CCI Form 8-K
 



 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 FORM 8-K

 
Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 31, 2005
 
 
 
Charter Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
 
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 
 
000-27927
 
43-1857213
 (Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

12405 Powerscourt Drive
St. Louis, Missouri   63131
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code) 

(314) 965-0555
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 

Not Applicable 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 


 


ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

As part of the acquisition of the cable systems owned by Bresnan Communications Company Limited Partnership in February 2000, CC VIII, LLC ("CC VIII"), Charter Communications, Inc.'s ("Charter") indirect limited liability company subsidiary, issued, after adjustments, 24,273,943 Class A preferred membership units (collectively the "CC VIII interest") with a value and an initial capital account of approximately $630 million to certain sellers affiliated with AT&T Broadband, subsequently owned by Comcast Corporation (the "Comcast sellers"). While held by the Comcast sellers, the CC VIII interest was entitled to a 2% priority return on its initial capital account and such priority return was entitled to preferential distributions from available cash and upon liquidation of CC VIII. While held by the Comcast sellers, the CC VIII interest generally did not share in the profits and losses of CC VIII. Mr. Allen granted the Comcast sellers the right to sell to him the CC VIII interest for approximately $630 million plus 4.5% interest annually from February 2000 (the "Comcast put right"). In April 2002, the Comcast sellers exercised the Comcast put right in full, and this transaction was consummated on June 6, 2003. Accordingly, Mr. Allen, indirectly through a company controlled by him, Charter Investment, Inc. ("CII"), became the holder of the CC VIII interest. Consequently, subject to the matters referenced in the next paragraph, Mr. Allen generally thereafter has been allocated his pro rata share (based on number of membership interests outstanding) of profits or losses of CC VIII. In the event of a liquidation of CC VIII, Mr. Allen would be entitled to a priority distribution with respect to the 2% priority return (which will continue to accrete). Any remaining distributions in liquidation would be distributed to CC V Holdings, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Charter ("CC V"), and Mr. Allen in proportion to CC V's capital account and Mr. Allen's capital account (which will equal the initial capital account of the Comcast sellers of approximately $630 million, increased or decreased by Mr. Allen's pro rata share of CC VIII's profits or losses (as computed for capital account purposes) after June 6, 2003).  The limited liability company agreement of CC VIII does not provide for a mandatory redemption of the CC VIII interest.
 
An issue arose as to whether the documentation for the Bresnan transaction was correct and complete with regard to the ultimate ownership of the CC VIII interest following consummation of the Comcast put right. Specifically, under the terms of the Bresnan transaction documents that were entered into in June 1999, the Comcast sellers originally would have received, after adjustments, 24,273,943 Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC ("Charter Holdco") membership units, but due to an FCC regulatory issue raised by the Comcast sellers shortly before closing, the Bresnan transaction was modified to provide that the Comcast sellers instead would receive the preferred equity interests in CC VIII represented by the CC VIII interest. As part of the last-minute changes to the Bresnan transaction documents, a draft amended version of the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement was prepared, and contract provisions were drafted for that agreement that would have required an automatic exchange of the CC VIII interest for 24,273,943 Charter Holdco membership units if the Comcast sellers exercised the Comcast put right and sold the CC VIII interest to Mr. Allen or his affiliates. However, the provisions that would have required this automatic exchange did not appear in the final version of the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement that was delivered and executed at the closing of the Bresnan transaction. The law firm that prepared the documents for the Bresnan transaction brought this matter to the attention of Charter and representatives of Mr. Allen in 2002.
 
Thereafter, the board of directors of Charter formed a Special Committee (currently comprised of Messrs. Merritt, Tory and Wangberg) to investigate the matter and take any other appropriate action on behalf of Charter with respect to this matter. After conducting an investigation of the relevant facts and circumstances, the Special Committee determined that a "scrivener's error" had occurred in February 2000 in connection with the preparation of the last-minute revisions to the Bresnan transaction documents and that, as a result, Charter should seek reformation of the Charter Holdco limited liability company agreement, or alternative relief, in order to restore and ensure the obligation that the CC VIII interest be automatically exchanged for Charter Holdco units. The Special Committee further determined that, as part of such contract reformation or alternative relief, Mr. Allen should be required to contribute the CC VIII interest to Charter Holdco in exchange for 24,273,943 Charter Holdco membership units. The Special Committee also recommended to the board of directors of Charter that, to the extent contract reformation were achieved, the board of directors should consider whether the CC VIII interest should ultimately be held by Charter Holdco or Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") or another entity owned directly or indirectly by them.
 
Mr. Allen disagreed with the Special Committee's determinations described above and so notified the Special Committee. Mr. Allen contended that the transaction was accurately reflected in the transaction documentation and contemporaneous and subsequent company public disclosures.
 
The parties engaged in a process of non-binding mediation to seek to resolve this matter, without success. The Special Committee evaluated what further actions or processes to undertake to resolve this dispute. To accommodate further deliberation, each party agreed to refrain from initiating legal proceedings over this matter until it had given at least ten days' prior notice to the other. In addition, the Special Committee and Mr. Allen determined to utilize the Delaware Court of Chancery's program for mediation of complex business disputes in an effort to resolve the CC VIII interest dispute.
 
As of October 31, 2005, Mr. Allen, the Special Committee, Charter, Charter Holdco and certain of their affiliates, having investigated the facts and circumstances relating to the dispute involving the CC VIII interest, after consultation with counsel and other advisors, and as a result of the Delaware Chancery Court's non-binding mediation program, agreed to settle the dispute, and execute certain permanent and irrevocable releases pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release agreement dated October 31, 2005 (the "Settlement"). 
 
Pursuant to the Settlement, CII has retained 30% of its CC VIII interest (the "Remaining Interests").  The Remaining Interests are subject to certain drag along, tag along and transfer restrictions as detailed in the revised CC VIII Limited Liability Company Agreement.  CII transferred the other 70% of the CC VIII interest directly and indirectly, through Charter Holdco, to a newly formed entity, CCHC, LLC (a direct subsidiary of Charter Holdco and the direct parent of Charter Holdings, "CCHC").  Of that other 70% of the CC VIII preferred interests, 7.4% has been transferred by CII for a subordinated exchangeable note of CCHC with an initial accreted value of $48.2 million, accreting at 14%, compounded quarterly, with a 15-year maturity (the "Note").  The remaining 62.6% has been transferred for no consideration.
 
As part of the Settlement, CC VIII issued approximately 49 million additional Class B units to CC V in consideration for prior capital contributions to CC VIII by CC V, with respect to transactions that were unrelated to the dispute in connection with CII's membership units in CC VIII. As a result, Mr. Allen's pro rata share of the profits and losses of CC VIII attributable to the Remaining Interests is approximately 5.6%.
 
The Note is exchangeable, at CII's option, at any time, for Charter Holdco Class A Common units at a rate equal to then accreted value, divided by $2.00 (the "Exchange Rate"). Customary anti-dilution protections have been provided that could cause future changes to the Exchange Rate. Additionally, the Charter Holdco Class A Common units received will be exchangeable by the holder into Charter common stock in accordance with existing agreements between CII, Charter and certain other parties signatory thereto. Beginning three years and four months after the closing of the Settlement, if the closing price of Charter common stock is at or above the Exchange Rate for a certain period of time as specified in the Exchange Agreement, Charter Holdco may require the exchange of the Note for Charter Holdco Class A Common units at the Exchange Rate.
 
CCHC has the right to redeem the Note under certain circumstances, for cash in an amount equal to the then accreted value. CCHC must redeem the Note at its maturity for cash in an amount equal to the initial stated value plus the accreted return through maturity.

The Board of Directors has determined that the transferred CC VIII interests remain at CCHC.

On November 3, 2005, the parties revised the Note to clarify certain provisions. The revised Note is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3.

ITEM 2.03. CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OR A REGISTRANT.

The information in Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference to this Item 2.03.
 
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
 
The following exhibit is filed pursuant to Item 1.01:
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
10.1
 
Settlement Agreement and Mutual Releases, dated as of October 31, 2005, by and among Charter Communications, Inc., Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Charter Communications, Inc., Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC, CCHC, LLC, CC VIII, LLC, CC V, LLC, Charter Investment, Inc., Vulcan Cable III LLC and Paul G. Allen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)).
10.2
 
Exchange Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2005, by and among Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC, Charter Investment, Inc. and Paul G. Allen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)).
10.3*
 
CCHC, LLC Subordinated and Accreting Note, dated as of October 31, 2005. (revised)
10.4
 
Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement for CC VIII, LLC, dated as of October 31, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)).
10.5
 
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)).


† Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.  The omitted portions of this document have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

* Filed herewith.
 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Charter Communications, Inc. has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Registrant

Dated: November 4, 2005

 
By:/s/ Kevin D. Howard
Name: Kevin D. Howard
Title: Vice President of Financial Reporting and Analysis







EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
10.1
 
Settlement Agreement and Mutual Releases, dated as of October 31, 2005, by and among Charter Communications, Inc., Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Charter Communications, Inc., Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC, CCHC, LLC, CC VIII, LLC, CC V, LLC, Charter Investment, Inc., Vulcan Cable III LLC and Paul G. Allen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)).
10.2
 
Exchange Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2005, by and among Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC, Charter Investment, Inc. and Paul G. Allen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)).
10.3*
 
CCHC, LLC Subordinated and Accreting Note, dated as of October 31, 2005. (revised)
10.4
 
Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement for CC VIII, LLC, dated as of October 31, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on November 2, 2005 (File No. 000-27927)).
10.5
 
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)).


† Portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.  The omitted portions of this document have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

* Filed herewith.