consequences. For example, the debt will or could:
· | require us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operating activities to make payments on our and our parent companies’ debt, which will reduce our funds available for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate expenses; |
· | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, the cable and telecommunications industries and the economy at large; |
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· | place us at a disadvantage as compared to our competitors that have proportionately less debt; |
· | make us vulnerable to interest rate increases, because approximately 15% of our borrowings are, and will continue to be, at variable rates of interest; |
· | expose us to increased interest expense as we refinance existing lower interest rate instruments; |
· | adversely affect our relationship with customers and suppliers; |
· | limit our and our parent companies’ ability to borrow additional funds in the future, due to applicable financial and restrictive covenants in our debt; |
· | make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to the holders of our notes and to the lenders under our credit facilities as well as our parent companies’ ability to satisfy their obligations to their noteholders; and |
· | limit future increases in the value, or cause a decline in the value of Charter’s equity, which could limit Charter’s ability to raise additional capital by issuing equity. |
A default by us or one of our parent companies under our and their debt obligations could result in the acceleration of those obligations, which in turn could trigger cross defaults under other agreements governing our and our parent companies’ long-term indebtedness. In addition, the secured lenders under our credit facilities and the holders of the Charter Operating senior second-lien notes could foreclose on their collateral, which includes equity interest in our subsidiaries, and exercise other rights of secured creditors. Any default under those credit facilities or the indentures governing Charter’s convertible notes or our and our parent companies’ debt could adversely affect our growth, our financial condition, our results of operations, and our ability to make payments on our convertible notes, our credit facilities, and other debt of our subsidiaries, and could force us to seek the protection of the bankruptcy laws. We and our parent companies may incur significant additional debt in the future. If current debt levels increase, the related risks that we now face will intensify.
We may not be able to access funds under the Charter Operating credit facilities if we fail to satisfy the covenant restrictions in such credit facilities, which could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to conduct our business.
We have historically relied on access to credit facilities in order to fund operations and to service parent company debt, and we expect such reliance to continue in the future. Our total potential borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility was approximately $1.4 billion as of March 31, 2007, none of which is limited by covenant restrictions. There can be no assurance that our actual availability under our credit facilities will not be limited by covenant restrictions in the future.
One of the conditions to the availability of funding under our credit facilities is the absence of a default under such facilities, including as a result of any failure to comply with the covenants under the facilities. Among other covenants, the Charter Operating credit facilities require us to maintain specific leverage ratios. The Charter Operating credit facilities also provide that Charter Operating has to obtain an unqualified audit opinion from its independent accountants for each fiscal year. There can be no assurance that Charter Operating will be able to continue to comply with these or any other of the covenants under the credit facilities.
An event of default under the credit facilities or indentures, if not waived, could result in the acceleration of those debt obligations and, consequently, could trigger cross defaults under other agreements governing our and our parent companies’ long-term indebtedness. In addition, the secured lenders under the Charter Operating credit facilities and the holders of the Charter Operating senior second-lien notes could foreclose on their collateral, which includes equity interest in our subsidiaries, and exercise other rights of secured creditors. Any default under those credit facilities or the indentures governing our or our parent companies’ debt could adversely affect our growth, our financial condition, our results of operations, and our ability to make payments on our convertible notes, our credit facilities, and other debt of our subsidiaries, and could force us to seek the protection of the bankruptcy laws, which could materially adversely impact our ability to operate our business and to make payments under our debt instruments.
We depend on generating sufficient cash flow and having access to additional external liquidity sources to fund our and our parent companies’ debt obligations, capital expenditures, and ongoing operations.
Our ability to service our and our parent companies’ debt and to fund our planned capital expenditures and ongoing operations will depend on both our and our parent
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companies’ ability to generate cash flow and our and our parent companies’ access to additional external liquidity sources. Our and our parent companies’ ability to generate cash flow is dependent on many factors, including:
· | competition from other distributors, including incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite operators, wireless broadband providers and DSL providers; |
· | unforeseen difficulties we may encounter in our continued introduction of our telephone services such as our ability to meet heightened customer expectations for the reliability of voice services compared to other services we provide, and our ability to meet heightened demand for installations and customer service; |
· | our ability to sustain and grow revenues by offering video, high-speed Internet, telephone and other services, and to maintain and grow a stable customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition from other service providers; |
· | our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to pass programming cost increases on to our customers; |
· | general business conditions, economic uncertainty or slowdown; and |
· | the effects of governmental regulation, including but not limited to local franchise authorities, on our business. |
Some of these factors are beyond our control. If we and our parent companies are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or access additional external liquidity sources, we and our parent companies may not be able to service and repay our and our parent companies’ debt, operate our business, respond to competitive challenges, or fund our and our parent companies’ other liquidity and capital needs. Although we and our parent companies have been able to raise funds through issuances of debt in the past, we may not be able to access additional sources of external liquidity on similar terms, if at all. We expect that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, and the amounts available under our credit facilities will be adequate to meet our and our parent companies’ cash needs through 2008. We believe that cash flows from operating activities and amounts available under our credit facilities may not be sufficient to fund our operations and satisfy our and our parent companies’ interest and principal repayment obligations in 2009 and will not be sufficient to fund such needs in 2010 and beyond. See “Part I. Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Because of our holding company structure, our outstanding notes are structurally subordinated in right of payment to all liabilities of our subsidiaries. Restrictions in our subsidiaries’ debt instruments and under applicable law limit their ability to provide funds to us or our various parent companies who are debt issuers.
Our primary assets are our equity interests in our subsidiaries. Our operating subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and are not obligated to make funds available to us for payments on our notes or other obligations in the form of loans, distributions or otherwise. Our subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions to us is subject to their compliance with the terms of their credit facilities and indentures and restrictions under applicable law. Under the Delaware limited liability company act, our subsidiaries may only make distributions to us if they have “surplus” as defined in the act. Under fraudulent transfer laws, our subsidiaries may not make distributions to us or the applicable debt issuers to service debt obligations if they are insolvent or are rendered insolvent thereby. The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, an entity would be considered insolvent if:
· | the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets; |
· | the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they became absolute and mature; or |
· | it could not pay its debts as they became due. |
While we believe that our relevant subsidiaries currently have surplus and are not insolvent, there can be no assurance that these subsidiaries will be permitted to make distributions in the future in compliance with these restrictions in amounts needed to service our indebtedness. Our direct or indirect subsidiaries include the borrowers and guarantors under the Charter Operating and CCO Holdings credit facilities. Several of our subsidiaries are also obligors and guarantors under other senior high yield notes. As of March 31, 2007, our total debt was
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approximately $18.9 billion, of which approximately $17.9 billion was structurally senior to the Charter Holdings notes.
In the event of bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of one or more of our subsidiaries, that subsidiary’s assets would first be applied to satisfy its own obligations, and following such payments, such subsidiary may not have sufficient assets remaining to make payments to us as an equity holder or otherwise. In that event:
· | the lenders under Charter Operating’s credit facilities whose interests are secured by substantially all of our operating assets, will have the right to be paid in full before us from any of our subsidiaries’ assets; and |
· | the holders of preferred membership interests in our subsidiary, CC VIII, would have a claim on a portion of its assets that may reduce the amounts available for repayment to holders of our outstanding notes. |
Risks Related to Regulatory and Legislative Matters
Our cable system franchises are non-exclusive. Accordingly, local franchising authorities can grant additional franchises and create competition in market areas where none existed previously, resulting in overbuilds, which could adversely affect results of operations.
Our cable system franchises are non-exclusive. Consequently, local franchising authorities can grant additional franchises to competitors in the same geographic area or operate their own cable systems. In addition, certain telephone companies are seeking authority to operate in local communities without first obtaining a local franchise. As a result, competing operators may build systems in areas in which we hold franchises. In some cases municipal utilities may legally compete with us without obtaining a franchise from the local franchising authority.
Legislative proposals have been introduced in the United States Congress and in state legislatures that would greatly streamline cable franchising. This legislation is intended to facilitate entry by new competitors, particularly local telephone companies. Such legislation has passed in numerous states, including states where we have significant operations. Although most of these states have provided some regulatory relief for incumbent cable operators, some of these proposals are generally viewed as being more favorable to new entrants due to a number of factors, including efforts to withhold streamlined cable franchising from incumbents until after the expiration of their existing franchises, and the potential for new entrants to serve only higher-income areas of a particular community. To the extent incumbent cable operators are not able to avail themselves of this streamlined franchising process, such operators may continue to be subject to more onerous franchise requirements at the local level than new entrants. In March 2007, the FCC released a ruling designed to streamline competitive cable franchising. Among other things, the FCC prohibited local franchising authorities from imposing “unreasonable” build-out requirements and established a mechanism whereby competing providers can secure “interim authority” to offer cable service if the local franchising authority has not acted on a franchise application within 90 days (in the case of competitors with existing right of way authority) or 180 days (in the case of competitors without existing right of way authority). Local regulators have appealed the FCC’s ruling.
The existence of more than one cable system operating in the same territory is referred to as an overbuild. These overbuilds could adversely affect our growth, financial condition and results of operations by creating or increasing competition. As of March 31, 2007, we are aware of traditional overbuild situations impacting approximately 9% of our estimated homes passed, and potential traditional overbuild situations in areas servicing approximately an additional 4% of our estimated homes passed. Additional overbuild situations may occur in other systems.
We may be required to provide access to our networks to other Internet service providers which could significantly increase our competition and adversely affect our ability to provide new products and services.
A number of companies, including independent Internet service providers, or ISPs, have requested local authorities and the FCC to require cable operators to provide non-discriminatory access to cable’s broadband infrastructure, so that these companies may deliver Internet services directly to customers over cable facilities. In a 2005 ruling, commonly referred to as Brand X, the Supreme Court upheld an FCC decision making it less likely that any nondiscriminatory “open access” requirements (which are generally associated with common carrier regulation of “telecommunications services”) will be imposed on the cable industry by local, state or federal authorities. The Supreme Court held that the FCC was correct in classifying cable provided Internet service as an “information service,” rather than a “telecommunications service.” Notwithstanding Brand X, there has been increasing advocacy by certain Internet content providers and consumer groups for new federal laws or regulations to adopt so-called
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“net neutrality” principles limiting the ability of broadband network owners (like us) to manage and control their own networks. The proposals might prevent network owners, for example, from charging bandwidth intensive content providers, such as certain online gaming, music, and video service providers, an additional fee to ensure quality delivery of the services to consumers. If we were required to allocate a portion of our bandwidth capacity to other Internet service providers, or were prohibited from charging heavy bandwidth intensive services a fee for use of our networks, we believe that it could impair our ability to use our bandwidth in ways that would generate maximum revenues. In April 2007, the FCC issued a notice of inquiry regarding the marketing practices of broadband providers as a precursor to considering the need for any FCC regulation of internet service providers.
Changes in channel carriage regulations could impose significant additional costs on us.
Cable operators also face significant regulation of their channel carriage. They currently can be required to devote substantial capacity to the carriage of programming that they might not carry voluntarily, including certain local broadcast signals, local public, educational and government access programming, and unaffiliated commercial leased access programming. This carriage burden could increase in the future, particularly if cable systems were required to carry both the analog and digital versions of local broadcast signals (dual carriage) or to carry multiple program streams included with a single digital broadcast transmission (multicast carriage). Additional government-mandated broadcast carriage obligations could disrupt existing programming commitments, interfere with our preferred use of limited channel capacity and limit our ability to offer services that would maximize customer appeal and revenue potential. Although the FCC issued a decision in February 2005, confirming an earlier ruling against mandating either dual carriage or multicast carriage, that decision is subject to a petition for reconsideration which is pending. In addition, the FCC could reverse its own ruling or Congress could legislate additional carriage obligations. The FCC is in the process of initiating a new rulemaking to explore the cable industry’s carriage obligations once the broadcast industry transition from analog to digital transmission is completed in February 2009. It is possible that the FCC will rule in favor of dual carriage and/or multicast carriage in certain circumstances.
The index to the exhibits begins on page E-1 of this quarterly report.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation have duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
Registrant
By: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC., Sole Manager
Dated: May 15, 2007 | By: /s/ Kevin D. Howard | |
Name: | Kevin D. Howard | |
Title: | Vice President and | |
Chief Accounting Officer |
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS CAPITAL CORPORATION
Registrant
Dated: May 15, 2007 | By: /s/ Kevin D. Howard | |
Name: | Kevin D. Howard | |
Title: | Vice President and | |
Chief Accounting Officer |
S-1
Exhibit Number | Description of Document | |
3.1 | Certificate of Formation of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form S-4 of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation filed on June 22, 1999 (File No. 333-77499)). | |
3.2 | Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement for Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, dated as of October 31, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
3.3 | Certificate of Incorporation of Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form S-4 of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation filed on June 22, 1999 (File No. 333-77499)). | |
3.4(a) | By-laws of Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form S-4 of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation filed on June 22, 1999 (File No. 333-77499)). | |
3.4(b) | Amendment to By-Laws of Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation, dated as of October 30, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4(b) to the annual report on Form 10-K of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation on March 29, 2002 (File No. 333-77499)). | |
10.1 | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2007, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, CCO Holdings, LLC, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on March 9, 2007 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.2 | Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement made by CCO Holdings, LLC, Charter Communications Operating, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ,as administrative agent, dated as of March 18, 1999, as amended and restated as of March 6, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on March 9, 2007 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.3 | Credit Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2007, among CCO Holdings, LLC, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on March 9, 2007 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.4 | Pledge Agreement made by CCO Holdings, LLC in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Collateral Agent, dated as of March 6, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on March 9, 2007 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
10.5+ | Separation Agreement and Release for Sue Ann R. Hamilton (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the current report on Form 8-K of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on March 14, 2007 (File No. 000-27927)). | |
12.1* | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | |
31.1* | Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |
31.2* | Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. | |
32.1* | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive Officer). | |
32.2* | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Financial Officer). |
* Document attached
+ Management compensatory plan or arrangement
E-1