[PREM14A] Charter Comm Inc Del CL A New Preliminary Merger Proxy Statement
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") has filed a Preliminary Proxy Statement (Schedule 14A) dated June 18, 2025 seeking shareholder approval for a multi-step transaction with Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") and related governance changes.
Transaction structure – cash, equity & debt:
- Cox will sell to Charter 100% of subsidiaries that run Cox Communications’ commercial fiber and managed IT & cloud services businesses for $3.5 billion cash.
- Cox will contribute the remainder of Cox Communications’ residential cable assets to Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") for $500 million cash, $6.0 billion aggregate-liquidation-preference 6.875% convertible preferred units, and ~33.6 million Charter Holdings common units valued at the $353.64 reference price.
- Cox will pay Charter $1.00 and receive one share of a newly created Class C common stock carrying voting power equivalent to its as-converted/exchanged holdings.
- The combined entity will assume $12.6 billion of Cox Communications net debt.
The preferred units are initially convertible at $477.41 (a 35% premium to the reference price) into Charter Holdings common units, which themselves are exchangeable 1-for-1 into Charter Class A common stock (subject to adjustments).
Post-closing ownership: Based on Charter’s March 31, 2025 share count and assuming the contemporaneous Liberty Broadband merger, Cox is expected to hold roughly 23% of the combined company’s diluted shares outstanding on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis.
Governance & voting support: Liberty Broadband (≈28% voting power) and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12%) each entered separate voting agreements obligating them to vote in favor of (i) the share issuance, (ii) the Second Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation (which creates Class C shares and prescribes board-composition requirements), and (iii) any adjournment proposal, subject to limited carve-outs.
Shareholder meeting & proposals: At a special meeting (date and location TBD) Charter shareholders will be asked to approve: (1) the share issuance, (2) the certificate amendment creating Class C common stock, and (3) a non-binding advisory vote on the board-composition feature.
Economic implications highlighted in the filing:
- Total cash outlay to Cox: $4.0 billion.
- Securities issued: $6.0 billion preferred units with 6.875% dividend plus 33.6 million common units (potential dilution).
- Additional leverage: assumption of $12.6 billion net debt.
The Preliminary Proxy Statement is subject to completion and may be amended. No earnings data or quantified synergies are provided in this filing.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") ha presentato una Dichiarazione Preliminare di Procura (Schedule 14A) datata 18 giugno 2025 per ottenere l'approvazione degli azionisti riguardo a una transazione articolata con Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") e modifiche correlate alla governance.
Struttura della transazione – contanti, equity e debito:
- Cox venderà a Charter il 100% delle controllate che gestiscono le attività commerciali di fibra ottica e servizi IT & cloud gestiti di Cox Communications per 3,5 miliardi di dollari in contanti.
- Cox contribuirà con il resto degli asset residenziali via cavo di Cox Communications a Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") in cambio di 500 milioni di dollari in contanti, 6,0 miliardi di dollari in unità privilegiate convertibili con preferenza di liquidazione aggregata e dividendo 6,875% e circa 33,6 milioni di unità ordinarie di Charter Holdings valutate al prezzo di riferimento di 353,64 dollari.
- Cox pagherà a Charter 1,00 dollaro e riceverà una azione della nuova classe C di azioni ordinarie con potere di voto equivalente alle sue partecipazioni convertite/scambiate.
- L'entità combinata assumerà un debito netto di Cox Communications pari a 12,6 miliardi di dollari.
Le unità privilegiate sono inizialmente convertibili a 477,41 dollari (un premio del 35% rispetto al prezzo di riferimento) in unità ordinarie di Charter Holdings, che a loro volta sono scambiabili 1 a 1 con azioni ordinarie Classe A di Charter (soggette a rettifiche).
Proprietà post-chiusura: Basandosi sul numero di azioni di Charter al 31 marzo 2025 e assumendo la fusione contemporanea con Liberty Broadband, si prevede che Cox deterrà circa il 23% delle azioni diluite in circolazione della società combinata su base convertita/scambiata.
Governance e supporto al voto: Liberty Broadband (circa 28% del potere di voto) e Advance/Newhouse Partnership (circa 12%) hanno firmato accordi di voto separati impegnandosi a votare a favore di (i) emissione azionaria, (ii) la Seconda Modifica e Ristampa del Certificato di Incorporazione (che crea le azioni di Classe C e definisce requisiti di composizione del consiglio) e (iii) qualsiasi proposta di rinvio, con alcune limitate eccezioni.
Assemblea degli azionisti e proposte: In un'assemblea speciale (data e luogo da definire) gli azionisti di Charter saranno chiamati ad approvare: (1) l'emissione azionaria, (2) la modifica del certificato per creare le azioni ordinarie di Classe C e (3) un voto consultivo non vincolante sulla caratteristica della composizione del consiglio.
Implicazioni economiche evidenziate nel documento:
- Esborso totale in contanti a favore di Cox: 4,0 miliardi di dollari.
- Strumenti emessi: 6,0 miliardi di dollari in unità privilegiate con dividendo 6,875% più 33,6 milioni di unità ordinarie (potenziale diluizione).
- Leva finanziaria aggiuntiva: assunzione di un debito netto di 12,6 miliardi di dollari.
La Dichiarazione Preliminare di Procura è soggetta a completamento e può essere modificata. Nel documento non sono forniti dati sugli utili né sinergie quantificate.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") ha presentado una Declaración Preliminar de Poder (Schedule 14A) fechada el 18 de junio de 2025 para solicitar la aprobación de los accionistas para una transacción en varios pasos con Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") y cambios relacionados en la gobernanza.
Estructura de la transacción – efectivo, capital y deuda:
- Cox venderá a Charter el 100% de las subsidiarias que operan los negocios comerciales de fibra y servicios gestionados de TI y nube de Cox Communications por 3.5 mil millones de dólares en efectivo.
- Cox contribuirá el resto de los activos residenciales de cable de Cox Communications a Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") por 500 millones de dólares en efectivo, 6.0 mil millones de dólares en unidades preferentes convertibles con preferencia de liquidación agregada y dividendo del 6.875% y aproximadamente 33.6 millones de unidades comunes de Charter Holdings valoradas al precio de referencia de 353.64 dólares.
- Cox pagará a Charter 1.00 dólar y recibirá una acción de una nueva clase C de acciones comunes con poder de voto equivalente a sus participaciones convertidas/intercambiadas.
- La entidad combinada asumirá una deuda neta de Cox Communications de 12.6 mil millones de dólares.
Las unidades preferentes son inicialmente convertibles a 477.41 dólares (una prima del 35% sobre el precio de referencia) en unidades comunes de Charter Holdings, que a su vez son intercambiables 1 a 1 por acciones comunes Clase A de Charter (sujetas a ajustes).
Propiedad posterior al cierre: Basado en el conteo de acciones de Charter al 31 de marzo de 2025 y asumiendo la fusión simultánea con Liberty Broadband, se espera que Cox posea aproximadamente el 23% de las acciones diluidas en circulación de la compañía combinada en base convertida/intercambiada.
Gobernanza y apoyo al voto: Liberty Broadband (≈28% del poder de voto) y Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12%) firmaron acuerdos de voto separados comprometiéndose a votar a favor de (i) la emisión de acciones, (ii) la Segunda Enmienda y Reexpedición del Certificado de Incorporación (que crea las acciones Clase C y establece requisitos de composición del consejo) y (iii) cualquier propuesta de aplazamiento, con algunas excepciones limitadas.
Reunión de accionistas y propuestas: En una reunión especial (fecha y lugar por definir) se pedirá a los accionistas de Charter que aprueben: (1) la emisión de acciones, (2) la enmienda del certificado que crea las acciones comunes Clase C y (3) una votación consultiva no vinculante sobre la característica de composición del consejo.
Implicaciones económicas destacadas en el documento:
- Desembolso total en efectivo a Cox: 4.0 mil millones de dólares.
- Valores emitidos: 6.0 mil millones de dólares en unidades preferentes con dividendo del 6.875% más 33.6 millones de unidades comunes (dilución potencial).
- Apalancamiento adicional: asunción de 12.6 mil millones de dólares de deuda neta.
La Declaración Preliminar de Poder está sujeta a finalización y puede ser enmendada. No se proporcionan datos de ganancias ni sinergias cuantificadas en este documento.
Charter Communications, Inc.("Charter")는 2025년 6월 18일자 예비 위임장 성명서(Schedule 14A)를 제출하여 Cox Enterprises, Inc.("Cox")와의 다단계 거래 및 관련 거버넌스 변경에 대해 주주 승인을 요청했습니다.
거래 구조 – 현금, 지분 및 부채:
- Cox는 Cox Communications의 상업용 광섬유 및 관리형 IT 및 클라우드 서비스 사업을 운영하는 자회사를 100% Charter에 35억 달러 현금으로 매각합니다.
- Cox는 Cox Communications의 나머지 주거용 케이블 자산을 Charter Communications Holdings, LLC("Charter Holdings")에 5억 달러 현금, 60억 달러 총 청산 우선주 6.875% 전환 우선주 단위, 그리고 약 3,360만 Charter Holdings 보통주 단위(기준가격 353.64달러 평가)로 출자합니다.
- Cox는 Charter에 1.00달러를 지급하고, 새로 생성된 Class C 보통주 1주를 받으며, 이는 전환/교환된 보유 지분과 동일한 의결권을 가집니다.
- 통합 법인은 126억 달러의 Cox Communications 순부채를 인수합니다.
우선주 단위는 최초에 477.41달러(기준가격 대비 35% 프리미엄)로 Charter Holdings 보통주 단위로 전환 가능하며, 이 보통주 단위는 1:1 비율로 Charter Class A 보통주(조정 가능)로 교환 가능합니다.
거래 완료 후 소유권: 2025년 3월 31일 기준 Charter 주식 수와 동시 Liberty Broadband 합병을 가정할 때, Cox는 전환/교환 기준으로 통합 회사의 희석 주식 약 23%를 보유할 것으로 예상됩니다.
거버넌스 및 투표 지원: Liberty Broadband(약 28% 의결권)와 Advance/Newhouse Partnership(약 12%)는 각각 별도의 투표 계약을 체결하여 (i) 주식 발행, (ii) Class C 주식을 생성하고 이사회 구성 요건을 규정하는 제2차 수정 및 재작성 정관, (iii) 제한적 예외를 둔 모든 연기 제안에 찬성 투표하기로 약속했습니다.
주주총회 및 제안 사항: 특별총회(일정 및 장소 미정)에서 Charter 주주들은 (1) 주식 발행 승인, (2) Class C 보통주 생성에 대한 정관 수정, (3) 이사회 구성 기능에 대한 비구속 자문 투표를 요청받게 됩니다.
서류에 강조된 경제적 영향:
- Cox에 대한 총 현금 지출: 40억 달러.
- 발행 증권: 6.875% 배당의 60억 달러 우선주 단위 및 3,360만 보통주 단위(희석 가능성 있음).
- 추가 레버리지: 126억 달러 순부채 인수.
예비 위임장 성명서는 완료 전 단계이며 수정될 수 있습니다. 이 문서에는 수익 데이터나 정량화된 시너지 효과가 포함되어 있지 않습니다.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") a déposé une déclaration préliminaire de procuration (Schedule 14A) datée du 18 juin 2025 afin d'obtenir l'approbation des actionnaires pour une transaction en plusieurs étapes avec Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") et des modifications connexes de la gouvernance.
Structure de la transaction – liquidités, actions et dette :
- Cox vendra à Charter 100 % des filiales qui gèrent les activités commerciales de fibre optique et les services informatiques et cloud gérés de Cox Communications pour 3,5 milliards de dollars en espèces.
- Cox apportera le reste des actifs câblés résidentiels de Cox Communications à Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") en échange de 500 millions de dollars en espèces, 6,0 milliards de dollars d’unités privilégiées convertibles avec préférence de liquidation agrégée à 6,875 % et environ 33,6 millions d’unités ordinaires de Charter Holdings évaluées au prix de référence de 353,64 dollars.
- Cox versera à Charter 1,00 dollar et recevra une action d’une nouvelle classe C d’actions ordinaires portant un pouvoir de vote équivalent à ses participations converties/échangées.
- L’entité combinée assumera une dette nette de Cox Communications de 12,6 milliards de dollars.
Les unités privilégiées sont initialement convertibles à 477,41 dollars (une prime de 35 % par rapport au prix de référence) en unités ordinaires de Charter Holdings, elles-mêmes échangeables 1 pour 1 contre des actions ordinaires de classe A de Charter (sous réserve d’ajustements).
Propriété après clôture : Sur la base du nombre d’actions de Charter au 31 mars 2025 et en supposant la fusion simultanée avec Liberty Broadband, Cox devrait détenir environ 23 % des actions diluées en circulation de la société combinée sur une base convertie/échangée.
Gouvernance et soutien au vote : Liberty Broadband (≈28 % du pouvoir de vote) et Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12 %) ont conclu des accords de vote distincts les engageant à voter en faveur de (i) l’émission d’actions, (ii) la deuxième version modifiée et restituée du certificat d’incorporation (qui crée les actions de classe C et prescrit les exigences de composition du conseil d’administration) et (iii) toute proposition de report, sous réserve de dérogations limitées.
Réunion des actionnaires et propositions : Lors d’une assemblée spéciale (date et lieu à déterminer), les actionnaires de Charter seront invités à approuver : (1) l’émission d’actions, (2) la modification du certificat créant les actions ordinaires de classe C et (3) un vote consultatif non contraignant sur la caractéristique de composition du conseil.
Implications économiques mises en avant dans le dépôt :
- Dépense totale en espèces à Cox : 4,0 milliards de dollars.
- Valeurs mobilières émises : 6,0 milliards de dollars d’unités privilégiées avec dividende de 6,875 % plus 33,6 millions d’unités ordinaires (dilution potentielle).
- Effet de levier supplémentaire : prise en charge d’une dette nette de 12,6 milliards de dollars.
La déclaration préliminaire de procuration est sujette à finalisation et peut être modifiée. Aucune donnée sur les bénéfices ni synergies quantifiées n’est fournie dans ce dépôt.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") hat eine vorläufige Vollmachterklärung (Schedule 14A) vom 18. Juni 2025 eingereicht, um die Zustimmung der Aktionäre für eine mehrstufige Transaktion mit Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") und damit verbundene Governance-Änderungen einzuholen.
Transaktionsstruktur – Barzahlung, Eigenkapital und Schulden:
- Cox verkauft an Charter 100 % der Tochtergesellschaften, die das kommerzielle Glasfaser- und Managed IT- & Cloud-Service-Geschäft von Cox Communications betreiben, für 3,5 Milliarden US-Dollar in bar.
- Cox bringt die übrigen Wohnkabelanlagen von Cox Communications in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") ein und erhält dafür 500 Millionen US-Dollar in bar, 6,0 Milliarden US-Dollar aggregierte Liquidationsvorrang-6,875% wandelbare Vorzugsanteile und etwa 33,6 Millionen Charter Holdings-Stammanteile bewertet zum Referenzpreis von 353,64 US-Dollar.
- Cox zahlt Charter 1,00 US-Dollar und erhält eine Aktie einer neu geschaffenen Class C Stammaktie mit Stimmrecht entsprechend seinen umgewandelten/ausgetauschten Beteiligungen.
- Das kombinierte Unternehmen übernimmt 12,6 Milliarden US-Dollar Nettoverschuldung von Cox Communications.
Die Vorzugsanteile sind zunächst zu 477,41 US-Dollar (ein Aufschlag von 35 % auf den Referenzpreis) in Charter Holdings-Stammanteile wandelbar, die ihrerseits 1:1 in Charter Class A Stammaktien umtauschbar sind (vorbehaltlich Anpassungen).
Eigentumsverhältnisse nach Abschluss: Basierend auf der Aktienanzahl von Charter zum 31. März 2025 und unter der Annahme der gleichzeitigen Fusion mit Liberty Broadband wird erwartet, dass Cox etwa 23 % der verwässerten ausstehenden Aktien des kombinierten Unternehmens auf umgewandelter/ausgetauschter Basis hält.
Governance & Stimmrechtsunterstützung: Liberty Broadband (≈28 % Stimmrecht) und Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12 %) haben separate Stimmrechtsvereinbarungen unterzeichnet, die sie verpflichten, für (i) die Aktienausgabe, (ii) die zweite geänderte und neu gefasste Satzung (die Class C Aktien schafft und Anforderungen an die Zusammensetzung des Vorstands festlegt) und (iii) jeden Vertagungsantrag abzustimmen, vorbehaltlich begrenzter Ausnahmen.
Aktionärsversammlung & Vorschläge: Auf einer Sonderversammlung (Datum und Ort noch festzulegen) werden die Charter-Aktionäre gebeten, zuzustimmen: (1) der Aktienausgabe, (2) der Satzungsänderung zur Schaffung von Class C Stammaktien und (3) einer unverbindlichen Beratungsabstimmung über die Vorstandszusammensetzung.
Wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen laut Einreichung:
- Gesamte Barauszahlung an Cox: 4,0 Milliarden US-Dollar.
- Ausgegebene Wertpapiere: 6,0 Milliarden US-Dollar Vorzugsanteile mit 6,875 % Dividende plus 33,6 Millionen Stammanteile (potenzielle Verwässerung).
- Zusätzliche Verschuldung: Übernahme von 12,6 Milliarden US-Dollar Nettoschulden.
Die vorläufige Vollmachterklärung ist noch nicht abgeschlossen und kann geändert werden. Es werden keine Gewinnzahlen oder quantifizierte Synergien in dieser Einreichung angegeben.
- Acquisition of Cox’s commercial fiber, managed IT, cloud and residential cable assets provides immediate scale expansion as described in the filing.
- Convertible preferred units carry a 35% premium conversion price, limiting immediate dilution to existing shareholders.
- $4 billion cash outflow plus assumption of $12.6 billion net debt increases Charter’s leverage.
- Issuance of $6 billion 6.875% dividend-bearing preferred units and 33.6 million common units introduces ongoing dividend burden and equity dilution.
- Cox will control ~23% of diluted shares, materially reducing existing investors’ relative ownership.
Insights
TL;DR: Large, levered acquisition adds cable & fiber assets but introduces dilution, new 6.875% preferreds and $12.6 B debt; effect is financially mixed.
Transaction economics: Charter commits $4 B cash and issues $6 B 6.875% preferred units plus 33.6 M common units to acquire Cox’s commercial fiber, managed IT, cloud and residential cable operations. The preferreds convert at a 35% premium, moderating immediate dilution but layering a high fixed dividend obligation.
Capital structure impact: Including the assumed $12.6 B Cox debt, Charter’s gross leverage will rise materially while cash is reduced. The 6.875% coupon represents a relatively expensive quasi-debt instrument.
Dilution & ownership shifts: Post-deal, Cox will own ~23% of diluted shares. Existing holders face dilution from (a) new Charter Holdings common units and (b) potential future conversion of preferreds at premium pricing.
Governance considerations: Creation of Class C shares equalizes economic rights but concentrates voting power commensurate with Cox’s exchangeable/convertible holdings, reinforcing its 23% stake.
Bottom line: Asset scope expansion is counterbalanced by leverage, dividend burden and ownership dilution. Without disclosed synergies, the filing is neutral-to-slightly negative for equity value in the near term.
TL;DR: New Class C stock and voting pacts secure approval but embed long-term influence for Cox; governance shift significant yet procedurally compliant.
The filing outlines creation of Class C common stock—economically identical to existing Class A/B but with votes mirroring Cox’s as-converted position. Combined with Liberty Broadband and A/N voting agreements, these structures virtually guarantee approval of the share issuance and charter amendment.
Cox’s projected 23% economic stake will translate into comparable voting power on a fully converted basis, giving it substantial influence. The board-composition provisions embedded in the amended charter—subject to a separate advisory vote—codify governance concessions requested by the new investor.
While multi-class shares can entrench specific holders, the proposal appears transparent, shareholder-approved and capped by ownership percentages. Investors must weigh dilution against strategic alignment.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") ha presentato una Dichiarazione Preliminare di Procura (Schedule 14A) datata 18 giugno 2025 per ottenere l'approvazione degli azionisti riguardo a una transazione articolata con Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") e modifiche correlate alla governance.
Struttura della transazione – contanti, equity e debito:
- Cox venderà a Charter il 100% delle controllate che gestiscono le attività commerciali di fibra ottica e servizi IT & cloud gestiti di Cox Communications per 3,5 miliardi di dollari in contanti.
- Cox contribuirà con il resto degli asset residenziali via cavo di Cox Communications a Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") in cambio di 500 milioni di dollari in contanti, 6,0 miliardi di dollari in unità privilegiate convertibili con preferenza di liquidazione aggregata e dividendo 6,875% e circa 33,6 milioni di unità ordinarie di Charter Holdings valutate al prezzo di riferimento di 353,64 dollari.
- Cox pagherà a Charter 1,00 dollaro e riceverà una azione della nuova classe C di azioni ordinarie con potere di voto equivalente alle sue partecipazioni convertite/scambiate.
- L'entità combinata assumerà un debito netto di Cox Communications pari a 12,6 miliardi di dollari.
Le unità privilegiate sono inizialmente convertibili a 477,41 dollari (un premio del 35% rispetto al prezzo di riferimento) in unità ordinarie di Charter Holdings, che a loro volta sono scambiabili 1 a 1 con azioni ordinarie Classe A di Charter (soggette a rettifiche).
Proprietà post-chiusura: Basandosi sul numero di azioni di Charter al 31 marzo 2025 e assumendo la fusione contemporanea con Liberty Broadband, si prevede che Cox deterrà circa il 23% delle azioni diluite in circolazione della società combinata su base convertita/scambiata.
Governance e supporto al voto: Liberty Broadband (circa 28% del potere di voto) e Advance/Newhouse Partnership (circa 12%) hanno firmato accordi di voto separati impegnandosi a votare a favore di (i) emissione azionaria, (ii) la Seconda Modifica e Ristampa del Certificato di Incorporazione (che crea le azioni di Classe C e definisce requisiti di composizione del consiglio) e (iii) qualsiasi proposta di rinvio, con alcune limitate eccezioni.
Assemblea degli azionisti e proposte: In un'assemblea speciale (data e luogo da definire) gli azionisti di Charter saranno chiamati ad approvare: (1) l'emissione azionaria, (2) la modifica del certificato per creare le azioni ordinarie di Classe C e (3) un voto consultivo non vincolante sulla caratteristica della composizione del consiglio.
Implicazioni economiche evidenziate nel documento:
- Esborso totale in contanti a favore di Cox: 4,0 miliardi di dollari.
- Strumenti emessi: 6,0 miliardi di dollari in unità privilegiate con dividendo 6,875% più 33,6 milioni di unità ordinarie (potenziale diluizione).
- Leva finanziaria aggiuntiva: assunzione di un debito netto di 12,6 miliardi di dollari.
La Dichiarazione Preliminare di Procura è soggetta a completamento e può essere modificata. Nel documento non sono forniti dati sugli utili né sinergie quantificate.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") ha presentado una Declaración Preliminar de Poder (Schedule 14A) fechada el 18 de junio de 2025 para solicitar la aprobación de los accionistas para una transacción en varios pasos con Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") y cambios relacionados en la gobernanza.
Estructura de la transacción – efectivo, capital y deuda:
- Cox venderá a Charter el 100% de las subsidiarias que operan los negocios comerciales de fibra y servicios gestionados de TI y nube de Cox Communications por 3.5 mil millones de dólares en efectivo.
- Cox contribuirá el resto de los activos residenciales de cable de Cox Communications a Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") por 500 millones de dólares en efectivo, 6.0 mil millones de dólares en unidades preferentes convertibles con preferencia de liquidación agregada y dividendo del 6.875% y aproximadamente 33.6 millones de unidades comunes de Charter Holdings valoradas al precio de referencia de 353.64 dólares.
- Cox pagará a Charter 1.00 dólar y recibirá una acción de una nueva clase C de acciones comunes con poder de voto equivalente a sus participaciones convertidas/intercambiadas.
- La entidad combinada asumirá una deuda neta de Cox Communications de 12.6 mil millones de dólares.
Las unidades preferentes son inicialmente convertibles a 477.41 dólares (una prima del 35% sobre el precio de referencia) en unidades comunes de Charter Holdings, que a su vez son intercambiables 1 a 1 por acciones comunes Clase A de Charter (sujetas a ajustes).
Propiedad posterior al cierre: Basado en el conteo de acciones de Charter al 31 de marzo de 2025 y asumiendo la fusión simultánea con Liberty Broadband, se espera que Cox posea aproximadamente el 23% de las acciones diluidas en circulación de la compañía combinada en base convertida/intercambiada.
Gobernanza y apoyo al voto: Liberty Broadband (≈28% del poder de voto) y Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12%) firmaron acuerdos de voto separados comprometiéndose a votar a favor de (i) la emisión de acciones, (ii) la Segunda Enmienda y Reexpedición del Certificado de Incorporación (que crea las acciones Clase C y establece requisitos de composición del consejo) y (iii) cualquier propuesta de aplazamiento, con algunas excepciones limitadas.
Reunión de accionistas y propuestas: En una reunión especial (fecha y lugar por definir) se pedirá a los accionistas de Charter que aprueben: (1) la emisión de acciones, (2) la enmienda del certificado que crea las acciones comunes Clase C y (3) una votación consultiva no vinculante sobre la característica de composición del consejo.
Implicaciones económicas destacadas en el documento:
- Desembolso total en efectivo a Cox: 4.0 mil millones de dólares.
- Valores emitidos: 6.0 mil millones de dólares en unidades preferentes con dividendo del 6.875% más 33.6 millones de unidades comunes (dilución potencial).
- Apalancamiento adicional: asunción de 12.6 mil millones de dólares de deuda neta.
La Declaración Preliminar de Poder está sujeta a finalización y puede ser enmendada. No se proporcionan datos de ganancias ni sinergias cuantificadas en este documento.
Charter Communications, Inc.("Charter")는 2025년 6월 18일자 예비 위임장 성명서(Schedule 14A)를 제출하여 Cox Enterprises, Inc.("Cox")와의 다단계 거래 및 관련 거버넌스 변경에 대해 주주 승인을 요청했습니다.
거래 구조 – 현금, 지분 및 부채:
- Cox는 Cox Communications의 상업용 광섬유 및 관리형 IT 및 클라우드 서비스 사업을 운영하는 자회사를 100% Charter에 35억 달러 현금으로 매각합니다.
- Cox는 Cox Communications의 나머지 주거용 케이블 자산을 Charter Communications Holdings, LLC("Charter Holdings")에 5억 달러 현금, 60억 달러 총 청산 우선주 6.875% 전환 우선주 단위, 그리고 약 3,360만 Charter Holdings 보통주 단위(기준가격 353.64달러 평가)로 출자합니다.
- Cox는 Charter에 1.00달러를 지급하고, 새로 생성된 Class C 보통주 1주를 받으며, 이는 전환/교환된 보유 지분과 동일한 의결권을 가집니다.
- 통합 법인은 126억 달러의 Cox Communications 순부채를 인수합니다.
우선주 단위는 최초에 477.41달러(기준가격 대비 35% 프리미엄)로 Charter Holdings 보통주 단위로 전환 가능하며, 이 보통주 단위는 1:1 비율로 Charter Class A 보통주(조정 가능)로 교환 가능합니다.
거래 완료 후 소유권: 2025년 3월 31일 기준 Charter 주식 수와 동시 Liberty Broadband 합병을 가정할 때, Cox는 전환/교환 기준으로 통합 회사의 희석 주식 약 23%를 보유할 것으로 예상됩니다.
거버넌스 및 투표 지원: Liberty Broadband(약 28% 의결권)와 Advance/Newhouse Partnership(약 12%)는 각각 별도의 투표 계약을 체결하여 (i) 주식 발행, (ii) Class C 주식을 생성하고 이사회 구성 요건을 규정하는 제2차 수정 및 재작성 정관, (iii) 제한적 예외를 둔 모든 연기 제안에 찬성 투표하기로 약속했습니다.
주주총회 및 제안 사항: 특별총회(일정 및 장소 미정)에서 Charter 주주들은 (1) 주식 발행 승인, (2) Class C 보통주 생성에 대한 정관 수정, (3) 이사회 구성 기능에 대한 비구속 자문 투표를 요청받게 됩니다.
서류에 강조된 경제적 영향:
- Cox에 대한 총 현금 지출: 40억 달러.
- 발행 증권: 6.875% 배당의 60억 달러 우선주 단위 및 3,360만 보통주 단위(희석 가능성 있음).
- 추가 레버리지: 126억 달러 순부채 인수.
예비 위임장 성명서는 완료 전 단계이며 수정될 수 있습니다. 이 문서에는 수익 데이터나 정량화된 시너지 효과가 포함되어 있지 않습니다.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") a déposé une déclaration préliminaire de procuration (Schedule 14A) datée du 18 juin 2025 afin d'obtenir l'approbation des actionnaires pour une transaction en plusieurs étapes avec Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") et des modifications connexes de la gouvernance.
Structure de la transaction – liquidités, actions et dette :
- Cox vendra à Charter 100 % des filiales qui gèrent les activités commerciales de fibre optique et les services informatiques et cloud gérés de Cox Communications pour 3,5 milliards de dollars en espèces.
- Cox apportera le reste des actifs câblés résidentiels de Cox Communications à Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") en échange de 500 millions de dollars en espèces, 6,0 milliards de dollars d’unités privilégiées convertibles avec préférence de liquidation agrégée à 6,875 % et environ 33,6 millions d’unités ordinaires de Charter Holdings évaluées au prix de référence de 353,64 dollars.
- Cox versera à Charter 1,00 dollar et recevra une action d’une nouvelle classe C d’actions ordinaires portant un pouvoir de vote équivalent à ses participations converties/échangées.
- L’entité combinée assumera une dette nette de Cox Communications de 12,6 milliards de dollars.
Les unités privilégiées sont initialement convertibles à 477,41 dollars (une prime de 35 % par rapport au prix de référence) en unités ordinaires de Charter Holdings, elles-mêmes échangeables 1 pour 1 contre des actions ordinaires de classe A de Charter (sous réserve d’ajustements).
Propriété après clôture : Sur la base du nombre d’actions de Charter au 31 mars 2025 et en supposant la fusion simultanée avec Liberty Broadband, Cox devrait détenir environ 23 % des actions diluées en circulation de la société combinée sur une base convertie/échangée.
Gouvernance et soutien au vote : Liberty Broadband (≈28 % du pouvoir de vote) et Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12 %) ont conclu des accords de vote distincts les engageant à voter en faveur de (i) l’émission d’actions, (ii) la deuxième version modifiée et restituée du certificat d’incorporation (qui crée les actions de classe C et prescrit les exigences de composition du conseil d’administration) et (iii) toute proposition de report, sous réserve de dérogations limitées.
Réunion des actionnaires et propositions : Lors d’une assemblée spéciale (date et lieu à déterminer), les actionnaires de Charter seront invités à approuver : (1) l’émission d’actions, (2) la modification du certificat créant les actions ordinaires de classe C et (3) un vote consultatif non contraignant sur la caractéristique de composition du conseil.
Implications économiques mises en avant dans le dépôt :
- Dépense totale en espèces à Cox : 4,0 milliards de dollars.
- Valeurs mobilières émises : 6,0 milliards de dollars d’unités privilégiées avec dividende de 6,875 % plus 33,6 millions d’unités ordinaires (dilution potentielle).
- Effet de levier supplémentaire : prise en charge d’une dette nette de 12,6 milliards de dollars.
La déclaration préliminaire de procuration est sujette à finalisation et peut être modifiée. Aucune donnée sur les bénéfices ni synergies quantifiées n’est fournie dans ce dépôt.
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter") hat eine vorläufige Vollmachterklärung (Schedule 14A) vom 18. Juni 2025 eingereicht, um die Zustimmung der Aktionäre für eine mehrstufige Transaktion mit Cox Enterprises, Inc. ("Cox") und damit verbundene Governance-Änderungen einzuholen.
Transaktionsstruktur – Barzahlung, Eigenkapital und Schulden:
- Cox verkauft an Charter 100 % der Tochtergesellschaften, die das kommerzielle Glasfaser- und Managed IT- & Cloud-Service-Geschäft von Cox Communications betreiben, für 3,5 Milliarden US-Dollar in bar.
- Cox bringt die übrigen Wohnkabelanlagen von Cox Communications in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") ein und erhält dafür 500 Millionen US-Dollar in bar, 6,0 Milliarden US-Dollar aggregierte Liquidationsvorrang-6,875% wandelbare Vorzugsanteile und etwa 33,6 Millionen Charter Holdings-Stammanteile bewertet zum Referenzpreis von 353,64 US-Dollar.
- Cox zahlt Charter 1,00 US-Dollar und erhält eine Aktie einer neu geschaffenen Class C Stammaktie mit Stimmrecht entsprechend seinen umgewandelten/ausgetauschten Beteiligungen.
- Das kombinierte Unternehmen übernimmt 12,6 Milliarden US-Dollar Nettoverschuldung von Cox Communications.
Die Vorzugsanteile sind zunächst zu 477,41 US-Dollar (ein Aufschlag von 35 % auf den Referenzpreis) in Charter Holdings-Stammanteile wandelbar, die ihrerseits 1:1 in Charter Class A Stammaktien umtauschbar sind (vorbehaltlich Anpassungen).
Eigentumsverhältnisse nach Abschluss: Basierend auf der Aktienanzahl von Charter zum 31. März 2025 und unter der Annahme der gleichzeitigen Fusion mit Liberty Broadband wird erwartet, dass Cox etwa 23 % der verwässerten ausstehenden Aktien des kombinierten Unternehmens auf umgewandelter/ausgetauschter Basis hält.
Governance & Stimmrechtsunterstützung: Liberty Broadband (≈28 % Stimmrecht) und Advance/Newhouse Partnership (≈12 %) haben separate Stimmrechtsvereinbarungen unterzeichnet, die sie verpflichten, für (i) die Aktienausgabe, (ii) die zweite geänderte und neu gefasste Satzung (die Class C Aktien schafft und Anforderungen an die Zusammensetzung des Vorstands festlegt) und (iii) jeden Vertagungsantrag abzustimmen, vorbehaltlich begrenzter Ausnahmen.
Aktionärsversammlung & Vorschläge: Auf einer Sonderversammlung (Datum und Ort noch festzulegen) werden die Charter-Aktionäre gebeten, zuzustimmen: (1) der Aktienausgabe, (2) der Satzungsänderung zur Schaffung von Class C Stammaktien und (3) einer unverbindlichen Beratungsabstimmung über die Vorstandszusammensetzung.
Wirtschaftliche Auswirkungen laut Einreichung:
- Gesamte Barauszahlung an Cox: 4,0 Milliarden US-Dollar.
- Ausgegebene Wertpapiere: 6,0 Milliarden US-Dollar Vorzugsanteile mit 6,875 % Dividende plus 33,6 Millionen Stammanteile (potenzielle Verwässerung).
- Zusätzliche Verschuldung: Übernahme von 12,6 Milliarden US-Dollar Nettoschulden.
Die vorläufige Vollmachterklärung ist noch nicht abgeschlossen und kann geändert werden. Es werden keine Gewinnzahlen oder quantifizierte Synergien in dieser Einreichung angegeben.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Filed by the Registrant ☒ | Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ | ||
☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (As Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
☐ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
☒ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS

• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings (the “Charter Holdings convertible preferred units”) with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million common units of Charter Holdings (the “Charter Holdings common units”) priced at $353.64 (the “reference price”) per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred units will be convertible into Charter Holdings common units, with an initial conversion price of $477.41, a 35% premium to the reference price, subject to certain adjustments. The Charter Holdings common units will be exchangeable by the holder, in certain circumstances, for cash or, at the election of Charter, Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (the “Charter Class A common stock”) on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments; and |
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of a new Class C common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (the “Charter Class C common stock” and such issuance, collectively with the issuance of Charter Holdings common units and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units to Cox Enterprises described in the immediately preceding bullet and any shares of Charter Class A common stock which may be issued upon exchange or conversion of such Charter Holdings common units or Charter Holdings convertible preferred units, the “share issuance”). The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (the “Charter Class B common stock”), but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Very truly yours, | ||||||
[ ] | [ ] | |||||
Eric L. Zinterhofer Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors Charter Communications, Inc. | Christopher L. Winfrey President and Chief Executive Officer Charter Communications, Inc. | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. | a proposal to approve the issuance of (i) one share of a new class of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (the “Charter Class C common stock”) and (ii) approximately 33.6 million common units of Charter Holdings and convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum (including shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (the “Charter Class A common stock”) which may be issued upon exchange or conversion of such common units or convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings), in each case in connection with the transactions contemplated by the transaction agreement (the “share issuance” and such proposal, the “share issuance proposal”); |
2. | a proposal to approve the adoption of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Charter, a copy of which is attached as Annex D to the accompanying proxy statement (the “amended certificate of incorporation”), which will include the creation of the new Charter Class C common stock (the “certificate amendment” and such proposal, the “certificate amendment proposal”); |
3. | proposals to approve separately (on a non-binding advisory basis) the following features of the amended certificate of incorporation: |
a. | a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will set forth the composition requirements for the Charter Board that are required by the amended and restated stockholders agreement with Cox Enterprises and A/N, a copy of which is attached as Annex E to the accompanying proxy statement (the “amended stockholders agreement” and such proposal, the “governance proposal 1”); |
b. | a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will specify standards for decisions by the Charter Board that are required by the amended stockholders agreement (such proposal, the “governance proposal 2”); |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
c. | a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will provide for certain voting restrictions on Cox Enterprises and A/N that are required by the amended stockholders agreement (such proposal, the “governance proposal 3”); and |
d. | a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will clarify the stockholder vote required for amendments to the amended certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of Charter common stock or preferred stock (such proposal, the “governance proposal 4” and collectively with the governance proposal 1, the governance proposal 2 and the governance proposal 3, the “governance proposals”); and |
4. | a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Charter special meeting from time to time to solicit additional proxies in favor of the certificate amendment proposal or the share issuance proposal if there are insufficient votes at the time of such adjournment to approve such proposals or if otherwise determined by the chairperson of the meeting to be necessary or appropriate (the “adjournment proposal”). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
By order of the Board of Directors, | |||
[ ] | |||
Jamal H. Haughton | |||
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | 1 | ||
SUMMARY | 12 | ||
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 22 | ||
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 23 | ||
RISK FACTORS | 33 | ||
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTIES | 44 | ||
THE TRANSACTIONS | 45 | ||
THE TRANSACTION AGREEMENT | 79 | ||
OTHER AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS | 103 | ||
THE CHARTER SPECIAL MEETING | 117 | ||
CHARTER SPECIAL MEETING PROPOSALS | 122 | ||
DESCRIPTION OF CHARTER CAPITAL STOCK | 126 | ||
DESCRIPTION OF CHARTER ROLLOVER PREFERRED STOCK | 131 | ||
DESCRIPTION OF COX COMMUNICATIONS’ BUSINESS | 134 | ||
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF COX COMMUNICATIONS | 144 | ||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 157 | ||
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS | 159 | ||
OTHER MATTERS | 160 | ||
HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS | 161 | ||
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 162 | ||
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | F-1 | ||
Annex A-Transaction Agreement | A-1 | ||
Annex B-Liberty Broadband Voting Agreement | B-1 | ||
Annex C-A/N Voting Agreement | C-1 | ||
Annex D-Amended Certificate of Incorporation | D-1 | ||
Annex E-Amended Stockholders Agreement | E-1 | ||
Annex F-Liberty Broadband Side Letter | F-1 | ||
Annex G-A/N Repurchase Letter Amendment | G-1 | ||
Annex H-Amended Bylaws | H-1 | ||
Annex I-Cox Enterprises Repurchase Letter Agreement | I-1 | ||
Annex J-Amended Tax Receivables Agreement | J-1 | ||
Annex K-Opinion of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | K-1 | ||
Annex L-Opinion of LionTree Advisors LLC | L-1 | ||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | What are the transactions? |
A: | On May 16, 2025, Charter, Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Charter (“Charter Holdings”), and Cox Enterprises, Inc. (“Cox Enterprises”) entered into a Transaction Agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “transaction agreement”), a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. Subject to the requisite approvals of the stockholders of Charter and the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted) waiver of the other closing conditions set forth in the transaction agreement, (i) Cox Enterprises will sell and transfer to Charter 100% of the equity interests of certain subsidiaries of Cox Communications, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises (“Cox Communications”), that conduct Cox Communications’ commercial fiber and managed IT and cloud services businesses (the “equity sale”), (ii) Cox Enterprises will contribute the equity interests of Cox Communications (after its conversion into a limited liability company pursuant to the pre-closing restructuring described in “The Transaction Agreement—Cox Communications Restructuring”) and certain other assets (other than certain excluded assets) primarily related to Cox Communications’ residential cable business to Charter Holdings (the “contribution”), and (iii) Cox Enterprises will pay $1.00 to Charter (the transactions described in clauses (i)-(iii), collectively, the “transactions”). Under the transaction agreement, Charter and Cox Enterprises may designate one or more wholly owned subsidiaries to take actions with respect to Charter and Cox Enterprises, respectively. The aggregate consideration payable or issuable to Cox Enterprises in the transactions is described further below. The principal terms and conditions of the transactions are contained in the transaction agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. We encourage you to read this agreement carefully and in its entirety, as it is the legal document that governs the transactions. |
Q: | Why am I receiving this proxy statement? |
A: | Charter is holding a special meeting of holders of Charter common stock (the “Charter special meeting”) to obtain approval of the share issuance proposal (as defined below), the certificate amendment proposal (as defined below), the governance proposals (as defined below) and the adjournment proposal (as defined below). Charter is sending this proxy statement to its stockholders to help them decide how to vote their shares of Charter common stock with respect to the transactions and other matters to be considered at the Charter special meeting. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | When and where is the Charter special meeting? |
A: | The Charter special meeting will be held in person at Charter’s headquarters at 400 Washington Blvd., Stamford, Connecticut 06902, at [ ] a.m., New York City time, on [ ], 2025. |
Q: | What consideration will Cox Enterprises receive in the transactions? |
A: | At the closing: |
• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings (the “Charter Holdings convertible preferred units”) with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million common units of Charter Holdings (the “Charter Holdings common units”) priced at $353.64 (the “reference price”) per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred units will be convertible into Charter Holdings common units, with an initial conversion price of $477.41, a 35% premium to the reference price, subject to certain adjustments. The Charter Holdings common units will be exchangeable by the holder, in certain circumstances, for cash or, at the election of Charter, Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (“Charter Class A common stock”) on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments; and |
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of a new Class C common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Charter (the “Charter Class C common stock” and such issuance, collectively with the issuance of Charter Holdings common units and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units to Cox Enterprises described in the immediately preceding bullet and any shares of Charter Class A common stock which may be issued upon exchange or conversion of such Charter Holdings common units or Charter Holdings convertible preferred units, the “share issuance”). The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and the Charter Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Charter Class B common stock”), but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
Q: | What equity stake will Cox Enterprises hold in Charter immediately following the transactions? |
A: | Based on Charter’s share count as of March 31, 2025, we estimate that at the closing, Cox Enterprises will own approximately 23% of the combined entity’s diluted shares outstanding, on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis and assuming the contemporaneous closing of the previously announced Liberty Broadband merger (as defined below). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | What are Charter stockholders being asked to vote on, and why is this approval necessary? |
A: | Charter stockholders are being asked to vote on the following proposals: |
1. | Share Issuance Proposal: A proposal to approve the issuance of (i) one share of the new Charter Class C common stock and (ii) approximately 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion (including shares of Charter Class A common stock which may be issued upon exchange or conversion of such Charter Holdings common units or Charter Holdings convertible preferred units), in each case in connection with the transactions (the “share issuance” and such proposal, the “share issuance proposal”). |
2. | Certificate Amendment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adoption of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Charter, a copy of which is attached as Annex D to this proxy statement (the “amended certificate of incorporation”), which will include the creation of the new Charter Class C common stock (the “certificate amendment” and such proposal, the “certificate amendment proposal”). |
3. | Governance Proposals: Proposals to approve separately (on a non-binding advisory basis) the following features of the amended certificate of incorporation: |
a. | Governance Proposal 1: A proposal to approve separately (on a non-binding advisory basis) a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will set forth the composition requirements for the Charter Board that are required by the amended stockholders agreement (such proposal, the “governance proposal 1”); |
b. | Governance Proposal 2: A proposal to approve separately (on a non-binding advisory basis) a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will specify standards for decisions by the Charter Board that are required by the amended stockholders agreement (such proposal, the “governance proposal 2”); |
c. | Governance Proposal 3: A proposal to approve separately (on a non-binding advisory basis) a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will provide for certain voting restrictions on Cox Enterprises and A/N that are required by the amended stockholders agreement (such proposal, the “governance proposal 3”); |
d. | Governance Proposal 4: A proposal to approve separately (on a non-binding advisory basis) a feature of the amended certificate of incorporation that will clarify the stockholder vote required for amendments to the amended certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of Charter common stock or preferred stock (such proposal, the “governance proposal 4” and collectively with the governance proposal 1, the governance proposal 2 and the governance proposal 3, the “governance proposals”); and |
4. | Adjournment Proposal: A proposal to approve the adjournment of the Charter special meeting from time to time to solicit additional proxies in favor of the share issuance proposal or the certificate amendment proposal if there are insufficient votes at the time of such adjournment to approve the share issuance proposal or the certificate amendment proposal or if otherwise determined by the chairperson of the meeting to be necessary or appropriate (the “adjournment proposal”). |
Q: | What votes are required to approve the share issuance proposal, the certificate amendment proposal, the governance proposals and the adjournment proposal? |
A: | Approval of the share issuance proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by holders of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Class B common stock, voting together as a single class, in each case at the Charter special meeting. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | How many votes do Charter stockholders have with respect to the Charter special meeting? |
A: | The Charter Board has fixed the close of business on [ ], 2025 as the record date for the Charter special meeting. Only holders of record of Charter common stock as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Charter special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of Charter Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. A/N, as holder of Charter Class B common stock is entitled to a number of votes reflecting the voting power of Charter Holdings common units held by A/N on an as-exchanged basis. |
Q: | What constitutes a quorum for the Charter special meeting? |
A: | In order to conduct the business at the Charter special meeting, a quorum must be present. |
Q: | How does the Charter Board recommend that stockholders vote? |
A: | The Charter board of directors (the “Charter Board”), by all directors present and including a majority of (a) the Unaffiliated Directors (as defined in the existing stockholders agreement), (b) the directors designated by Liberty Broadband pursuant to the existing stockholders agreement and (c) the directors designated by A/N pursuant to the existing stockholders agreement, has unanimously determined that the transaction documents and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, Charter and its stockholders, approved the transaction documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and recommended that Charter stockholders vote “FOR” the share issuance proposal, ‘‘FOR” the certificate amendment proposal, “FOR” the governance proposals and “FOR” the adjournment proposal. The Charter Board made its determination after consultation with legal and financial advisors and consideration of a number of factors. For the factors considered by the Charter Board in reaching its decision to approve the transaction documents and to recommend the foregoing proposals to the Charter stockholders, see “The Transactions—Charter’s Reasons for the Transactions; Recommendation of the Charter Board of Directors.” |
Q: | Have any Charter stockholders agreed to vote their shares in favor of any of the proposals? |
A: | In connection with the transactions, Liberty Broadband entered into a voting agreement with Charter and Cox Enterprises (the “Liberty Broadband voting agreement”), a copy of which is attached as Annex B to this |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | What do I need to do now? |
A: | After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, please vote your shares of Charter common stock as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented at the Charter special meeting. Please follow the instructions set forth on the proxy card or on the voting instruction form provided by your broker, bank or other nominee. |
Q: | Does my vote matter? |
A: | Yes. Completion of the transactions is conditioned on Charter stockholders approving the share issuance proposal and the certificate amendment proposal. If a Charter stockholder present in person at the Charter special meeting does not vote, or responds by proxy with an “abstain” vote, it will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the certificate amendment proposal and it will have no effect on the outcome of the share issuance |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | How do I vote? |
A: | If you are a stockholder of record of Charter on the applicable record date, you are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Charter special meeting. Attendance at the Charter special meeting is not required in order to vote. You may submit your proxy before, and without attending, the Charter special meeting in one of the following ways: |
• | Via the Internet: visit the website shown on your proxy card to vote via the Internet; |
• | Telephone voting: use the toll-free number shown on your proxy card; or |
• | Mail: complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
Q: | What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and holding shares in “street name” as a beneficial owner? |
A: | You are a “stockholder of record” if your shares are registered directly in your name with Computershare Shareowner Services, the transfer agent for Charter. As the stockholder of record of shares entitled to vote at such meeting, you have the right to vote during the Charter special meeting. You may also vote by Internet, telephone or mail, as described in the notice and above under the heading “How do I vote?” You are deemed to beneficially own shares in “street name” if your shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee or other similar organization. Your broker, bank or other nominee will send you, as the beneficial owner, a package describing the procedure for voting your shares. You should follow the instructions provided by them to vote your shares. If you beneficially own your shares, you are invited to attend the Charter special meeting; however, you may not vote your shares in person at the Charter special meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from your broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares at the Charter special meeting. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | If I am a record holder, what will happen if I return my signed proxy without indicating how to vote? |
A: | If you are a record holder and sign and return your proxy without indicating how to vote on any particular proposal, stock entitled to vote at the Charter special meeting represented by your proxy will be voted as recommended by the Charter Board. |
Q: | May I change or revoke my vote after I have delivered my proxy or voting instruction form? |
A: | Yes. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before the proxy is voted at the Charter special meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy in any of the following ways: |
• | by logging onto the Internet website specified on your proxy card in the same manner you would to submit your proxy electronically or by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card, in each case, if you are eligible to do so; |
• | by sending a notice of revocation or a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your original proxy card to Charter Communications, Inc., 400 Washington Blvd., Stamford, Connecticut 06902, Attn: Corporate Secretary; or |
• | by attending and voting at the Charter special meeting. |
Q: | If my shares are held in “street name” by a broker, bank or other nominee, will my broker, bank or other nominee vote my shares for me? |
A: | If your shares are held in “street name” in a stock brokerage account or by a broker, bank or other nominee, you must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee. Please note that you may not vote shares held in street name by returning a proxy card directly to Charter or by voting in person at the Charter special meeting unless you provide a “legal proxy,” which you must obtain from your broker, bank or other nominee. Your broker, bank or other nominee is obligated to provide you with a voting instruction form for you to use. |
• | your shares will not be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum; and |
• | your broker, bank or other nominee may not vote your shares, which will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the certificate amendment proposal and the governance proposals and will have no effect on the outcome of the share issuance proposal (assuming a quorum is present) or the adjournment proposal. |
Q: | Where can I find the voting results of the Charter special meeting? |
A: | The preliminary voting results will be announced at the Charter special meeting. In addition, within four business days of the Charter special meeting, Charter intends to file the final voting results with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
Q: | Are Charter stockholders entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the transactions? |
A: | Under Delaware law, Charter stockholders are not entitled to dissenters’ or appraisal rights in connection with the transactions. Charter stockholders may vote against the certificate amendment proposal and the share issuance proposal if they do not favor such proposals. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | Do any of the directors or executive officers of Charter have interests in the transactions that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Charter stockholders? |
A: | When considering the recommendation of the Charter Board with respect to the certificate amendment proposal, the share issuance proposal, the governance proposals and the adjournment proposal, Charter stockholders should be aware that certain of Charter’s directors and executive officers may be deemed to have interests in the transactions that are different from, or in addition to, those of Charter stockholders. Areas where their interests may differ from those of Charter stockholders in general relate to the indemnification and insurance protections for their service as directors and executive officers pursuant to the Charter organizational documents, indemnification agreements entered into with Charter and Charter’s director and officer liability insurance policies. Additionally, pursuant to the existing stockholders agreement, Liberty Broadband has designated three directors to the Charter Board, consisting of Balan Nair, Martin E. Patterson and J. David Wargo, and A/N has designated two directors to the Charter Board, consisting of Steven A. Miron and Michael A. Newhouse. These interests may present such persons with actual or potential conflicts of interest. The Charter Board was aware of these interests during the deliberations of the merits of the transactions, and in deciding to recommend that you vote for each of the certificate amendment proposal, the share issuance proposal, the governance proposals and the adjournment proposal. For a detailed discussion of these and other interests, see “The Transactions—Interests of Charter Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions.” |
Q: | What happens if I sell my shares of Charter Class A common stock after the record date but before the effective time? |
A: | The record date for the Charter special meeting (the close of business on [ ], 2025) is earlier than the date of the Charter special meeting and earlier than the date that the transactions are expected to be completed. If you sell or otherwise transfer your shares of Charter common stock after the record date but before the date of the Charter special meeting, you will retain your right to vote at the Charter special meeting, unless you have made arrangements to the contrary. |
Q: | What is the expected timing of the transactions? |
A: | Charter and Cox Enterprises are working to complete the transactions in mid-2026, unless terminated in accordance with the transaction agreement or otherwise agreed. The transactions are subject to various conditions, and it is possible that factors outside the control of Charter and Cox Enterprises could result in the transactions being completed at a later time, or not at all. For more information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Transactions.” |
• | immediately prior to the closing; |
• | the later of (i) June 30, 2027 and (ii) the third business day after all conditions set forth in the Liberty Broadband merger agreement have been satisfied or waived (to the extent waivable), or at such other date and time as agreed to by the parties in writing or subject to adjustment pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement in the event any proposed tax law change would prevent counsel to Charter or Liberty Broadband from delivering certain tax opinions in connection with the Liberty Broadband merger, in which case, at the election of Liberty Broadband or Charter, the parties would use reasonable best efforts to cause the Liberty Broadband merger to occur prior to the effective date of such proposed tax law change; and |
• | solely if the transaction agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, at Liberty Broadband’s election, the later of (i) the tenth business day after the transaction agreement is terminated in accordance |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | Is the completion of the transactions subject to any conditions? |
A: | As more fully described in “The Transaction Agreement—Conditions to the Completion of the Transactions,” the completion of the transactions depends on a number of conditions being satisfied or (to the extent permitted) waived, including: |
• | the approval of (i) the certificate amendment proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class and (ii) the approval of the share issuance proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class; |
• | any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), and any commitments by the parties not to close before a certain date under any timing agreement entered into with a government entity, in each case, with respect to the transactions shall have expired or been terminated (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties (as defined below) to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition (as defined below)); |
• | the receipt of certain other required regulatory approvals, including approval of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) and certain local franchise authority (“LFA”), state franchising authorities and state public utility commission (“PUC”) approvals (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); and |
• | the absence of any law, rule, executive order, decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which makes unlawful, prohibits, delays, enjoins or otherwise prevents or restrains the completion of the transactions. |
Q: | Can Charter solicit alternative transactions or can the Charter Board change its recommendation? |
A: | As more fully described in this proxy statement and in the transaction agreement, Charter has agreed to non-solicitation obligations with respect to certain third-party acquisition proposals (including provisions restricting its ability to provide confidential information to third parties) and has agreed to certain restrictions on its and its representatives’ ability to respond to any such proposals. However, Charter is not subject to such non-solicitation obligations with respect to (a) an acquisition proposal that would not, or would not reasonably be expected to, (i) require Charter to abandon or terminate the transactions, (ii) delay the consummation of the transactions beyond the end date (as defined below) or (iii) prohibit or prevent the consummation of the transactions, or (b) the Liberty Broadband merger, and any such proposal or transaction are not considered a “Charter acquisition proposal” (as defined in “The Transaction Agreement—No Solicitation by Charter”). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | Can the transaction agreement be terminated by the parties? |
A: | Yes. Charter and Cox Enterprises can jointly agree to terminate the transaction agreement at any time. |
• | if any decree, judgment, injunction or other order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting completion of the transactions has been issued and become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate the transaction agreement under this bullet will not be available to any party who has breached in any material respect any of its covenants or agreements under the transaction agreement in a manner that has proximately caused such decree, judgment, injunction or other order to be issued or come into effect; or |
• | if the approval of the certificate amendment proposal and the share issuance proposal is not obtained upon a vote taken at the Charter special meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof (this termination right is referred to as the “vote down termination right”). |
• | prior to the date on which the vote is taken to approve the certificate amendment proposal and the share issuance proposal by the Charter stockholders, the Charter Board makes an adverse recommendation change or the Charter Board fails to reaffirm its recommendation within 10 business days after receipt of any written request to do so from Cox Enterprises following receipt of any Charter acquisition proposal (this termination right is referred to as the “adverse recommendation change termination right”); or |
• | Charter, Charter Holdings or certain additional Charter subsidiaries that may become party to the transaction agreement (collectively, the “Charter parties”) breach or fail to perform any of their representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in the transaction agreement, which breach or failure to perform would result in the failure of a closing condition regarding the accuracy of their representations and warranties or the performance or compliance by them in all material respects with their obligations under the transaction agreement, and, in each case, such breach or failure to perform is incapable of being cured, or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof is given by Cox Enterprises. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q: | Are there any fees payable by the parties in connection with a termination of the transaction agreement? |
A: | The transaction agreement provides for the payment of an $875 million termination fee by Charter to Cox Enterprises if: |
• | the agreement is terminated by either Charter or Cox Enterprises pursuant to the vote down termination right after an adverse recommendation change; or |
• | the agreement is terminated by Cox Enterprises pursuant to the adverse recommendation change termination right. |
Q: | Are there any risks that I should consider before deciding how to vote on the proposals? |
A: | Yes. You should read and carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 33. You also should read and carefully consider the risk factors of Charter contained in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this proxy statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” |
Q: | How can I find more information about Charter? |
A: | You can find more information about Charter from various sources described in “Where You Can Find More Information.” |
Q: | Who can answer any questions I may have about the Charter special meeting, the transactions, or how to vote? |
A: | If you have any questions about the Charter special meeting, the transactions, how to vote, or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement or documents incorporated by reference herein, you should contact Charter in writing or by telephone at the following addresses and telephone numbers: |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises Charter Holdings convertible preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units priced at $353.64 per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred units will be convertible into Charter Holdings common units, with an initial conversion price of $477.41, a 35% premium to the reference price, subject to certain adjustments. The Charter Holdings common units will be exchangeable by the holder, in certain circumstances, for cash or, at the election of Charter, Charter Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments; and |
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of the newly created Charter Class C common stock. The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and the Charter Class B common stock but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | divest or otherwise hold separate any businesses, assets or properties other than any businesses, assets or properties, that, individually or in the aggregate, are material to Charter, Charter Holdings and their respective subsidiaries (including Cox Communications and its subsidiaries), taken as a whole; |
• | accept conditions or take any other actions that would apply to or affect any businesses, assets or properties of Charter, Charter Holdings or any of their subsidiaries, other than (i) any condition requiring significant |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | unless mutually agreed by the parties, litigate or participate in the litigation of any proceeding involving the FCC, FTC or Antitrust Division or any other government entity to oppose or defend against any action by any such government entity to prevent or enjoin the consummation of the transactions or overturn any regulatory action to prevent consummation of the transactions, the transaction agreement or the other agreements related to the transactions (provided that Charter will direct the strategy of any such litigation). |
• | the approval of (i) the certificate amendment proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class and (ii) the share issuance proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class; |
• | any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act, and any commitments by the parties not to close before a certain date under any timing agreement entered into with a government entity, in each case, in respect of the transactions shall have expired or been terminated (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); |
• | the receipt of certain other required regulatory approvals, including approval of the FCC and certain LFA, state franchising authority and state PUC approvals (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); and |
• | the absence of any law, rule, executive order, decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which makes unlawful, prohibits, delays, enjoins or otherwise prevents or restrains the completion of the transactions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | if any decree, judgment, injunction or other order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting completion of the transactions has been issued and become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate the transaction agreement under this bullet will not be available to any party who has breached in any material respect any of its covenants or agreements under the transaction agreement in a manner that has proximately caused such decree, judgment, injunction or other order to be issued or come into effect; or |
• | pursuant to the vote down termination right. |
• | pursuant to the adverse recommendation change termination right; or |
• | if the Charter parties breach or fail to perform any of their representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in the transaction agreement, which breach or failure to perform would result in the failure of a closing condition regarding the accuracy of their representations and warranties or the performance or compliance by them in all material respects with their obligations under the transaction agreement, and, in each case, such breach or failure to perform is incapable of being cured, or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof is given by Cox Enterprises. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | the share issuance proposal; |
2. | the certificate amendment proposal; |
3. | the governance proposals; and |
4. | the adjournment proposal. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | immediately prior to the closing; |
• | the later of (i) June 30, 2027 and (ii) the third business day after all conditions set forth in the Liberty Broadband merger agreement have been satisfied or waived (to the extent waivable), or at such other date and time as agreed to by the parties in writing or subject to adjustment pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement in the event any proposed tax law change would prevent counsel to Charter or Liberty |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | solely if the transaction agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, at Liberty Broadband’s election, the later of (i) the tenth business day after the transaction agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and (ii) the third business day after all conditions set forth in the Liberty Broadband merger agreement have been satisfied or waived (to the extent waivable), or at such other date and time as agreed to by the parties in writing or pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement or subject to adjustment pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement in the event any proposed tax law change would prevent counsel to Charter or Liberty Broadband from delivering certain tax opinions in connection with the Liberty Broadband merger, in which case, at the election of Liberty Broadband or Charter, the parties would use reasonable best efforts to cause the Liberty Broadband merger to occur prior to the effective date of such proposed tax law change. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | a letter agreement, by and among Charter, Charter Holdings and Cox Enterprises, governing the terms of Cox Enterprises’ participation in Charter’s share repurchases following the closing, a copy of which is attached as Annex I (the “Cox Enterprises repurchase letter agreement”); |
• | an amended and restated tax receivables agreement, by and among Charter, A/N, Cox Enterprises and certain other parties, a copy of which is attached as Annex J (the “amended tax receivables agreement”); |
• | an amended and restated exchange agreement, by and among Charter, A/N, Cox Enterprises and certain other parties (the “amended exchange agreement”); |
• | an amended registration rights agreement, by and among Charter, A/N and Cox Enterprises (the “amended registration rights agreement”); |
• | a second amended and restated limited liability company agreement of Charter Holdings, by and among Charter, Charter Holdings, A/N, Cox Enterprises and certain other parties (“amended Charter Holdings LLC agreement”); and |
• | a transition services agreement and a reverse transition services agreement, by and among Charter and Cox Enterprises (collectively, the “transition services agreements”). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the effect of the announcement of the transactions on the ability of Charter and Cox Enterprises to operate their respective businesses and retain and hire key personnel and to maintain favorable business relationships; |
• | the timing of the transactions; |
• | the ability to satisfy closing conditions to the completion of the transactions (including stockholder and regulatory approvals), which could delay the completion of the transactions for a significant period of time or prevent completion from occurring at all; |
• | the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the transaction agreement, including under circumstances that might require Charter to pay a termination fee of $875 million; |
• | the possibility that the transactions may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; |
• | the ultimate outcome and results of integrating operations and application of Charter’s operating strategies to the acquired assets and the ultimate ability to realize synergies at the levels currently expected as well as potential dis-synergies; |
• | the impact of the transactions on Charter’s stock price and future operating results, including due to transaction and integration costs, increased interest expense, business disruption, and diversion of management time and attention; |
• | the increase in Charter’s indebtedness as a result of the transactions, which will increase interest expenses and may decrease Charter’s operating flexibility; |
• | risks associated with potential transaction-related litigation, the outcome of legal proceedings, investigations and other contingencies; and |
• | other risks related to the completion of the transactions and actions related thereto. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises Charter Holdings convertible preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units priced at $353.64 per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred units will be convertible into Charter Holdings common units, with an initial conversion price of $477.41, a 35% premium to the reference price, subject to certain adjustments. The Charter Holdings common units will be exchangeable by the holder, in certain circumstances, for cash or, at the election of Charter, Charter Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments; and |
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of the newly created Charter Class C common stock. The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and the Charter Class B common stock but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Charter (Historical) | Cox Communications (Historical) | Pro Forma Adjustments | Pro Forma Combined | ||||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $796 | $83 | $(255) | 1a | $624 | ||||||||||
Accounts receivable | 3,311 | 572 | — | 3,883 | |||||||||||
Amounts due from Cox Enterprises, Inc. | — | 3,758 | (3,758) | 1b | — | ||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 861 | 333 | — | 1,194 | |||||||||||
Total current assets | 4,968 | 4,746 | (4,013) | 5,701 | |||||||||||
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES: | |||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 43,359 | 12,346 | 3,654 | 1c | 59,359 | ||||||||||
Customer relationships, net | 818 | 508 | 4,492 | 1c | 5,818 | ||||||||||
Franchises | 67,468 | 15,879 | 121 | 1c | 83,468 | ||||||||||
Goodwill | 29,674 | 1,260 | (1,216) | 1c | 29,718 | ||||||||||
Total investment in cable properties, net | 141,319 | 29,993 | 7,051 | 178,363 | |||||||||||
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS | 4,667 | 1,052 | — | 5,719 | |||||||||||
Total assets | $150,954 | $35,791 | $3,038 | $189,783 | |||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | |||||||||||||||
Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities | $11,873 | $1,873 | $— | $13,746 | |||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 1,799 | 196 | — | 1,995 | |||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 13,672 | 2,069 | — | 15,741 | |||||||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT | 91,970 | 12,464 | 2,713 | 1d | 107,147 | ||||||||||
EQUIPMENT INSTALLMENT PLAN FINANCING FACILITY | 1,194 | — | — | 1,194 | |||||||||||
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES | 18,822 | 5,456 | (4,147) | 1e | 20,131 | ||||||||||
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | 4,774 | 855 | (386) | 1f | 5,243 | ||||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | |||||||||||||||
Controlling interests | 16,247 | 14,947 | (12,615) | 1g | 18,579 | ||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 4,275 | — | 17,473 | 1g | 21,748 | ||||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 20,522 | 14,947 | 4,858 | 40,327 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $150,954 | $35,791 | $3,038 | $189,783 | |||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Charter (Historical) | Cox Communications (Historical) | Pro Forma Adjustments | Pro Forma Combined | ||||||||||||
REVENUES | $13,735 | $3,183 | $— | $16,918 | |||||||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | |||||||||||||||
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 8,194 | 1,922 | (65) | 2a | 10,051 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,181 | 544 | 145 | 2b | 2,870 | ||||||||||
Other operating (income) expenses, net | 123 | (15) | — | 108 | |||||||||||
10,498 | 2,451 | 80 | 13,029 | ||||||||||||
Income from operations | 3,237 | 732 | (80) | 3,889 | |||||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (1,241) | (108) | (130) | 2d | (1,479) | ||||||||||
Other expenses, net | (142) | (34) | 4 | 2e | (172) | ||||||||||
(1,383) | (142) | (126) | (1,651) | ||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 1,854 | 590 | (206) | 2,238 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | (445) | (129) | 151 | 2f | (423) | ||||||||||
Consolidated net income | 1,409 | 461 | (55) | 1,815 | |||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (192) | — | (471) | 2g | (663) | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $1,217 | $461 | $(526) | $1,152 | |||||||||||
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $8.59 | 2h | $8.13 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | $8.42 | 2h | $7.96 | ||||||||||||
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 142 | 2h | 142 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 145 | 2h | 145 | ||||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Charter (Historical) | Cox Communications (Historical) | Pro Forma Adjustments | Pro Forma Combined | ||||||||||||
REVENUES | $55,085 | $13,073 | $— | $68,158 | |||||||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | |||||||||||||||
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below) | 33,167 | 8,134 | (279) | 2a | 41,022 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8,673 | 2,183 | 650 | 2b | 11,506 | ||||||||||
Other operating expenses, net | 127 | 206 | 245 | 2c | 578 | ||||||||||
41,967 | 10,523 | 616 | 53,106 | ||||||||||||
Income from operations | 13,118 | 2,550 | (616) | 15,052 | |||||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES): | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (5,229) | (373) | (550) | 2d | (6,152) | ||||||||||
Other expenses, net | (387) | (2) | 26 | 2e | (363) | ||||||||||
(5,616) | (375) | (524) | (6,515) | ||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 7,502 | 2,175 | (1,140) | 8,537 | |||||||||||
Income tax expense | (1,649) | (450) | 636 | 2f | (1,463) | ||||||||||
Consolidated net income | 5,853 | 1,725 | (504) | 7,074 | |||||||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | (770) | — | (1,778) | 2g | (2,548) | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $5,083 | $1,725 | $(2,282) | $4,526 | |||||||||||
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $35.53 | 2h | $31.63 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | $34.97 | 2h | $31.13 | ||||||||||||
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 143 | 2h | 143 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 145 | 2h | 145 | ||||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions, except price per share data) | |||
Charter Holdings common units issued to Cox Enterprises | 33.6 | ||
Closing price as of May 30, 2025 | $396.27 | ||
Estimated fair value of Charter Holdings common units issued to Cox Enterprises | $13,309 | ||
Estimated fair value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units issued to Cox Enterprises | 7,600 | ||
Cash paid to Cox Enterprises | 4,000 | ||
Total preliminary purchase price | $24,909 | ||
(in millions) | |||
Current assets | $1,005 | ||
Property, plant and equipment | 16,000 | ||
Customer relationships | 5,000 | ||
Franchises | 16,000 | ||
Goodwill | 44 | ||
Other noncurrent assets | 1,052 | ||
Current liabilities | (2,069) | ||
Long-term debt | (11,204) | ||
Deferred income taxes | (450) | ||
Other long-term liabilities | (469) | ||
$24,909 | |||
(a) | Pro forma adjustment of $255 million to cash and cash equivalents represents $17 million source of cash from Cox Enterprises to reflect minimum operating cash of $100 million to be assumed at closing per the transaction agreement, offset by the use of cash to pay approximately $245 million of transaction costs including advisor fees and other expenses directly related to the transactions, as well as $27 million use of cash to pay debt issuance costs. Refer to (d) below for sources and uses of cash. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(b) | Represents the elimination of the intercompany note receivable from Cox Enterprises not assumed in the transactions. |
(c) | For pro forma purposes, preliminary estimates are used for the purchase price allocations to Cox Communications’ property, plant and equipment; customer relationships and franchises. As of the date of this proxy statement, Charter has not completed the detailed valuation studies necessary to arrive at the required estimates of the fair value of Cox Communications’ assets to be acquired and liabilities to be assumed and the related allocations of purchase price. Therefore, the allocation of the purchase price to acquired intangible assets is based on preliminary fair value estimates and is subject to final management analysis, with the assistance of third-party valuation advisors, following the completion of the transactions. The estimated intangible asset values and their remaining useful lives could be affected by a variety of factors that may become known to Charter only upon access to additional information and/or changes in these factors that may occur prior to closing. Goodwill represents the residual of the preliminary purchase price over the fair values of the identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed. |
(d) | Cox Communications’ debt assumed was adjusted to the most recent available estimated fair value using quoted market values as of May 30, 2025. This adjustment resulted in a decrease in long-term debt of approximately $1.3 billion. The fair value adjustment to long-term debt is a result of quoted market values of Cox Communications’ debt being lower than the face amount of the related debt. The quoted market value of a debt instrument is lower than the face amount of the debt when the market interest rates are higher than the stated interest rate of the debt. In acquisition accounting, this results in the recognition of a debt discount that is amortized as an increase to interest expense over the remaining life of the debt. In addition, long-term debt was also adjusted to reflect $4.0 billion new debt raised to fund the preliminary purchase price of the transactions. |
(in millions) | |||
Sources: | |||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | $4,000 | ||
Cox Communications cash and cash equivalents assumed | 83 | ||
Cox Enterprises cash contributed to reflect minimum operating cash | 17 | ||
Charter cash and cash equivalents on-hand | 172 | ||
$4,272 | |||
Uses: | |||
Cash portion of purchase price paid to Cox Enterprises | $4,000 | ||
Transaction costs including advisor fees and other expenses | 245 | ||
Debt issuance costs | 27 | ||
$4,272 | |||
(e) | Both the contribution and the equity sale are assumed to be treated as non-taxable business combinations for pro forma purposes. For the contribution, no Charter deferred taxes are assumed to be recorded in purchase accounting as the excess book basis of net assets contributed is associated with the noncontrolling interest partner, Cox Enterprises, and not the controlling interest partner, Charter. For the equity sale, the tax attributes of the Cox Communications subsidiaries acquired are assumed to carry over to Charter and net deferred tax liabilities of $450 million are estimated to be recorded in purchase accounting reflecting historical temporary difference of these subsidiaries contemplating additional book step-up and applying an estimated tax rate of 25%. Lastly, on the relative ownership adjustment of Charter Holdings, $859 million in deferred tax liabilities are estimated for the carrying value adjustment to Charter’s common units held in Charter Holdings applying an estimated tax rate of 25%. Refer to (g) below on relative ownership adjustment to shareholders’ equity. |
(f) | Represents the elimination of an executive supplemental deferred compensation plan liability not assumed in the transactions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(g) | Pro forma adjustments to controlling interests and noncontrolling interests in shareholders’ equity are reflected as follows. |
(in millions) | |||
Controlling Interests: | |||
Elimination of Cox Communications’ historical equity | $(14,947) | ||
Payment of transaction costs including advisor fees | (245) | ||
Relative ownership adjustment of Charter Holdings’ common unit equity balances, net of tax | 2,577 | ||
$(12,615) | |||
Noncontrolling Interests: | |||
Fair value of the Charter Holdings common units issued to Cox Enterprises | $13,309 | ||
Fair value of the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units issued to Cox Enterprises | 7,600 | ||
Relative ownership adjustment of Charter Holdings’ common unit equity balances | (3,436) | ||
$17,473 | |||
(a) | Pro forma adjustments to operating costs and expenses of $65 million and $279 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, represents costs related to excluded parent company obligations and intercompany cost allocations from Cox Enterprises that are to be terminated by Cox Communications at the closing in connection with the transaction agreement. Following the closing, these costs will not be incurred by Charter. |
(b) | Depreciation and amortization increased by $145 million and $650 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, as follows. |
(in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
Depreciation | Amortization | Total | Depreciation | Amortization | Total | |||||||||||||
Cox Communications pro forma expense based on fair value | $500 | $189 | $689 | $2,000 | $833 | $2,833 | ||||||||||||
Cox Communications historical expense | (544) | (2,183) | ||||||||||||||||
$145 | $650 | |||||||||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(c) | Pro forma adjustment to increase other operating expenses, net by $245 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 represents the payment of transaction costs including advisor fees and other expenses directly related to the transactions. |
(d) | Interest expense, net increased by $130 million and $550 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, as follows. |
(in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||
Additional interest expense on new debt issued | $(63) | $(254) | ||||
Elimination of intercompany note interest income | (45) | (209) | ||||
Amortization of discount as a result of adjusting assumed Cox Communications’ long-term debt to fair value | (24) | (97) | ||||
Amortization of new debt issuance costs | (1) | (2) | ||||
Elimination of amortization related to Cox Communications’ debt discounts and debt issuance costs | 3 | 12 | ||||
$(130) | $(550) | |||||
(e) | Pro forma adjustment to reduce other expenses, net by $4 million and $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, primarily represents the elimination of the Cox Enterprises allocated non-service cost component of pension expense. Following the closing, these pension costs will not be incurred by Charter. |
(f) | The pro forma adjustment to income tax expense of $151 million and $636 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, was determined by removing Cox Communications’ income tax expense and applying an estimated Charter tax rate of 25% to pro forma income before taxes allocated to Charter after the allocation of profits to the noncontrolling interest holders. |
(g) | Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest increased by $471 million and $1.8 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, as shown in the following table. All ownership amounts are calculated using whole numbers; minor differences may exist due to rounding. |
(in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||
Charter Holdings pro forma income before income taxes | $2,238 | $8,537 | ||||
Charter Holdings 6.875% cash dividend to Cox Enterprises preferred unit holders | (103) | (413) | ||||
Charter Holdings pro forma income before income taxes available for allocation to common unit holders | $2,135 | $8,124 | ||||
Noncontrolling interest in Charter Holdings excluding preferred units based on pro forma common unit ownership of Charter Holdings (17.6% Cox Enterprises and 8.6% A/N) | 26.2% | 26.2% | ||||
Noncontrolling interest expense - Charter Holdings common units | $560 | $2,135 | ||||
Noncontrolling interest expense - Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | 103 | 413 | ||||
Eliminate historical noncontrolling interest expense recorded based on historical A/N common unit ownership of Charter Holdings | (192) | (770) | ||||
$471 | $1,778 | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(h) | The following table sets forth the computation of pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024. Not included in the computation of pro forma diluted earnings per share because the effect would be anti-dilutive are the 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units and the 12.6 billion equivalent common units for the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units ($6.0 billion par value divided by $477.41 initial conversion price) issued to Cox Enterprises on an if-converted, if-exchanged basis. |
(in millions, except per share data) | Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||
Numerator: | ||||||
Pro forma net income attributable to common stock | $1,152 | $4,526 | ||||
Denominator: | ||||||
Pro forma Charter weighted average shares outstanding (basic) | 142 | 143 | ||||
Effect of dilutive securities: | ||||||
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans | 3 | 2 | ||||
Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 145 | 145 | ||||
Pro forma net income per share attributable to common stock: | ||||||
Basic | $8.13 | $31.63 | ||||
Diluted | $7.96 | $31.13 | ||||
(in millions, except per share data) | Pro Forma Combined | Liberty Broadband Pro Forma Adjustments | Pro Forma As Adjusted Combined | ||||||
As of March 31, 2025: | |||||||||
Long-term debt | $107,147 | $2,565 | $109,712 | ||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | $40,327 | $(2,565) | $37,762 | ||||||
Charter Class A common stock outstanding | 140 | (11) | 129 | ||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025: | |||||||||
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $1,152 | $(64) | $1,088 | ||||||
Earnings per common share, basic | $8.13 | $8.32 | |||||||
Earnings per common share, diluted | $7.96 | $8.14 | |||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2024: | |||||||||
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders | $4,526 | $(261) | $4,265 | ||||||
Earnings per common share, basic | $31.63 | $32.52 | |||||||
Earnings per common share, diluted | $31.13 | $31.95 | |||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the market price of Charter common stock could decline; |
• | Charter could owe a substantial termination fee to Cox Enterprises under certain circumstances; |
• | if the transaction agreement is terminated and Charter seeks another transaction, Charter may not find a party willing to enter into a transaction on terms comparable to or more attractive than the terms agreed to in the transaction agreement; |
• | time and resources, financial and other, committed by Charter’s and its subsidiaries’ management to matters relating to the transactions could otherwise have been devoted to pursuing other beneficial opportunities; |
• | Charter and its subsidiaries may experience negative reactions from the financial markets or from its customers, suppliers, regulators or employees; |
• | Charter will be required to pay its costs relating to the transactions, such as legal, accounting, financial advisory, filing, printing and mailing fees, whether or not the transactions are completed; |
• | Charter and Cox Communications are subject to restrictions on the conduct of their respective businesses prior to the effective time, as set forth in the transaction agreement, which may prevent Charter or Cox Communications, as applicable, from making certain acquisitions or taking other actions during the pendency of the transactions; and |
• | reputational harm due to the adverse perception of any failure to successfully complete the transactions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | impact our ability to raise additional debt capital at reasonable rates, or at all; |
• | make us vulnerable to interest rate increases, in part because approximately 11% of our borrowings as of March 31, 2025 were, and may continue to be, subject to variable rates of interest; |
• | expose us to increased interest expense to the extent we refinance existing debt with higher cost debt; |
• | require us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operating activities to make payments on our debt, reducing our funds available for capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; |
• | limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, the cable and telecommunications industries, and the economy at large; |
• | place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have proportionately less debt; and |
• | adversely affect our relationship with customers and suppliers. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | integrating the companies’ operations and corporate functions; |
• | integrating the companies’ technologies, networks and customer service platforms; |
• | integrating and unifying the product offerings and services available to customers; |
• | harmonizing the companies’ operating practices, employee development and compensation programs, internal controls and other policies, procedures and processes; |
• | maintaining existing relationships and agreements with customers, providers, programmers and other vendors and avoiding delays in entering into new agreements with prospective customers, providers and vendors; |
• | addressing possible differences in business backgrounds, corporate cultures and management philosophies; |
• | consolidating the companies’ administrative and information technology infrastructure; |
• | coordinating programming and marketing efforts; |
• | coordinating geographically dispersed organizations; |
• | integrating information, purchasing, provisioning, accounting, finance, sales, billing, payroll, reporting and regulatory compliance systems; |
• | integrating and unifying the product offerings and services available to customers, including customer premise equipment and video user interfaces; |
• | managing a significantly larger company than before the completion of the transactions; and |
• | attracting and retaining the necessary personnel associated with the acquired assets. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises Charter Holdings convertible preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units priced at $353.64 per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred units will be convertible into Charter Holdings common units, with an initial conversion price of $477.41, a 35% premium to the reference price, subject to certain adjustments. The Charter Holdings common units will be exchangeable by the holder, in certain circumstances, for cash or, at the election of Charter, Charter Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments; and |
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of the newly created Charter Class C common stock. The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and the Charter Class B common stock but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the expansion of Charter’s growth-oriented operating strategy due to the significant operating footprint added in the transactions, which is expected to permit Charter to provide better marketing and service capabilities, to pursue additional growth opportunities, enhance sales and reduce churn, including by extending Charter’s pricing and cutting-edge products to Cox Communications’ customers; |
• | the ability of the combined company to better compete in video and advertising against Big Tech competitors who are able to leverage global scale in content and distribution; |
• | the ability of the combined company to use Cox Communications’ larger commercial footprint, the best enterprise services and products of both companies, and Cox Business’ industry reputation and assets to enable Charter to more effectively compete for larger business customers; |
• | the significant cost and capital expenditure savings expected to be realized in the transactions within three years of the closing, as well as greater operating efficiencies generally; |
• | the expectation that the larger scope of the combined entities’ operations will (i) permit accelerated and more efficient technology platform investments, including the development of AI tools for sales, retention and service, and the deployment of higher quality internet, video and mobile services over a larger footprint, (ii) provide new opportunities for insourcing to drive better customer service and satisfaction and (iii) otherwise improve Charter’s ability to innovate and compete in its industry; |
• | the financial strength of Charter after the transactions and the increased flexibility that this strength should provide, including an ongoing ability to engage in operating, technology, strategic and other initiatives expected to enhance stockholder value; |
• | the enhanced scope of Charter's operations following the transactions, including the fact that the transactions will (i) result in Charter acquiring approximately a net 6.3 million customers, increasing Charter's customer base from 31.4 million to 37.6 million, (ii) result in a net additional 12.3 million passings, increasing the locations passed by Charter's network from 57.2 million to 69.5 million, (iii) enhance Charter's efficiency in complementary markets such as Los Angeles and San Diego, and (iv) add key markets to Charter's business; |
• | Charter’s management’s determination that Cox Communications’ operating subsidiaries and their reputation, operations, management, business practices and legal/regulatory compliance do not pose any material concerns from a due diligence perspective; |
• | the fact that the terms of the transaction agreement resulted from arm’s-length negotiations between the parties and their respective legal and financial advisors; |
• | the understanding of the Charter Board and Charter’s management of Cox Communications’ business, financial position, financial performance and results of operations; |
• | the favorable valuation of Cox Communications’ assets using Cox’s 2025 estimated Transaction EBITDA, multiplied by Charter’s total enterprise value to 2025 estimated adjusted EBITDA trading multiple of 6.44x; |
• | the expectation that the transactions will be accretive to Charter’s stock price and increase pro forma growth rates and margin; |
• | the expectation that the transactions will increase Charter’s sales and earnings, increase cash flow generation, and produce higher cash flow per passing; |
• | because the amount of cash and number of Charter Holdings common units and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units are fixed under the transaction agreement and will not be adjusted for fluctuations in the market price for Charter Class A common stock, Charter has greater certainty as to the aggregate consideration that will be paid or issued to Cox Enterprises; |
• | the fact that the transactions put America first by returning jobs from overseas and creating new, good-paying customer service and sales careers in the United States; |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the review by the Charter Board, with its legal and financial advisors, of the structure of the transactions and the financial and other terms of the transaction agreement and other transaction documents; |
• | the addition of Cox Enterprises as a major new investor in the combined company; |
• | the fact that Liberty Broadband agreed, subject to the terms of the Liberty Broadband side letter, to accelerate the Liberty Broadband closing to immediately before the closing, which would facilitate a smooth transition in governance from Liberty Broadband to Cox Enterprises at the closing; |
• | the limitation of the number of Cox Enterprises designees on the Charter Board to a minority of the total number of directors on the Charter Board and the additional governance protections set forth in the amended stockholders agreement that Charter, Cox Enterprises and A/N will execute at the closing, which will provide for, among other things, voting caps, ownership caps, standstill provisions, required participation by A/N and Cox Enterprises in Charter share repurchases and transfer restrictions; |
• | the ability of the Charter Board to, in certain circumstances and after complying with certain procedures, consider alternative acquisition proposals that it determines to be “superior” to the transactions or change its recommendation to stockholders with respect to the transactions, as further described in the section entitled “The Transaction Agreement—No Solicitation by Charter” and “The Transaction Agreement—Charter Obligations Regarding Stockholder Meeting and Recommendation”; |
• | the inability of Cox Enterprises to terminate the transaction agreement to enter into a transaction with a third party with respect to an alternative acquisition of Cox Communications; |
• | the fact that, while Charter is obligated to use its reasonable best efforts to complete the transactions, with respect to obtaining regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions, such efforts standard does not obligate Charter to agree to (i) divest any material businesses, assets or properties of the combined company taken as a whole, (ii) any significant construction or conditions in perpetuity, (iii) any condition that is inconsistent with or violative of any condition imposed on the transactions by the FCC, or (iv) any condition that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially adversely affect, financially or otherwise, the business, assets or results of operation of the combined company taken as whole and permits Charter to control any litigation to oppose, defend against or overturn any action by a governmental authority to prevent or enjoin the transactions; |
• | the Charter senior management recommendation in support of the transactions; |
• | the fact that Charter’s stockholders will have an opportunity to vote on the share issuance and certificate amendment in connection with the transactions, which approvals are conditions to closing of the transactions; |
• | the financial analyses reviewed and discussed with the Charter Board on May 15, 2025 by representatives of Citi as well as the written opinion of Citi rendered to the Charter Board on May 16, 2025 as to, as of May 16, 2025 and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Citi as set forth in its written opinion, the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Charter of the consideration to be issued and paid by Charter in the transactions pursuant to the transaction agreement, as described in more detail in “—Opinion of Charter’s Financial Advisors—Opinion of Citi Rendered in Connection with the Transactions”; and |
• | the financial analyses reviewed and discussed with the Charter Board on May 15, 2025 by representatives of LionTree as well as the written opinion of LionTree rendered to the Charter Board on May 16, 2025 as to, as of May 16, 2025 and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by LionTree as set forth in its written opinion, the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Charter of the consideration to be issued and paid by Charter in the transactions pursuant to the transaction agreement, as described in more detail in “—Opinion of Charter’s Financial Advisors—Opinion of LionTree Rendered in Connection with the Transactions.” |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the dilution of the voting power of Charter’s current stockholders that would result from the issuance of new Charter Class A common stock (including the Charter Holdings common units and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units, which are convertible into or exchangeable for new Charter Class A common stock) to Cox Enterprises; |
• | the approximately $12.6 billion of outstanding net debt and other obligations of Cox Communications and its subsidiaries that Charter is expected to assume in connection with the transactions, which will increase Charter’s overall indebtedness after the transactions; |
• | the absence of financing conditions or other limitations on recourse if Charter is unable to obtain any required or desired financing from its debt financing sources, including to refinance or repurchase, if necessary, any portion of the approximately $12.6 billion of outstanding net debt and other obligations of Cox Communications that Charter is expected to assume in connection with the transactions; |
• | the challenges inherent to the integration of Cox Communications and realizing the projected synergies from the combination of Cox Communications and Charter; |
• | the possibility that the attention of Charter’s management may be diverted from other possible strategic priorities to focus on implementing the transactions, including making arrangements for the integration of Charter’s and Cox Communications’ operations, assets and employees within the combined company following the transactions; |
• | the fact that not all of the conditions to the completion of the transactions, including the receipt of necessary third party and regulatory approvals, are within the parties’ control; |
• | the risks inherent in seeking regulatory approval from multiple government agencies in multiple jurisdictions and the commitments made in that regard in the transaction agreement, as more fully described under “The Transaction Agreement—Covenant to Consummate the Transactions”; |
• | the possibility that the transactions may not be consummated and the potential adverse consequences if the transactions are not completed, including the substantial costs incurred evaluating and negotiating the transactions, market reaction and the potential payment by Charter of an $875 million termination fee if Charter or Cox Enterprises terminates the transaction agreement pursuant to the vote down termination right after an adverse recommendation change or if Cox Enterprises terminates the transaction agreement pursuant to the adverse recommendation change termination right; |
• | the requirement that Charter must hold a stockholder vote on the approval of the share issuance and certificate amendment, even if the Charter Board has changed its recommendation in favor of such proposals, and the inability of Charter to terminate the transaction agreement in connection with an alternative acquisition proposal; |
• | the substantial costs to be incurred by Charter in connection with the transactions and the negotiation of the transaction documents, including in connection with any litigation that may result from the announcement or pendency of the transactions, some of which may be payable regardless of whether the transactions are consummated, and the impact of such costs on Charter’s financial position; |
• | the restrictions set forth in the transaction agreement on the conduct of Charter’s business prior to completion of the transactions, which require Charter to refrain from taking certain actions, subject to specified limitations, which could delay or prevent Charter from pursuing certain opportunities pending completion of the transactions; and |
• | the various other applicable risks associated with Charter and the transactions, including the risks described in the sections entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | reviewed an execution version of the transaction agreement furnished to Citi on May 16, 2025; |
• | held discussions with certain senior officers, directors and other representatives and advisors of Charter concerning the businesses, operations and prospects of Charter and Cox Communications, as well as the anticipated benefits of the transactions; |
• | examined certain publicly available business and financial information relating to Charter and certain other non-public business and financial information relating to Charter and Cox Communications provided to or discussed with Citi by the management of Charter (including estimates of net indebtedness of Cox Communications), as well as (i) certain financial forecasts and other information and data relating to Cox Communications (including financial forecasts for Cox Communications under the ownership and operation of Charter prepared by the management of Charter, which are referred to and summarized in this proxy statement as the Charter projections for Cox Communications (see “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”), (ii) certain financial forecasts and other information and data relating to Charter (including financial forecasts for Charter prepared by the management of Charter based in part on |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | reviewed the terms of the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units and compared such terms with those of other securities Citi deemed relevant; |
• | reviewed the financial terms of the transactions as set forth in the transaction agreement in relation to, among other things: the historical earnings and other operating data of Cox Communications and Charter; and the capitalization and financial condition of Cox Communications and Charter; |
• | considered, to the extent publicly available, the financial terms of certain other transactions which Citi considered relevant in evaluating the transactions and analyzed certain financial, stock market and other publicly available information relating to the businesses of other companies whose operations Citi considered relevant in evaluating those of Cox Communications; and |
• | conducted such other analyses and examinations and considered such other information and financial, economic and market criteria as Citi deemed appropriate in arriving at its opinion. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Selected Companies | |||
Comcast Corp. | |||
Altice USA Inc. | |||
Date Announced | Target | Acquiror | ||||
September 2024 | Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. | Verizon Communications, Inc. | ||||
March 2021 | Shaw Communications Inc. | Rogers Communications Inc. | ||||
September 2015 | Cablevision Systems Corporation | Altice N.V. | ||||
May 2015 | Time Warner Cable Inc. | Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||
May 2015 | Cequel Corporation (Suddenlink) | Altice N.V. | ||||
March 2015 | Bright House Networks LLC | Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | reviewed (A) an execution version of the transaction agreement furnished to LionTree on May 16, 2025 and (B) a final form of the amended stockholders agreement to be entered at the closing by and among Charter, Cox Enterprises and A/N; |
• | reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information relating to Charter; |
• | reviewed certain internal financial estimates and other data relating to the business and financial prospects of Cox Communications and Charter, including estimates of net indebtedness of Cox Communications, that were provided to or discussed with LionTree by the management of Charter and not publicly available, including (a) certain financial forecasts and other information and data relating to Cox Communications under the ownership and operation of Charter prepared by the management of Charter, which are referred to and summarized in this proxy statement as the Charter projections for Cox Communications (see “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”) and (b) certain financial forecasts and other information and data relating to Charter prepared by the management of Charter based in part on consensus equity research estimates for Charter, which are referred to and summarized in this proxy statement as the Charter projections for Charter (see “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”); |
• | reviewed certain information relating to the amount and timing of potential tax benefits available to Charter anticipated by the management of Charter to result from the transactions prepared by the management of Charter and not publicly available, which are referred to and summarized in this proxy statement as the Charter estimated tax benefits (see “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”); |
• | reviewed certain estimates of synergies (including costs to achieve the synergies) anticipated by the management of Charter to result from the transactions prepared by the management of Charter and not publicly available, which are referred to and summarized in this proxy statement as the Charter estimated cost savings (see “Certain Unaudited Prospective Financial Information”); |
• | reviewed certain internal financial information and other data relating to the business and financial prospects of Charter, after giving pro forma effect to the transactions (including the Charter estimated tax benefits and the Charter estimated cost savings), prepared by the management of Charter and not publicly available; |
• | conducted discussions with members of the senior management of Charter concerning the business and financial prospects of Cox Communications and Charter, as well as the Charter estimated tax benefits and the Charter estimated cost savings; |
• | reviewed the terms of the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units and compared such terms with those of other securities LionTree deemed relevant; |
• | reviewed current and historical market prices of the Charter Class A common stock; |
• | reviewed certain publicly available financial and stock market data with respect to certain other companies LionTree believed to be generally relevant; |
• | compared certain financial terms of the transactions with the publicly available financial terms of certain other transactions LionTree believed to be generally relevant; and |
• | conducted such other financial studies, analyses and investigations, and considered such other information, as LionTree deemed necessary or appropriate. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Charter Communications, Inc. (pro forma for Liberty Broadband merger)* | Comcast Corp. | Altice USA Inc. | Cox Communications, Inc. – transaction multiples with face value of the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | Cox Communications, Inc. – transaction multiples with market value of the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | |||||||||||
EV/2024A Adj. EBITDA | 7.0x | 5.6x | 6.7x | 6.7x | 6.9x | ||||||||||
EV/2025E Adj. EBITDA | 6.9x | 5.6x | 6.9x | 6.8x | 7.1x | ||||||||||
EV/2024A Adj. EBITDA less CapEx | 13.9x | 8.1x | 11.6x | 12.3x | 12.7x | ||||||||||
EV/2025E Adj. EBITDA less CapEx | 14.3x | 7.9x | 11.3x | 12.8x | 13.3x | ||||||||||
Adj. EV / 2024A Adj. EBITDA | 7.0x | 5.6x | 6.7x | 6.4x | 6.7x | ||||||||||
Adj. EV / 2025E Adj. EBITDA | 6.9x | 5.6x | 6.9x | 6.6x | 6.8x | ||||||||||
Adj. EV / 2024A Adj. EBITDA less CapEx | 13.9x | 8.1x | 11.6x | 11.8x | 12.3x | ||||||||||
Adj. EV / 2025E Adj. EBITDA less CapEx | 14.2x | 7.9x | 11.3x | 12.3x | 12.8x | ||||||||||
* | Enterprise value and adjusted enterprise value estimates for Charter include book value of debt, cash and investments of Charter, the net present value of standalone Charter tax assets and is pro forma for the Liberty Broadband merger, consolidating Liberty Broadband’s debt, preferred stock and cash and reducing fully diluted shares outstanding by estimated net share retirement, in each case reflecting estimates per Charter management. |
Date Announced | Target | Acquiror | ||||
March 2021 | Shaw Communications Inc. | Rogers Communications Inc. | ||||
February 2021 | Hargray Acquisition Holdings, LLC | Cable One, Inc. | ||||
April 2017 | General Communication, Inc. | Liberty Interactive Corporation | ||||
September 2015 | Cablevision Systems Corporation | Altice N.V. | ||||
May 2015 | Time Warner Cable Inc. | Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||
May 2015 | Cequel Corporation (Suddenlink) | Altice N.V. | ||||
March 2015 | Bright House Networks LLC | Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LTM Multiple | ||||||
Selected Transactions | Enterprise Value | Adjusted Enterprise Value* | ||||
Mean | 10.6x | 10.4x | ||||
Median | 9.5x | 9.5x | ||||
Minimum | 7.6x | 6.7x | ||||
Maximum | 17.2x | 17.2x | ||||
Transaction - face value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | 6.7x | 6.4x | ||||
Transaction - market value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units | 6.9x | 6.7x | ||||
* | Enterprise value reduced by an estimate of the value of tax assets. |
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis | $36.527 billion to $44.795 billion | ||
Enterprise Value (at transaction with face value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units) | $36.541 billion | ||
Enterprise Value (at transaction with market value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units) | $37.881 billion | ||
Adjusted Enterprise Value (at transaction with face value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units) | $35.286 billion | ||
Adjusted Enterprise Value (at transaction with market value of Charter Holdings convertible preferred units) | $36.626 billion | ||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Implied Per Share Equity Value Range for Standalone Charter | |||
$588.98 to $868.51 | |||
Implied Per Share Equity Value Range for Pro Forma Charter | |||
$632.14 to $911.21 | |||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
($ in billions) | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | ||||||||||||||
Revenue | 55.2 | 56.2 | 56.9 | 57.6 | 58.1 | 59.3 | 60.3 | ||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(1) | 22.9 | 23.6 | 24.2 | 24.7 | 25.1 | 25.9 | 26.7 | ||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures(2) | 11.9 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.4 | ||||||||||||||
(1) | Charter management provided Citi and LionTree with projections for Charter Adjusted EBITDA, which were consistent with Charter’s publicly reported definition of Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to Charter stockholders plus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, other income (expenses), net and other operating (income) expenses, net, such as special charges and (gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income attributable to Charter stockholders reported in accordance with GAAP. This term, as defined by Charter, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. |
(2) | Includes changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures. |
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in billions) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025(3) | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | 13.3 | 13.1 | 12.8 | 12.5 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.5 | 13.0 | 13.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Transaction EBITDA(1)(2) | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 6.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Expense Savings | — | — | — | — | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Transition Costs | — | — | — | — | (0.1) | (0.1) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Transaction EBITDA incl. Savings & Transition Costs | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in billions) | 2023 | 2024 | 2025(3) | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | ||||||||||||||||||
Standalone Cox Communications Capital Expenditures | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditure Savings | — | — | — | — | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | ||||||||||||||||||
Transition Capital Expenditures | — | — | — | — | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures incl. Savings & Transition Capital Expenditures | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Severance Cost | (0.2) | (0.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense – net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, other – net such as (gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets and restructuring related charges, and other non-operating expenses such as investments (expenses) income – net and miscellaneous income – net. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income attributable to stockholders reported in accordance with GAAP. This term may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. |
(2) | Transaction EBITDA for 2023-2025 is based on estimates of Cox Communications Adjusted EBITDA provided by Cox Communications and includes adjustments primarily to reflect Cox Communications operating independently from Cox Enterprises proposed by Cox Communications and accepted by Charter management. Transaction EBITDA as presented for 2024 includes an additional $0.1 billion full year benefit of a reduction in force program enacted during the year. Transaction EBITDA for 2025 includes additional adjustments reflecting recent operating performance proposed by Cox Communications management and accepted by Charter management. Transaction EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income attributable to stockholders reported in accordance with GAAP. This term may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. |
(3) | Charter management also prepared estimates for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2025, assuming 75% of the full year projections. |
• | Estimated annual operating expense savings of $0.5 billion; |
• | Estimated aggregate total transition costs of $0.1 billion, excluding severance costs; |
• | Estimated annual capital expenditure savings of $1.0 billion; and |
• | Estimated aggregate total transition capital expenditures of $2.1 billion. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | divest or otherwise hold separate any businesses, assets or properties other than any businesses, assets or properties, that, individually or in the aggregate, are material to Charter, Charter Holdings and their respective subsidiaries (including Cox Communications and its subsidiaries), taken as a whole; |
• | accept conditions or take any other actions that would apply to or affect any businesses, assets or properties of Charter, Charter Holdings or any of their subsidiaries, other than (i) any condition requiring significant construction or any condition in perpetuity, (ii) any condition that is inconsistent with or violative of any conditions imposed by the FCC in connection with securing regulatory approvals from the FCC or (iii) any condition that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially adversely affect (financially or otherwise) the business, assets or results of operations of Charter, Charter Holdings and their respective subsidiaries (including Cox Communications and its subsidiaries), taken as a whole; |
• | unless mutually agreed by the parties, litigate or participate in the litigation of any proceeding involving the FCC, FTC or Antitrust Division or any other government entity to oppose or defend against any action by any such government entity to prevent or enjoin the consummation of the transactions or overturn any regulatory action to prevent consummation of the transaction, the transaction agreement or the other agreements related to the transactions (provided that Charter will direct the strategy of any such litigation). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises Charter Holdings convertible preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units priced at $353.64 per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred units will be convertible into Charter Holdings common units, with an initial conversion price of $477.41, a 35% premium to the reference price, subject to certain adjustments. The Charter Holdings common units will be exchangeable by the holder, in certain circumstances, for cash or, at the election of Charter, Charter Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments; and |
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of Charter Class C common stock. The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and the Charter Class B common stock but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
• | the approval of (i) the certificate amendment proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class and (ii) the share issuance proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class (collectively, the “requisite stockholder approvals”); |
• | any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act, and any commitments by the parties not to close before a certain date under any timing agreement entered into with a government entity, in each case, with respect to the transactions shall have expired or been terminated (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); |
• | the aggregate number of video customers served by the Cox Communications systems (i) pursuant to the “grandfathering” provisions of the Communications Act and (ii) pursuant to each Cox Communications |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | obtaining all of the required consents by the FCC to the transfer to Charter of all FCC licenses, authorizations, permits and consents held by Cox Communications or its subsidiaries and/or used in the Cox Communications business (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); |
• | obtaining authorizations from state communications authorities as required for Charter to provide voice and other regulated services in the Cox Communications systems used in the Cox Communications business following the closing (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); and |
• | the absence of any law, rule, executive order, decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which makes unlawful, prohibits, delays, enjoins or otherwise prevents or restrains the completion of the transactions. |
• | the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Cox parties (subject to a material adverse effect qualification, with the exception of certain specified representations); |
• | performance in all material respects by the Cox parties of the covenants and agreements to be performed by the Cox parties at or prior to the closing; |
• | the absence of any event, occurrence, circumstance, development or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Cox Communications; |
• | receipt of a certificate executed by an authorized officer of Cox Enterprises as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in the preceding three bullets; and |
• | delivery by Cox Enterprises of specified certificates, instruments of assignment and transaction documents. |
• | the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Charter parties (subject to a material adverse effect qualification, with the exception of certain specified representations); |
• | performance in all material respects by the Charter parties of the covenants and agreements to be performed by the Charter parties at or prior to the closing; |
• | the absence of any event, occurrence, circumstance, development or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Charter; |
• | receipt of a certificate executed by an authorized officer of Charter as to the satisfaction of the conditions described in the preceding three bullets; and |
• | delivery by Charter of specified certificates, instruments of assignment and transaction documents. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Charter, directly or indirectly through advisors, agents or other intermediaries, may (i) engage in negotiations or discussions with any third party that, subject to Charter’s compliance with the solicitation restrictions described in the first paragraph of this section (under “—No Solicitation by Charter”) has made, after the date of the transaction agreement, a Charter superior proposal or a Charter acquisition proposal that the Charter Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal advisors, could reasonably be expected to lead to a Charter superior proposal by the third party making such Charter acquisition proposal, (ii) furnish to such third party and its representatives non-public information relating to Charter or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement with such third party with terms no less favorable to Charter than those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Charter and Cox Enterprises (but such confidentiality agreement need not contain a “standstill” or similar provision that prohibits such third party from making any Charter acquisition proposal, acquiring Charter or taking any other action); provided that all such information |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the Charter Board may make an adverse recommendation change (i) following receipt of a Charter superior proposal or (ii) involving or relating to a Charter intervening event (as defined below). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | corporate existence, good standing and qualification to do business; |
• | ownership of equity interests in Cox Communications; |
• | corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the transaction agreement and related agreements, and to perform obligations under the transaction agreement and related agreements; |
• | governmental actions necessary to approve the transactions; |
• | absence of any conflict with or violation or breach of organizational documents, material contracts, franchises, leases or demising leases or laws to which Cox Communications is subject or governmental authorizations of Cox Communications; |
• | binding effect of the transaction agreement; |
• | accuracy of audited financial statements, maintenance of books and records, the preparation of financial statements based on such books and records and in accordance with GAAP and the fair presentation of the consolidated financial condition of Cox Communications and its subsidiaries in the financial statements and the maintenance of internal controls over financial reporting; |
• | conduct of the Cox Communications business in the ordinary course, absence of certain specified actions or changes and absence of any event, occurrence, circumstances, development or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, in each case since December 31, 2024; |
• | absence of indebtedness or undisclosed liabilities; |
• | absence of pending or threatened legal proceedings or investigations; |
• | franchises and governmental authorizations; |
• | disclosure of material contracts, the binding effect of such material contracts and the absence of defaults and breaches thereunder; |
• | real property and tangible personal property; |
• | benefit plans and labor relations; |
• | communications laws, copyright compliance and rate regulation; |
• | environmental matters; |
• | taxes; |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | compliance with laws; |
• | subscribers and system information; |
• | intellectual property; |
• | accuracy of information about Cox Communications and Cox Enterprises provided for inclusion in the proxy statement to be filed with the SEC and distributed to Charter stockholders in connection with the transactions; |
• | absence of undisclosed finders’ fees; |
• | transactions between Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Cox Enterprises or certain of its beneficial owners or related parties, on the other hand; |
• | insurance matters; and |
• | title to assets and sufficiency of assets. |
• | corporate existence, good standing and qualification to do business; |
• | capitalization; |
• | corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the transaction agreement and related agreements, and to perform obligations under the transaction agreement and related agreements; |
• | governmental actions necessary to approve the transactions; |
• | absence of any conflict with or violation or breach of organizational documents, material contracts or laws to which the Charter parties are subject or governmental authorizations of the Charter parties; |
• | binding effect of the transaction agreement; |
• | SEC filings, compliance of such filings with securities laws and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP; |
• | conduct of the Charter business in the ordinary course, absence of certain specified actions or changes and absence of any event, occurrence, circumstance, development or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, in each case since December 31, 2024; |
• | absence of undisclosed liabilities; |
• | absence of pending or threatened legal proceedings or investigations; |
• | absence of undisclosed finders’ fees; |
• | compliance with laws; and |
• | availability of funds. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | any change in international, national, regional or industry-wide economic or business conditions (including financial and capital market conditions) or any tariffs, trade wars or similar matters, except that this exception will not apply to the extent that the adverse effect on such party resulting from the foregoing is disproportionate relative to the adverse effects on the other participants in the multichannel video programming, high-speed internet, voice, mobile or telecommunications industries in the United States or any other industries in which such party’s business operates; |
• | changes or conditions generally affecting the multichannel video programming, high-speed internet, voice, mobile or telecommunications industries in the United States or any other industries in which such party’s business operates, except that this exception will not apply to the extent that the adverse effect on such party resulting from the foregoing is disproportionate relative to the adverse effects on the other participants in the multichannel video programming, high-speed internet, voice, mobile or telecommunications industries in the United States or any other industries in which such party’s business operates; |
• | any changes in general political conditions, any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of war, sabotage, cyberattack or terrorism or natural disasters or any other national or international calamity (including epidemics and pandemics), except to the extent the foregoing causes any damage or destruction to or renders unusable any facility or property of such party, except that this exception will not apply to the extent that the adverse effect on such party resulting from the foregoing is disproportionate relative to the adverse effects on the other participants in the multichannel video programming, high-speed internet, voice, mobile or telecommunications industries in the United States or any other industries in which such party’s business operates; |
• | the execution of the transaction agreement or the announcement, pendency or completion of the transactions or, in the case of Charter, the Liberty Broadband merger agreement (including, in each case, the impact thereof on, any loss of, or adverse change in, the relationship, contractual or otherwise, of the applicable party and its subsidiaries with their respective employees, customers, distributors, partners or suppliers or any other person with whom they transact business that is proximately caused thereby) (subject to limited exceptions); |
• | any failure by such party or any of its subsidiaries, in and of itself, to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or predictions with respect to financial performance (except that this shall not prevent any party from asserting that any fact, change, event, occurrence or effect that may have given rise or contributed to such change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a material adverse effect); |
• | any actual or proposed change in law or interpretations of such law, except that this exception will not apply to the extent that the adverse effect on such party resulting from the foregoing is disproportionate relative to the adverse effects on the other participants in the multichannel video programming, high-speed internet, voice, mobile or telecommunications industries in the United States or any other industries in which such party’s business operates; |
• | changes in GAAP (or authoritative interpretations thereof), except that this exception will not apply to the extent that the adverse effect on such party resulting from the foregoing is disproportionate relative to the adverse effects on the other participants in the multichannel video programming, high-speed internet, voice, mobile or telecommunications industries in the United States or any other industries in which such party’s business operates; |
• | with respect to a material adverse effect relative to Charter only, any change in the price of Charter Class A common stock (except that this shall not prevent any party from asserting that any fact, change, event, occurrence or effect that may have given rise or contributed to such change may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a material adverse effect); or |
• | compliance with the terms of, the taking of any action required by, or the taking of any action prohibited by, the transaction agreement, other than any obligation to operate in the ordinary course of business (subject to limited exceptions); |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | incur, create, assume or suffer to exist certain encumbrances on any assets of Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries that will remain in existence at the closing, other than certain permitted encumbrances or encumbrances securing the existing Cox Communications notes consented to by Charter to ensure that there does not occur a “Below Investment Grade Downgrade Event” or a “Change of Control Repurchase Event,” each as defined in the applicable supplement to the existing Cox Communications indenture; |
• | sell, lease, license, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any systems used in the Cox Communications business, headends, subscribers or other material assets of Cox or any of its subsidiaries (with respect to the Cox Communications business), in each case having a fair market value in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate, other than in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise specifically permitted by the transaction agreement; |
• | (i) enter into, modify, renew, suspend, abrogate, terminate or amend material programming contracts applicable solely to Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries other than extensions or renewals in the ordinary course of business, (ii) excluding material programming agreements, enter into any lease or material contract (as defined in the transaction agreement) or modify, renew, suspend, abrogate, terminate or amend in any material respect any such lease or any material contract, other than (A) in the ordinary course of business, (B) in connection with refinancing arrangements permitted by the transaction agreement, (C) specified amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications to the existing Cox Communications credit agreement or (D) certain actions contemplated or otherwise permitted by the transaction agreement or (iii) enter into, modify, renew, suspend, abrogate, terminate or amend in an material respect any governmental authorization, other than renewals and extensions in the ordinary course and on substantially the same terms; |
• | fail to timely file valid requests for renewal under Section 626 of the Communications Act with respect to all Cox Communications franchises that will expire within 36 months after any date between the date of the transaction agreement and the closing of the transaction; |
• | modify, suspend, abrogate, amend or terminate any of the organizational documents of Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries; |
• | authorize or issue any equity interest or class of equity interests in Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries or cancel, redeem or repurchase any of the membership interests or other equity interests in Cox Communications; |
• | make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any person other than to or in Cox Communications or any of its wholly owned transferred subsidiaries; |
• | except as required under applicable law or the terms of any benefit plan in effect as of the date of the transaction agreement, (i) grant, provide or increase (or commit to do the foregoing) any severance or termination payments or benefits to any Cox Communications business employees or other current or former directors, employees or other service providers of the Cox Communications business, Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries; (ii) subject to certain exceptions, increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of any Cox Communications business employee or other current or former directors, employees or other service providers of the Cox Communications business, Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries; (iii) subject to certain exceptions, become a party to, |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | transfer the employment duties of any Cox Communications business employee to a different business unit of Cox Enterprises so that such employee would no longer be a Cox Communications employee or transfer the employment duties of any non-Cox Communications business employee to Cox Communications or one of the transferred subsidiaries or take other action so that such employee would become a Cox Communications business employee, or hire any individual who would be a Cox Communications business employee at the level of vice president or above, or promote or terminate (other than for cause) the employment of any Cox Communications business employee at the level of vice president or above; |
• | settle or compromise any claim, action, arbitration, dispute or other proceeding except if (i) the amount paid in settlement or compromise and the financial impact of the settlement or compromise on Cox Communications and the transferred subsidiaries does not exceed $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate and (ii) such settlement does not impose any ongoing non-monetary liability on Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries (other than customary non-disparagement and confidentiality obligations); |
• | sell, assign, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any equity interests in Cox Communications or any of the transferred subsidiaries to any person or entity, other than Charter or its designee, and other than certain permitted encumbrances, or cause or permit Cox Communications, or any of the transferred subsidiaries to engage in any merger, consolidation or other restructuring or recapitalization event (other than with another transferred subsidiary), or liquidate or terminate the existence of Cox Communications or any of the transferred subsidiaries; |
• | other than in the ordinary course of business or as required by the terms of any contract entered into prior to the transaction agreement, acquire any system that would be a system used in the Cox Communications business upon such acquisition, or any headend, subscriber, person or business or all or substantially all assets of any person or business or any other assets having a fair market value in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate; |
• | (i) make any change in accounting policies, practice or procedures from those used to prepare the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, unless such change is required by GAAP, (ii) make any change in the management of payables, receivables or working capital or modify credit policies, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business, (iii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain working capital in the ordinary course of business or (iv) accelerate the collection of receivables or delay the payment of payables or prepaid expenditures, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business; |
• | fail to file, in a manner consistent with past practice, any tax returns required to be filed on or before the closing date; |
• | make, change or rescind any material tax election, settle or compromise any material claim for taxes, surrender any right to claim a material tax refund, enter into any closing agreement with respect to material taxes, file any amendment (except as required by law) to previously filed tax returns relating to material taxes, waive or extend any statute of limitation with respect to material taxes, consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any material claim for taxes (other than any automatic or automatically granted extension) or adopt or change any material tax accounting period or material tax accounting method, in each case, other than to the extent such action (i) would not reasonably be expected to have material adverse tax consequences for Charter or any of its affiliates (including Cox |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | other than in the ordinary course of business, engage in any business other than the Cox Communications business and ancillary businesses, other than businesses of Cox Enterprises excluded from the transactions; |
• | convert any billing system used in the Cox Communications business; |
• | except for (i) promotional offers, pricing of new internet tier speeds and pricing of new products and (ii) rate increases set forth in the confidential Cox Enterprises disclosure schedules or the Cox Communications operating budget, materially modify the eligibility criteria for any eligibility-restricted pricing programs, including those administered pursuant to broadband grants; |
• | defer beyond the closing date certain specified capital expenditures that are scheduled to be made before closing, provided that Cox Enterprises shall not be deemed to be in breach of this covenant if Cox Communications and its subsidiaries make at least 80% of such scheduled capital expenditures; |
• | fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) maintain inventory, plant replacement materials and customer premises equipment for the Cox Communications systems in the ordinary course of business, (ii) continue regular purchase activity of such systems in the ordinary course of business and (iii) maintain customer premises equipment of a quantity sufficient to enable Charter to conduct the Cox Communications business in the ordinary course of business for at least 45 days after closing; |
• | knowingly take, cause or permit to be taken or omit to take any action that would reasonably be expected to materially delay or prevent or impede the consummation of the transactions by the end date; |
• | enter into, modify, renew, suspend, abrogate, terminate or amend any transaction or contract with any person or entity affiliated with Cox Enterprises or any person or entity affiliated with such person (other than Cox Communications or any transferred subsidiaries), except (i) as provided by the transaction agreement to occur on or prior to the closing or in connection with the pre-closing restructuring of Cox Enterprises’ and Cox Communications’ assets and liabilities, (ii) actions related to the compensation or benefits of Cox employees or current or former directors, employees or other service providers of Cox Communications or the transferred subsidiaries that are expressly permitted pursuant to the terms of the transaction agreement or (iii) commercial contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business on arm’s length terms; |
• | redeem, repurchase, prepay, defease, incur, assume, endorse, guarantee or otherwise become liable for or modify in any material respect the terms of any indebtedness, or otherwise issue or sell any debt securities or calls, options, warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities (directly, contingently or otherwise), except for (i) indebtedness among Cox Communications and its wholly owned transferred subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (ii) revolving borrowings under the existing Cox Communications credit agreement, provided they are repaid by Cox Communications before closing, (iii) certain refinancing arrangements permitted by the transaction agreement, (iv) in connection with the cash payment of certain maturing indebtedness or (v) specified amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications to the existing Cox Communications credit agreement; or authorize or enter into any agreement or commitment to doing any of the foregoing; or |
• | authorize or enter into any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | knowingly take, cause or permit to be taken or omit to take any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impede the consummation of the transactions by the end date; |
• | modify, suspend, abrogate or amend or terminate any of the organizational documents of the Charter parties, other than those (except with respect to the existing Charter certificate of incorporation) that are not material; |
• | reclassify, split, combine, subdivide, cancel or redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any equity interest or class of equity interests in Charter or its subsidiaries, except (i) where equitable adjustments are made to the number of shares of Charter Class C common stock, Charter Holdings common units or Charter Holdings convertible preferred units to be issued as part of the consideration, as applicable, (ii) in connection with any compensatory equity award or for any transactions by a wholly owned subsidiary of Charter which will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of Charter after such transaction or (iii) for cancellations of equity interests of Charter held by Charter or any of its subsidiaries or repurchases of equity interests of Charter; |
• | declare, set aside or make any dividend or other distribution to its stockholders, whether cash or stock; |
• | engage in any material business other than the business of Charter and its subsidiaries, as of the date of the transaction agreement; |
• | liquidate or terminate the existence of the Charter parties; |
• | incur indebtedness, except for refinancing existing debt without exceeding the original principal amount plus related costs, if immediately after such incurrence, Charter’s leverage ratio would exceed 4.50x on a pro forma basis; |
• | knowingly take, and or omit to take, any action outside the ordinary course that would reasonably be expected to result in a “Below Investment Grade Downgrade Event” or a “Change of Control Repurchase Event” (each as defined in the applicable supplement to the existing Cox Communications indenture) at closing of the transactions or in the 60 days following such closing; or |
• | authorize or enter into any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | divest or otherwise hold separate any businesses, assets or properties other than any businesses, assets or properties, that, individually or in the aggregate, are material to Charter, Charter Holdings and their respective subsidiaries (including Cox Communications and its subsidiaries), taken as a whole; |
• | accept conditions or take any other actions that would apply to or affect any businesses, assets or properties of Charter, Charter Holdings or any of their subsidiaries, other than (i) any condition requiring significant construction or any condition in perpetuity, (ii) any condition that is inconsistent with or violative of any conditions imposed by the FCC in connection with securing regulatory approvals from the FCC or (iii) any condition that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially adversely affect (financially or otherwise) the business, assets or results of operations of Charter, Charter Holdings and their respective subsidiaries (including Cox Communications and its subsidiaries), taken as a whole; |
• | unless mutually agreed by the parties, litigate or participate in the litigation of any proceeding involving the FCC, FTC or Antitrust Division or any other government entity to oppose or defend against any action by any such government entity to prevent or enjoin the consummation of the transactions or overturn any regulatory action to prevent consummation of the transaction, the transaction agreement or the other agreements related to the transactions (provided that Charter will direct the strategy of any such litigation). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | either, in Cox Enterprises’ discretion (in consultation with Charter), (i) the removal and release of Cox Communications as a borrower, guarantor or obligor under and pursuant to its existing credit agreement, the related guarantee from Cox Communications and the other related loan documents, such that Cox Communications and the transferred subsidiaries will have no liability, and none of their assets will be subject to recourse, under such existing credit agreement or the other related loan documents, or (ii) with certain exceptions, the repayment in full in cash of all amounts or other obligations then outstanding under its existing credit agreement and the termination of such credit agreement, including by providing a customary payoff letter from the administrative agent under its existing credit agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Charter; |
• | the release of Cox Communications and the transferred subsidiaries from certain guarantee agreements under which Cox Communications provides certain guarantees to third parties with respect to certain obligations of Cox Enterprises, and the delivery of customary acknowledgments of release from the relevant agent or counterparty under such guarantee agreements; and |
• | upon reasonable advance request from Charter, the repayment in full in cash of all amounts and other obligations under certain debt documents governing certain financing arrangements permitted by the transaction agreement and the termination of such debt documents, including by providing one or more payoff letters from the applicable agent or trustee thereunder in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Charter. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | for one year following completion of the transaction, base wages for commissions-based continuing employees that are no less favorable than those provided to each such commissions-based continuing employee immediately prior to completion of the transaction; |
• | for one year following completion of the transaction, for continuing employees who are not commissions-based, base pay and annual bonus opportunities that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided to each such continuing employee immediately prior to completion of the transaction; |
• | for one year following completion of the transaction, target equity or equity-based incentive opportunities and employee benefits (other than severance and subject to certain other exclusions) that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided to similarly situated employees of Charter and its subsidiaries; and |
• | for one year following completion of the transaction, severance benefits that are no less than those provided under a severance plan to be mutually agreed between Cox Enterprises and the Charter parties. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Charter and Cox Enterprises agree to provide the other party and its representatives with reasonable access to senior management, financial and operating data, and other information as may be reasonably requested, while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and confidentiality obligations; |
• | Charter agrees to provide Cox Enterprises with monthly financial information packages and reasonable access to senior management; |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Charter agrees to retain all relevant books and records for a period of seven years after the closing date, granting Cox Enterprises access to inspect and copy these records as needed for tax filings, investigations or litigation related to pre-closing operations; |
• | Cox Enterprises agrees to deliver all books and records relating to Cox Communications and the transferred subsidiaries to Charter at or promptly after the closing, and to provide access to personnel and information necessary for tax filings and litigation arising from pre-closing operations; |
• | Cox Enterprises agrees to deliver specific financial information and cooperate with Charter in preparing pro forma financial statements for regulatory filings, with Charter reimbursing Cox Enterprises for 50% of reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred in fulfilling these obligations; |
• | Cox Enterprises is required to periodically notify Charter of the number and work location of employees laid off during the 90-day period prior to closing, providing a final list immediately before closing. Charter is responsible for fulfilling all notifications, benefits and liabilities required by the WARN Act for continuing employees and governmental authorities; and |
• | no press release or public announcement related to the transaction agreement will be made without prior approval from both Charter and Cox Enterprises, except as required by law or stock exchange rules, with reasonable opportunity for review and comment. |
• | by mutual consent of Cox Enterprises and Charter; |
• | by either Cox Enterprises or Charter if: |
• | the transactions have not been completed on or before the initial end date (May 16, 2026), which may be extended by either party in increments of 90 days to a date no later than May 16, 2027, if all conditions to completion have been satisfied at such time other than the conditions relating to receipt of required regulatory approvals; provided, however, that the right to terminate the transaction agreement or to elect to extend the end date of the transaction agreement will not be available to any party who has breached in any material respect any of its covenants or agreements under the transaction agreement in a manner that has proximately caused the failure of the closing to occur by the applicable end date. Furthermore, if all conditions to closing, except those to be satisfied at closing, are met or waived before the end date, and the closing is scheduled to occur within five business days after the end date, then the end date will automatically extend to the specified date, which will become the new end date; |
• | any decree, judgment, injunction or other order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting completion of the transactions has been issued and become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate the transaction agreement under this bullet will not be available to any party who has breached in any material respect any of its covenants or agreements under the transaction agreement in a manner that has proximately caused such decree, judgment, injunction or other order to be issued or come into effect; |
• | the requisite stockholder approvals have not been obtained at the meeting of Charter stockholders set for such approval, including any adjournment or postponement of such meeting (which is referred to in this proxy statement as the vote down termination right); or |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | by Cox Enterprises, if: |
• | the Charter parties breach or fail to perform any of their representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in the transaction agreement, which breach or failure to perform would result in the failure of a closing condition regarding the accuracy of their representations and warranties or the performance or compliance by them in all material respects with their obligations under the transaction agreement, and, in each case, such breach or failure to perform is incapable of being cured, or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof is given by Cox Enterprises; |
• | prior to the date on which the vote is taken to approve the certificate amendment proposal and the share issuance proposal by the Charter stockholders, the Charter Board makes an adverse recommendation change or the Charter Board fails to reaffirm its recommendation within 10 business days after receipt of any written request to do so from Cox Enterprises following receipt of any Charter acquisition proposal (which is referred to in this proxy statement as the adverse recommendation change termination right); or |
• | by Charter, if the Cox parties breach or fail to perform any of their representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in the transaction agreement, which breach or failure to perform would result in the failure of a closing condition regarding the accuracy of their representations and warranties or the performance or compliance by them in all material respects with their obligations under the transaction agreement, and, in each case, such breach or failure to perform is incapable of being cured, or, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof is given by Charter. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in favor of the share issuance proposal; |
• | in favor of the certificate amendment proposal; |
• | in favor of the adjournment proposal; and |
• | against any action, proposal, transaction, agreement or amendment of the Charter certificate of incorporation or the Charter bylaws, in each case, for which Liberty Broadband has received prior written notice from Charter and Cox Enterprises that it reasonably expects that such action, proposal, transaction, agreement or amendment would materially prevent, impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions, including any action or proposal in favor of any Charter acquisition proposal, without regard to the terms of such Charter acquisition proposal. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in favor of the share issuance proposal; |
• | in favor of the certificate amendment proposal; |
• | in favor of the adjournment proposal; and |
• | against any action, proposal, transaction, agreement or amendment of the Charter certificate of incorporation or the Charter bylaws, in each case, for which A/N has received prior written notice from Charter and Cox Enterprises that it reasonably expects that such action, proposal, transaction, agreement or amendment would materially prevent, impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions, including any action or proposal in favor of any Charter acquisition proposal, without regard to the terms of such Charter acquisition proposal. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | immediately prior to the closing; |
• | the later of (i) June 30, 2027 and (ii) the third business day after all conditions set forth in the Liberty Broadband merger agreement have been satisfied or waived (to the extent waivable), or at such other date and time as agreed to by the parties in writing or subject to adjustment pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement in the event any proposed tax law change would prevent counsel to Charter or Liberty Broadband from delivering certain tax opinions in connection with the Liberty Broadband merger, in which case, at the election of Liberty Broadband or Charter, the parties would use reasonable best efforts to cause the Liberty Broadband merger to occur prior to the effective date of such proposed tax law change; and |
• | solely if the transaction agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, at Liberty Broadband’s election, the later of (i) the tenth business day after the transaction agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and (ii) the third business day after all conditions set forth in the Liberty Broadband merger agreement have been satisfied or waived (to the extent waivable), or at such other date and time as agreed to by the parties in writing or pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement or subject to adjustment pursuant to the Liberty Broadband merger agreement in the event any proposed tax law change would prevent counsel to Charter or Liberty Broadband from delivering certain tax opinions in connection with the Liberty Broadband merger, in which case, at the election of Liberty Broadband or Charter, the parties would use reasonable best efforts to cause the Liberty Broadband merger to occur prior to the effective date of such proposed tax law change. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | three director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest in Charter is greater than or equal to 20%; |
• | two director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 20% but such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest is greater than or equal to 11%; however, A/N will be entitled to nominate two director nominees if it owns an equity interest or voting interest in Charter of 9% or more; and |
• | one director nominee, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 11% but such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest is greater than or equal to 5% or, in the case of Cox Enterprises, Cox Enterprises’ equity interest in Charter is greater than or equal to 25% of the equity interest owned by Cox Enterprises and its affiliates immediately after the closing. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | for so long as A/N or Cox Enterprises has a voting or equity interest in Charter equal to or greater than 20%, any change of control of Charter will require the approval of (i) a majority of the full board of directors and (ii) a majority of the unaffiliated directors; |
• | any transaction involving either A/N or Cox Enterprises (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) and Charter (with limited exceptions) or any transaction in which A/N or Cox Enterprises (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) will be treated differently from the holders of, in the case of A/N, Charter Class A common stock or Charter Class C common stock, and in the case of Cox Enterprises, Charter Class A common stock or Charter Class B common stock, will require the approval of (i) a majority of the unaffiliated directors plus (ii) a majority of the directors designated by the party without such a conflicting interest; however, the approval requirement in this clause (ii) will not apply to ordinary course programming, distribution and other commercial agreements and related ancillary agreements entered into on an arms’ length basis; and |
• | any amendment to the amended certificate of incorporation will require the approval of (i) a majority of the full board and (ii) a majority of the unaffiliated directors. |
• | any vote of Charter’s stockholders on a change of control or sale of all or substantially all of Charter’s assets; |
• | any vote of Charter’s stockholders to approve a bankruptcy plan or pre-arranged financial restructuring with the creditors of Charter or Charter Holdings; |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | any vote of Charter stockholders to approve the creation of a new class of shares of Charter or a new class of units of Charter Holdings; |
• | with respect to each investor party, any vote of Charter’s stockholders to approve any matter not in the ordinary course and relating to a transaction involving the other investor party or any of its affiliates; |
• | with respect to A/N, any vote of Charter’s stockholders in respect of any resolution that would in any way diminish the voting power of the Charter Class B common stock compared to the voting power of the Charter Class A common stock or the Charter Class C common stock; and |
• | with respect to Cox Enterprises, any vote of Charter’s stockholders in respect of any resolution that would in any way diminish the voting power of the Charter Class C common stock compared to the voting power of the Charter Class A common stock or the Charter Class B common stock. |
• | in the case of Cox Enterprises, 30%; and |
• | in the case of A/N, 15%. |
• | incur indebtedness (other than to refinance existing indebtedness without any increase in principal amount as described in more detail in the amended stockholders agreement), if immediately following such incurrence, Charter’s Leverage Ratio (as defined in the amended stockholders agreement) determined as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of Charter would exceed 4.5x or, following the date that is three years after the closing date, 4.0x; |
• | fundamentally change its business or material investments to an extent that would constitute a significant departure from Charter’s existing business or voluntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind-up Charter or Charter Holdings; |
• | sell, distribute or transfer 5% or more of the fair market value, determined as of immediately prior to the closing, of the membership interests in Cox Communications or the assets considered to be contributed by Cox Enterprises for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to the transaction agreement, within the seven-year period following the closing date, if such sale, distribution or transfer would not occur on a tax-deferred basis in all material respects; and |
• | increase the size of the Charter Board, except to the extent Charter provides for a proportionate increase in the number of director nominees to which each investor party is entitled under the amended stockholders agreement. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in respect of Cox Enterprises, 30%; and |
• | in respect of A/N, 19%. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in its entirety, with the mutual written agreement of Charter and each investor party; |
• | with respect to an investor party, upon certain breaches by Charter or the investor party of the amended stockholders agreement, in each case subject to specified notice and cure periods; or |
• | with respect to an investor party, upon such investor party having an equity interest in Charter of less than 5%. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | the share issuance proposal; |
2. | the certificate amendment proposal; |
3. | the governance proposals; and |
4. | the adjournment proposal. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Via the Internet: by visiting the website indicated on the accompanying proxy card and following the instructions. |
• | By telephone: by calling the toll-free number indicated on the accompanying proxy card and following the recorded instructions. |
• | By mail: by completing the accompanying proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid envelope. If you do not have the postage-paid envelope, please mail your completed proxy card to the following address: Charter Communications, Inc., 400 Washington Blvd., Stamford, Connecticut 06902, Attn: Corporate Secretary. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | your shares will not be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum; and |
• | your broker, bank or other nominee may not vote your shares, which will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the certificate amendment proposal and the governance proposals and will have no effect on the outcome of the share issuance proposal (assuming a quorum is present) or the adjournment proposal. |
• | by logging onto the Internet website specified on your proxy card in the same manner you would to submit your proxy electronically or by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card, in each case, if you are eligible to do so; |
• | by sending a notice of revocation or a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your original proxy card to Charter Communications, Inc., 400 Washington Blvd., Stamford, Connecticut 06902, Attn: Corporate Secretary; or |
• | by attending the Charter special meeting and voting. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the adjournment is for more than 30 days; or |
• | after the adjournment, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting; |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | three director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest in Charter is greater than or equal to 20%; |
• | two director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 20% but such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest is greater than or equal to 11%; however, A/N will be entitled to nominate two director nominees if it owns an equity interest or voting interest in Charter of 9% or more; and |
• | one director nominee, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 11% but such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest is greater than or equal to 5% or, in the case of Cox Enterprises, Cox Enterprises’ equity interest in Charter is greater than or equal to 25% of the equity interest owned by Cox Enterprises and its affiliates immediately after the closing. |
• | for so long as A/N or Cox Enterprises has a voting or equity interest in Charter equal to or greater than 20%, any change of control of Charter will require the approval of (i) a majority of the full board of directors and (ii) a majority of the unaffiliated directors; |
• | any transaction involving either A/N or Cox Enterprises (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) and Charter (with limited exceptions) or any transaction in which A/N or Cox Enterprises (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) will be treated differently from the holders of, in the case of A/N, Charter Class A common stock or Charter Class C common stock, and in the case of Cox Enterprises, Charter Class A common stock or Charter Class B common stock, will require the approval of (i) a majority of the |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | any amendment to the amended certificate of incorporation will require the approval of (i) a majority of the full board and (ii) a majority of the unaffiliated directors. |
• | any vote of Charter’s stockholders on a change of control or sale of all or substantially all of Charter’s assets; |
• | any vote of Charter’s stockholders to approve a bankruptcy plan or pre-arranged financial restructuring with the creditors of Charter or Charter Holdings; |
• | any vote of Charter stockholders to approve the creation of a new class of shares of Charter or a new class of units of Charter Holdings; |
• | with respect to each investor party, any vote of Charter’s stockholders to approve any matter not in the ordinary course and relating to a transaction involving the other investor party or any of its affiliates; |
• | with respect to A/N, any vote of Charter’s stockholders in respect of any resolution that would in any way diminish the voting power of the Charter Class B common stock compared to the voting power of the Charter Class A common stock or the Charter Class C common stock; and |
• | with respect to Cox Enterprises, any vote of Charter’s stockholders in respect of any resolution that would in any way diminish the voting power of the Charter Class C common stock compared to the voting power of the Charter Class A common stock or the Charter Class B common stock. |
• | in the case of Cox Enterprises, 30%; and |
• | in the case of A/N, 15%. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | shares of Charter Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share; |
• | shares of Charter Class B common stock are entitled to a number of votes reflecting the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units held by the A/N Parties on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. Any holder of Charter Class B common stock who is not an A/N Party will not be entitled to any vote on any matter with respect to any Charter Class B common stock held by such holder (other than as required by law); and |
• | shares of Charter Class C common stock are entitled to a number of votes reflecting the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by the Cox Parties on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. Any holder of Charter Class C common stock who is not a Cox Party will not be entitled to any vote on any matter with respect to any Charter Class C common stock held by such holder (other than as required by law). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | entitling the holders thereof to cumulative, non-cumulative or partially cumulative dividends, or to no dividends; |
• | entitling the holders thereof to receive dividends payable on a parity with, junior to, or in preference to, the dividends payable on any other class or series of capital stock of Charter; |
• | entitling the holders thereof to rights upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any other distribution of the assets of, Charter, on a parity with, junior to or in preference to, the rights of any other class or series of capital stock of Charter; |
• | providing for the conversion or exchange, at the option of the holder or of Charter or both, or upon the happening of a specified event, of the shares of preferred stock into shares of any other class or classes or series of capital stock of Charter or of any series of the same or any other class or classes, including provision for adjustment of the conversion or exchange rate in such events as the Charter Board shall determine, or providing for no conversion; |
• | providing for the redemption, in whole or in part, of the shares of preferred stock at the option of Charter or the holder thereof, or upon the happening of a specified event, in cash, bonds or other property, at such price or prices (which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates), within such period or periods, and under such conditions as the Charter Board shall so provide, including provisions for the creation of a sinking fund for the redemption thereof, or providing for no redemption; |
• | providing for voting rights or having limited voting rights or enjoying general, special or multiple voting rights; and |
• | specifying the number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | three director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest in Charter is greater than or equal to 20%; |
• | two director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 20% but such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest is greater than or equal to 11%; however, A/N will be entitled to nominate two director nominees if it owns an equity interest or voting interest in Charter of 9% or more; |
• | one director nominee, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 11% but such investor party’s equity interest or voting interest is greater than or equal to 5% or, in the case of Cox Enterprises, Cox Enterprises’ equity interest in Charter is greater than or equal to 25% of the equity interest owned by Cox Enterprises and its affiliates immediately after the closing; and |
• | no director nominees, if such investor party’s equity interest and voting interest in Charter are both less than 5% (and, in the case of Cox Enterprises, Cox Enterprises’ equity interest in Charter is less than 25% of the equity interest owned by Cox Enterprises and its affiliates immediately after the closing). |
• | the Charter Board must act by majority vote of the full board, subject to the following: |
• | for so long as A/N or Cox Enterprises has a voting or equity interest in Charter equal to or greater than 20%, any change of control of Charter will require the approval of (i) a majority of the full board of directors and (ii) a majority of the unaffiliated directors; |
• | any transaction involving either A/N or Cox Enterprises (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) and Charter (with limited exceptions) or any transaction in which A/N or Cox Enterprises (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) will be treated differently from the holders of, in the case of A/N, Charter Class A common stock or Charter Class C common stock, and in the case of Cox Enterprises, Charter Class A common stock or Charter Class B common stock, will require the approval of (i) a majority of the unaffiliated directors plus (ii) a majority of the directors designated by the party without such a conflicting interest; however, the approval requirement in this clause (ii) will not apply to ordinary course programming, distribution and other commercial agreements and related ancillary agreements entered into on an arms’ length basis; and |
• | any amendment to the amended certificate of incorporation, including the filing of a certificate of designations relating to the issuance of any series of preferred stock, will require the approval of (i) a majority of the full board and (ii) a majority of the unaffiliated directors; |
• | decisions of unaffiliated directors will exclude any directors who are not Independent (as defined in the amended certificate of incorporation) of Charter, Cox Enterprises and A/N; and |
• | any decision with respect to a stockholder rights plan, including whether to implement a stockholder rights plan, will be made by a majority of the unaffiliated directors. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | the board of directors of the corporation has approved, before the person or entity becomes an interested stockholder, either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder; |
• | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder, the person owns at least 85% of the corporation’s voting stock (excluding shares owned by directors who are officers and shares owned by employee stock plans in which participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer); or |
• | after the person or entity becomes an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized by the vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | amend, alter or repeal the terms of the certificate of designation, whether by merger, share exchange, consolidation or otherwise, in a manner that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Charter rollover preferred stock, unless each share of Charter rollover preferred stock (i) will remain |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class of Senior Stock or reclassify any of the authorized capital stock of Charter into such shares of Senior Stock, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any shares of Senior Stock. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Extend its network to serve more residential and business customers at attractive returns. |
• | Enhance the customer experience and value proposition, focusing on reliability, speed, and its entire portfolio of offerings. |
• | Advance its growth opportunities, including managed IT, cloud services, and smart communities. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in consideration of the equity sale, Charter will pay $3.5 billion in cash to Cox Enterprises; |
• | in consideration of the contribution, Charter Holdings will (i) pay to Cox Enterprises $500 million in cash and (ii) issue to Cox Enterprises Charter Holdings convertible preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion, which will pay a 6.875% dividend per annum, and approximately 33.6 million Charter Holdings common units priced at $353.64 per share. The Charter Holdings convertible preferred |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | in consideration of the $1.00 payment from Cox Enterprises to Charter, Charter will issue to Cox Enterprises one share of Charter Class C common stock. The Charter Class C common stock will be equivalent, economically, to the outstanding Charter Class A common stock and the Charter Class B common stock but will have a number of votes per share that reflect the voting power of the Charter Holdings common units and the Charter Holdings convertible preferred units held by Cox Enterprises on an as-converted, as-exchanged basis. |
Three Months Ended March 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Net income | $461 | $495 | $1,725 | $1,903 | $1,555 | ||||||||||
Plus: | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 129 | 139 | 450 | 626 | 554 | ||||||||||
Interest expense — net | 108 | 100 | 373 | 361 | 390 | ||||||||||
Other non-operating expenses (income) | 34 | (14) | 2 | 108 | (202) | ||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 544 | 545 | 2,183 | 2,099 | 2,022 | ||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill | — | — | — | — | 836 | ||||||||||
Other — net | (15) | (4) | 206 | (32) | 66 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $1,261 | $1,261 | $4,939 | $5,065 | $5,221 | ||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenues | $3,183 | $3,307 | $(124) | (4)% | ||||||||
Operating costs and expenses | 1,922 | 2,046 | (124) | (6)% | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(a) | 1,261 | 1,261 | — | —% | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 544 | 545 | (1) | —% | ||||||||
Other — net | (15) | (4) | (11) | NM | ||||||||
Operating income | $732 | $720 | $12 | 2% | ||||||||
Non-operating expenses | (142) | (86) | (56) | 65% | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (129) | (139) | 10 | (7)% | ||||||||
Net income | $461 | $495 | $(34) | (7)% | ||||||||
(a) | Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance defined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for, or superior to, a GAAP measure such as net income. Cox Communications believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to creditors and other users of its financial statements in evaluating its performance because it is a commonly used financial analysis tool for measuring and comparing broadband communications companies in several areas of operating performance and leverage. See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information. |
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Residential | ||||||||||||
Data | $1,478 | $1,527 | $(49) | (3)% | ||||||||
Video | 620 | 663 | (43) | (6)% | ||||||||
Telephony | 53 | 64 | (11) | (17)% | ||||||||
Other(a) | 138 | 140 | (2) | (1)% | ||||||||
Total residential | 2,289 | 2,394 | (105) | (4)% | ||||||||
Commercial | 843 | 851 | (8) | (1)% | ||||||||
Advertising | 51 | 62 | (11) | (18)% | ||||||||
Total revenues | $3,183 | $3,307 | $(124) | (4)% | ||||||||
(a) | Other residential revenues includes franchise, regulatory, and customer late fees, service protection fees, Cox Mobile and other miscellaneous revenues. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Direct costs: | ||||||||||||
Programming costs | $503 | $547 | $(44) | (8)% | ||||||||
Other direct costs | 284 | 279 | 5 | 2% | ||||||||
Total direct costs(a) | 787 | 826 | (39) | (5)% | ||||||||
Operating expenses(b) | 1,135 | 1,220 | (85) | (7)% | ||||||||
Total direct costs and operating expenses | $1,922 | $2,046 | $(124) | (6)% | ||||||||
(a) | Direct costs include cable programming costs, which are amounts paid to programmers for cable content and to television stations for retransmission consent, and are generally paid on a per-subscriber basis. Other direct costs include expenses that Cox Communications incurs in conjunction with providing its residential, mobile, commercial, and advertising services. |
(b) | Operating expenses include field service and call center costs (costs associated with providing and maintaining Cox Communications’ nationwide IP network and customer care costs necessary to maintain Cox Communications’ customer base) in addition to marketing and sales and general and administrative costs. |
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense — net | $(108) | $(100) | $(8) | 8% | ||||||||
Investments (expense) income — net | (41) | 1 | (42) | NM | ||||||||
Miscellaneous income — net | 7 | 13 | (6) | (46)% | ||||||||
Total non-operating expenses | $(142) | $(86) | $(56) | 65% | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenues | $13,073 | $13,326 | $(253) | (2)% | ||||||||
Operating costs and expenses | 8,134 | 8,261 | (127) | (2)% | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(a) | 4,939 | 5,065 | (126) | (2)% | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,183 | 2,099 | 84 | 4% | ||||||||
Other — net | 206 | (32) | 238 | NM | ||||||||
Operating income | $2,550 | $2,998 | $(448) | (15)% | ||||||||
Non-operating expenses | (375) | (469) | 94 | (20)% | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (450) | (626) | 176 | (28)% | ||||||||
Net income | $1,725 | $1,903 | $(178) | (9)% | ||||||||
(a) | Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance defined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for, or superior to, a GAAP measure such as net income. Cox Communications believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to creditors and other users of its financial statements in evaluating its performance because it is a commonly used financial analysis tool for measuring and comparing broadband communications companies in several areas of operating performance and leverage. See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information. |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Residential | ||||||||||||
Data | $6,026 | $6,079 | $(53) | (1)% | ||||||||
Video | 2,530 | 2,749 | (219) | (8)% | ||||||||
Telephony | 235 | 294 | (59) | (20)% | ||||||||
Other(a) | 549 | 560 | (11) | (2)% | ||||||||
Total residential | 9,340 | 9,682 | (342) | (4)% | ||||||||
Commercial | 3,417 | 3,365 | 52 | 2% | ||||||||
Advertising | 316 | 279 | 37 | 13% | ||||||||
Total revenues | $13,073 | $13,326 | $(253) | (2)% | ||||||||
(a) | Other residential revenue includes franchise, regulatory and customer late fees, service protection fees, Cox Mobile, and other miscellaneous revenues. |
• | decreases in residential data, video, and telephony revenues predominantly from a decrease in the number of subscribers driven in part by the cancellation of the ACP, partially offset by an increase in average revenue per subscriber; |
• | increases in commercial revenues principally driven by growth in the fiber, hospitality and managed cloud services businesses; and |
• | increases in advertising revenues primarily due to increases in political spend, partially offset by a decline in video subscribers. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Direct costs | ||||||||||||
Programming costs | $2,064 | $2,220 | $(156) | (7)% | ||||||||
Other direct costs | 1,190 | 1,091 | 99 | 9% | ||||||||
Total direct costs(a) | 3,254 | 3,311 | (57) | (2)% | ||||||||
Operating expenses(b) | 4,880 | 4,950 | (70) | (1)% | ||||||||
Total operating costs and expenses | $8,134 | $8,261 | $(127) | (2)% | ||||||||
(a) | Direct costs include cable programming costs, which are amounts paid to programmers for cable content and to television stations for retransmission consent and are generally paid on a per-subscriber basis. Other direct costs include expenses that Cox Communications incurs in conjunction with providing its residential, mobile, commercial, and advertising services. |
(b) | Operating expenses include field service and call center costs (costs associated with providing and maintaining Cox Communications’ nationwide IP network and customer care costs necessary to maintain Cox Communications’ customer base) in addition to marketing and sales and general administrative costs. |
• | decreases in programming costs due to declines in the number of video customers and a one-time credit adjustment related to a contractual agreement with a programmer; partially offset by |
• | increases in other direct costs mainly attributable to the growth of Cox Mobile, increases in costs associated with political advertising revenue and growth in the fiber, hospitality and managed cloud services businesses, partly offset by decreases in other costs related to Cox Communications’ residential business. |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense — net | $(373) | $(361) | $(12) | 3% | ||||||||
Investments expense — net | (47) | (151) | 104 | (69)% | ||||||||
Miscellaneous income — net | 45 | 43 | 2 | 5% | ||||||||
Total non-operating expenses | $(375) | $(469) | $94 | (20)% | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenues | $13,326 | $13,542 | $(216) | (2)% | ||||||||
Operating costs and expenses | 8,261 | 8,321 | (60) | (1)% | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(a) | 5,065 | 5,221 | (156) | (3)% | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,099 | 2,022 | 77 | 4% | ||||||||
Impairment of goodwill | — | 836 | 836 | (100)% | ||||||||
Other — net | (32) | 66 | (98) | NM | ||||||||
Operating income | $2,998 | $2,297 | $701 | 31% | ||||||||
Non-operating expenses | (469) | (188) | (281) | (149)% | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (626) | (554) | (72) | (13)% | ||||||||
Net income | $1,903 | $1,555 | 348 | 22% | ||||||||
(a) | Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance defined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for, or superior to, a GAAP measure such as net income. Cox Communications believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to creditors and other users of its financial statements in evaluating its performance because it is a commonly used financial analysis tool for measuring and comparing broadband communications companies in several areas of operating performance and leverage. See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information. |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Residential | ||||||||||||
Data(a) | $6,079 | $5,938 | $141 | 2% | ||||||||
Video(a) | 2,749 | 3,092 | (343) | (11)% | ||||||||
Telephony(a) | 294 | 370 | (76) | (21)% | ||||||||
Other(a)(b) | 560 | 525 | 35 | 7% | ||||||||
Total residential | 9,682 | 9,925 | (243) | (2)% | ||||||||
Commercial | 3,365 | 3,193 | 172 | 5% | ||||||||
Advertising | 279 | 424 | (145) | (34)% | ||||||||
Total revenues | $13,326 | $13,542 | $(216) | (2)% | ||||||||
(a) | Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. |
(b) | Other residential revenue includes franchise, regulatory and customer late fees, Cox Complete Care, Cox Mobile, and other miscellaneous revenues. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | increases in residential data revenues primarily attributable to an increase in average revenue per residential high-speed Internet subscriber; |
• | decreases in residential video revenues primarily attributable to a decrease in the number of residential video subscribers, partially offset by an increase in average revenue per residential video subscriber; |
• | increases in commercial revenues primarily attributable to the inclusion of Logicworks’ revenue since its acquisition and growth in the fiber, hospitality, and managed cloud services businesses; and |
• | decreases in advertising revenues primarily due to less political spend than in 2022 and the continued softness in the traditional linear advertising market, partially offset by increases in digital advertising. |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Direct costs | ||||||||||||
Programming costs(a) | $2,220 | $2,350 | $(130) | (6)% | ||||||||
Other direct costs(a) | 1,091 | 1,063 | 28 | 3% | ||||||||
Total direct costs(b) | 3,311 | 3,413 | (102) | (3)% | ||||||||
Operating expenses(a)(c) | 4,950 | 4,908 | 42 | 1% | ||||||||
Total direct costs and operating expenses | $8,261 | $8,321 | $(60) | (1)% |
(a) | Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. |
(b) | Direct costs include cable programming costs, which are amounts paid to programmers for cable content and to television stations for retransmission consent and are generally paid on a per-subscriber basis. Other direct costs include expenses that Cox Communications incurs in conjunction with providing its residential, mobile, commercial and advertising services. |
(c) | Operating expenses include field service and call center costs (costs associated with providing and maintaining Cox Communications’ nationwide IP network and customer care costs necessary to maintain Cox Communications’ customer base) in addition to marketing and sales and general administrative costs. |
• | decreases in programming costs due to declines in the number of video customers; and |
• | increases in other direct costs primarily attributable to the inclusion of Logicworks’ expenses since its acquisition, partially offset by a reduction in customer support transactions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Interest expense — net | $(361) | $(390) | $29 | (7)% | ||||||||
Investments (expense) income — net | (151) | 5 | (156) | NM | ||||||||
Gain on derivative instruments | — | 237 | (237) | (100)% | ||||||||
Miscellaneous income (expense) — net | 43 | (40) | 83 | NM | ||||||||
Total non-operating (expenses) | $(469) | $(188) | $(281) | 149% | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Capital expenditures totaled $501 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to $555 million during the same period of the prior year. These expenditures were primarily directed towards transmission and distribution facilities and computer hardware and software for network upgrades, fiber network, and product development and enhancement. |
• | Amounts due from Cox Enterprises decreased $515 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to a $1.7 billion increase during the same period in the prior year. Cox Communications receives day-to-day cash management services from Cox Enterprises to fund operations for expenditures such as payroll and related benefits, long-term incentive plans, and management fees as well as certain significant transactions, including proceeds from bond issuances, bond repayments, and acquisitions. |
• | Capital expenditures totaled $2.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $2.9 billion during the same period in the prior year. These expenditures were primarily directed at transmission and distribution facilities and computer hardware and software for network upgrades, fiber network, and product development and enhancement. |
• | Amounts due from Cox Enterprises increased $2.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to a $387 million increase during the same period in the prior year. |
• | Payments for the acquisition of Logicworks totaled $239 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, net of cash acquired. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Capital expenditures totaled $2.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $2.7 billion during the same period in the prior year. These expenditures were primarily directed at transmission and distribution facilities and computer hardware and software for network upgrades, fiber network and product development and enhancement. |
• | Amounts due from Cox Enterprises totaled a $387 million increase for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to a $639 million increase during the same period in the prior year. |
• | Payments for the acquisition of Logicworks totaled $239 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, net of cash acquired. |
• | Proceeds from the issuance of new bonds totaled $1.5 billion in the prior year. |
• | Debt repayments totaled $706 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025, including $700 million of 3.85% notes upon their maturity date. |
• | Proceeds from the issuance of new bonds totaled $3.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $1.0 billion during the prior year. |
• | Debt repayments totaled $576 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, including $539 million of a 3.15% unsecured note paid upon maturity, as compared to $490 million during the prior year, including $461 million of a 2.95% unsecured bond paid upon maturity. |
• | Cox Communications paid $1.0 billion in dividends to its shareholder during the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $750 million during the prior year. |
• | Purchases of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests totaled $516 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily related to Fiber Platform. |
• | Proceeds from the issuance of new bonds totaled $1.0 billion during the year ended December 31, 2023. |
• | Debt repayments totaled $490 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $21 million during the prior year. The year-over-year increase is due to an increase in maturing bonds. |
• | Cox Communications paid $750 million in dividends to its shareholder during the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $1.0 billion during the prior year. |
• | Purchases of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests totaled $516 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily related to Fiber Platform. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | each holder of more than 5% of outstanding shares of Charter Class A common stock; |
• | each Charter director and named executive officer; and |
• | all Charter directors and executive officers as a group. |
Name | Shares Beneficially Owned(1) | |||||
Number | Percent of Class | |||||
5% Stockholders: | ||||||
Liberty Broadband Corporation(2) 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, CO 80112 | 43,900,886 | 28.65% | ||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership(3) One World Trade Center, 44th Floor New York, NY 10007 | 18,960,754 | 12.37% | ||||
Dodge & Cox(4) 555 California Street, 40th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104 | 11,637,303 | 7.59% | ||||
Capital International Investors(5) 333 South Hope Street, 55th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90071 | 10,123,088 | 6.61% | ||||
The Vanguard Group(6) 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 | 8,251,684 | 5.38% | ||||
Directors and Executive Officers: | ||||||
W. Lance Conn(7) | 7,547 | * | ||||
Kim C. Goodman(8) | 7,627 | * | ||||
John D. Markley, Jr.(9) | 17,057 | * | ||||
David C. Merritt(10) | 11,346 | * | ||||
Steven A. Miron(11) | 12,383 | * | ||||
Balan Nair(12) | 9,262 | * | ||||
Michael A. Newhouse(13) | 5,263 | * | ||||
Martin E. Patterson(14) | 684 | * | ||||
Mauricio Ramos(15) | 8,462 | * | ||||
Carolyn J. Slaski(16) | 1,428 | * | ||||
J. David Wargo(17) | 684 | * | ||||
Eric L. Zinterhofer(18) | 51,582 | * | ||||
Christopher L. Winfrey(19) | 888,713 | * | ||||
Richard J. DiGeronimo(20) | 147,036 | * | ||||
Jessica M. Fischer(21) | 38,393 | * | ||||
Jamal H. Haughton | — | * | ||||
R. Adam Ray(22) | 46,373 | * | ||||
All executive officers and directors as a group (18 persons)(23) | 1,305,066 | * | ||||
* | less than 1% |
(1) | Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These rules generally provide that a person is the beneficial owner of securities if such person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting thereof, or to dispose or direct the disposition thereof or has the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. Shares shown in the table above include shares held in the beneficial owner’s name or jointly with others, or in the name of a bank, nominee or trustee for the beneficial owner’s account. Common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 6, 2025 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 153,258,148 shares of Charter Class A common stock outstanding as of June 6, 2025, including Charter Holdings common units on an as-if-exchanged basis. Each holder of |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A, dated May 16, 2025 and filed May 19, 2025 by Liberty Broadband. Liberty Broadband currently has three designees on the Charter Board and is entitled to certain rights and subject to certain requirements pursuant to the existing stockholders agreement. Of the shares reported in the Schedule 13D/A, Liberty Broadband reported that it had sole voting and dispositive power over 43,900,886 shares. John C. Malone, Chairman of the Board of Directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Broadband and a director emeritus of Charter, may be deemed to have voting and dispositive control, pursuant to Rule 13d-3(a), over the shares of Charter owned by Liberty Broadband as a result of the positions he holds with Liberty Broadband as well as his control of approximately 49.3% of the voting power of Liberty Broadband, among other factors. Mr. Malone, however, disclaims beneficial ownership of any Charter shares owned by Liberty Broadband on the basis that he is not, individually, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding relating to the voting or disposition of any such shares. Decisions with respect to the voting or disposition of any Charter shares owned by Liberty Broadband are made by Liberty Broadband’s board of directors. |
(3) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A, Amendment No. 18, dated May 16, 2025 and filed May 20, 2025 and Form 4 dated June 6, 2025 and filed June 10, 2025, by A/N, Newhouse Broadcasting Corporation (“NB”), Advance Publications, Inc. (“AP”), Newhouse Family Holdings, L.P. (“NF”) and Advance Long-Term Management Trust (“ALM”). A/N currently has two designees on the Charter Board and is entitled to certain rights and subject to certain requirements pursuant to the existing stockholders agreement. The 13D/A reports as follows: A/N, NB, AP, NF and ALM reported sole voting and dispositive power over all 19,139,641 of the reported shares. The 13D/A reported that the shares reported as beneficially owned represented 19,139,641 shares of Class A common stock (including Charter Holdings common units on an as-exchanged basis). The Form 4 filed by A/N, NB, AP, NF and ALM on June 10, 2025 reported that A/N, NB, AP, NF and ALM sold 178,887 Class B Common Units to Charter on June 6, 2025. |
(4) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by Dodge & Cox on November 13, 2024. The 13G/A reports that Dodge & Cox possesses sole voting power over 10,980,098 shares and sole dispositive power over 11,637,303 shares. |
(5) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Capital International Investors on November 13, 2024. The 13G reports that Capital International Investors possesses sole voting power over 10,115,476 shares and sole dispositive power over 10,123,088 shares. |
(6) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed by The Vanguard Group on February 13, 2024. The 13G/A reports that The Vanguard Group possesses sole voting power over 0 shares, shared voting power over 137,780 shares, sole dispositive power over 7,816,744 shares and shared dispositive power over 434,940 shares. |
(7) | Includes 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(8) | Includes 1,049 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(9) | Includes 14,323 shares held jointly with his spouse, 1,306 shares held by the John Markley Family Trust and 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. Mr. Markley’s jointly held shares are pledged as collateral security for a line of credit. |
(10) | Includes 2,209 shares held by the Merritt Family Trust, 7,709 shares held in the David C. Merritt IRA and 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(11) | Includes 10,144 shares held jointly with his spouse and 1,049 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(12) | Includes 1,049 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(13) | Includes 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(14) | Includes 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(15) | Includes 1,049 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(16) | Includes 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(17) | Includes 684 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(18) | Includes 1,506 shares of restricted stock that are not yet vested but eligible to be voted. |
(19) | Includes (i) 20,674 shares beneficially held by Mr. Winfrey and owned by Atalaya Management, LLC which is 100% owned by The Christopher Lawrence Winfrey Revocable Trust, a revocable trust pursuant to which Mr. Winfrey is the grantor and beneficiary with the power to revoke the trust (the “Winfrey Revocable Trust”); (ii) 66,573 shares held in the Winfrey Revocable Trust; (iii) 38,385 shares held in the Winfrey Dynasty Trust; (iv) 38,454 shares held in the Yeniley Lorenzo Winfrey Irrevocable Trust; and (v) 50,046 shares held in the GST Non-Exempt Winfrey Dynasty Trust. Also includes (a) 538,138 options that are vested and exercisable, (b) 115,239 options that are vested and exercisable and held in The Christopher L. Winfrey 2023 GRAT I and (c) 21,204 options that are vested and exercisable and held in The Christopher L. Winfrey 2023 GRAT II. The 66,573 shares held by the Winfrey Revocable Trust are pledged as security for a securities-backed loan with a balance of approximately $83,050 as of the date of this proxy statement. |
(20) | Includes 140,232 options that are vested and exercisable. |
(21) | Includes 36,777 options that are vested and exercisable. |
(22) | Includes 45,228 options that are vested and exercisable. |
(23) | Includes options and restricted stock units that are exercisable or eligible to become vested within 60 days of June 6, 2025. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on January 31, 2025; |
• | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on April 25, 2025; |
• | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2025, February 27, 2025, April 25, 2025 (Film No. 25874847) and May 19, 2025 (other than the portions of those documents not deemed to be filed pursuant to the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act); and |
• | Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 13, 2025. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | F-2 | ||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 | F-3 | ||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 | F-4 | ||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 | F-5 | ||
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | F-6 | ||
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements | |||
Independent Auditor’s Report | F-11 | ||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 | F-13 | ||
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 | F-14 | ||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 | F-15 | ||
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 | F-16 | ||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-17 | ||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions) | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||
ASSETS | ||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $83 | $97 | ||||
Accounts receivable — net of allowance of $31 and $32, respectively | 572 | 603 | ||||
Amounts due from Cox Enterprises, Inc. | 3,758 | 4,273 | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 333 | 310 | ||||
Total current assets | 4,746 | 5,283 | ||||
Property and equipment — net | 12,346 | 12,216 | ||||
Goodwill — net | 1,260 | 1,260 | ||||
Intangible assets — net | 17,001 | 17,009 | ||||
Other noncurrent assets | 438 | 513 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $35,791 | $36,281 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||
Accounts payable | $535 | $565 | ||||
Accrued labor and benefits | 361 | 668 | ||||
Accrued programming costs | 205 | 203 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 772 | 792 | ||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 196 | 877 | ||||
Total current liabilities | 2,069 | 3,105 | ||||
Long-term debt | 12,464 | 12,323 | ||||
Deferred income taxes | 5,456 | 5,465 | ||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 855 | 902 | ||||
Total liabilities | 20,844 | 21,795 | ||||
EQUITY: | ||||||
Common stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000 shares authorized and 100 shares issued and outstanding | — | — | ||||
Additional paid-in capital | 4,429 | 4,429 | ||||
Retained earnings | 10,518 | 10,057 | ||||
Total equity | 14,947 | 14,486 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $35,791 | $36,281 | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
REVENUES | $3,183 | $3,307 | ||||
OPERATING EXPENSES: | ||||||
Operating costs and expenses(a) | 1,922 | 2,046 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 544 | 545 | ||||
Other — net | (15) | (4) | ||||
Total operating expenses | 2,451 | 2,587 | ||||
OPERATING INCOME | 732 | 720 | ||||
NON-OPERATING EXPENSES: | ||||||
Interest expense — net | (108) | (100) | ||||
Investments (expense) income — net | (41) | 1 | ||||
Miscellaneous income — net | 7 | 13 | ||||
Total non-operating expenses | (142) | (86) | ||||
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 590 | 634 | ||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | (129) | (139) | ||||
NET INCOME | $461 | $495 | ||||
(a) | See Note 7 — Transactions with Affiliated Companies and Related Parties for impacts associated with related parties. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||
Net income | $461 | $495 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 544 | 545 | ||||
Investments expense (income) — net | 41 | (1) | ||||
Provision for doubtful accounts | 18 | 22 | ||||
Restructuring | (144) | — | ||||
Changes in certain assets and liabilities: | ||||||
Decrease in accounts receivable | 14 | 1 | ||||
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets | (20) | (5) | ||||
Decrease in accounts payable | (30) | (52) | ||||
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities | (185) | (202) | ||||
Other — net | (21) | (6) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 678 | 797 | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||
Capital expenditures | (501) | (555) | ||||
Decrease (increase) in amounts due from Cox Enterprises, Inc. | 515 | (1,732) | ||||
Other — net | 3 | 10 | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 17 | (2,277) | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of debt | — | 1,501 | ||||
Repayment of debt | (706) | (8) | ||||
Other — net | (3) | (8) | ||||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (709) | 1,485 | ||||
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (14) | 5 | ||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Beginning of period | 97 | 120 | ||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — End of period | $83 | $125 | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions) | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Retained Earnings | Total | ||||||||
BALANCE — January 1, 2025 | $— | $4,429 | $10,057 | $14,486 | ||||||||
Net income | — | — | 461 | 461 | ||||||||
BALANCE — March 31, 2025 | $— | $4,429 | $10,518 | $14,947 | ||||||||
(in millions) | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Retained Earnings | Total | ||||||||
BALANCE — January 1, 2024 | $— | $4,429 | $9,332 | $13,761 | ||||||||
Net income | — | — | 495 | 495 | ||||||||
BALANCE — March 31, 2024 | $— | $4,429 | $9,827 | $14,256 | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND OTHER ITEMS |
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
Residential | ||||||
Data | $1,478 | $1,527 | ||||
Video | 620 | 663 | ||||
Telephony | 53 | 64 | ||||
Other(a) | 138 | 140 | ||||
Total residential | 2,289 | 2,394 | ||||
Commercial | 843 | 851 | ||||
Advertising | 51 | 62 | ||||
Total revenues | $3,183 | $3,307 | ||||
(a) | Other residential revenues includes franchise, regulatory, and customer late fees, service protection fees, Cox Mobile and other miscellaneous revenues. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
Programming costs | $503 | $547 | ||||
Other costs of revenue | 284 | 279 | ||||
Field and technology operations | 256 | 230 | ||||
Customer operations | 52 | 41 | ||||
Sales and marketing | 267 | 313 | ||||
General and administrative | 560 | 636 | ||||
Total operating costs and expenses | $1,922 | $2,046 | ||||
2. | SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
Significant noncash transactions: | ||||||
Property and equipment acquired under finance leases and other financing arrangements | $140 | $2 | ||||
Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||
Cash paid for interest — net | $178 | $144 | ||||
Cash paid for income taxes | 138 | 139 | ||||
3. | RESTRUCTURING |
(in millions) | March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||
Balance at beginning of period | $180 | $— | ||||
Expense | — | 180 | ||||
Payments | (144) | — | ||||
Balance at end of period | $36 | $180 | ||||
4. | DEBT |
March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||
(in millions) | Annual Interest Rate | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||
Notes and debentures with maturities(a): | |||||||||||||||
Five years or less | 3.35% to 7.63% | $4,039 | $3,914 | $3,989 | $3,959 | ||||||||||
Between five and 10 years | 1.80% to 5.70% | 3,000 | 2,824 | 3,100 | 2,819 | ||||||||||
Greater than 10 years | 2.95% to 8.38% | 4,960 | 4,140 | 5,610 | 4,717 | ||||||||||
Total notes and debentures | 11,999 | $10,878 | 12,699 | $11,495 | |||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||
(in millions) | Annual Interest Rate | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||
Finance lease obligations(b)(c) | 1.33% to 8.24% | 742 | 584 | ||||||||||||
Less unamortized discounts, premiums and issuance costs | (81) | (83) | |||||||||||||
Total debt | 12,660 | 13,200 | |||||||||||||
Less current maturities(b) | 196 | 877 | |||||||||||||
Total long-term debt | $12,464 | $12,323 | |||||||||||||
(a) | Require semi-annual cash interest payments based on their issuance dates. |
(b) | Current portion of finance lease obligations totaled $46 million and $27 million as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. |
(c) | Cox leases certain office facilities, cable transmission and distribution facilities, customer premise equipment and automobiles under finance leases |
5. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6. | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Level 1 — | Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; |
Level 2 — | Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and |
Level 3 — | Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require an entity to develop its own assumptions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
7. | TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATED COMPANIES |
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
Employee Benefit Plans | ||||||
Healthcare and other employee benefits | $64 | $67 | ||||
Qualified and nonqualified pension(a) | 18 | 25 | ||||
401(k) Plan | 19 | 25 | ||||
Postemployment and postretirement benefits(a) | 5 | 6 | ||||
Long-term incentive compensation | 34 | 39 | ||||
Other Allocated Expenses(b) | ||||||
Management services | 69 | 70 | ||||
Occupancy-related services | 7 | 7 | ||||
(a) | The service cost component related to Cox’s qualified and nonqualified pension plans and postretirement benefits is recorded to operating costs and expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The non-service cost component, which includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets, prior service cost amortization and actuarial loss amortization, is recorded to miscellaneous income — net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. |
(b) | Cox receives certain management (e.g., legal, corporate secretarial, tax, cash management, treasury, internal audit, risk management, employee benefit administration and other support services) and occupancy-related (e.g., repairs and maintenance, utilities, insurance and property taxes) services from CEI. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• | Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. |
• | Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. |
• | Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed. |
• | Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements. |
• | Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
December 31 | ||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
ASSETS | ||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $97 | $120 | ||||
Accounts receivable — net of allowance of $32 and $33 in 2024 and 2023, respectively | 603 | 570 | ||||
Amounts due from Cox Enterprises, Inc. | 4,273 | 1,335 | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 310 | 272 | ||||
Total current assets | 5,283 | 2,297 | ||||
Property and equipment — net | 12,216 | 11,844 | ||||
Goodwill — net | 1,260 | 1,258 | ||||
Intangible assets — net | 17,009 | 17,042 | ||||
Investments — net | 86 | 128 | ||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 199 | 216 | ||||
Other noncurrent assets | 228 | 255 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $36,281 | $33,040 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||
Accounts payable | $565 | $632 | ||||
Accrued labor and benefits | 668 | 529 | ||||
Accrued programming costs | 203 | 222 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 730 | 719 | ||||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 62 | 59 | ||||
Current portion of long-term debt | 877 | 569 | ||||
Total current liabilities | 3,105 | 2,730 | ||||
Long-term debt | 12,323 | 10,193 | ||||
Long-term operating lease liabilities | 137 | 148 | ||||
Deferred income taxes | 5,465 | 5,470 | ||||
Other noncurrent liabilities | 765 | 738 | ||||
Total liabilities | 21,795 | 19,279 | ||||
EQUITY | ||||||
Common stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000 shares authorized and 100 shares issued and outstanding | — | — | ||||
Additional paid-in capital | 4,429 | 4,429 | ||||
Retained earnings | 10,057 | 9,332 | ||||
Total equity | 14,486 | 13,761 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $36,281 | $33,040 | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
REVENUES | $13,073 | $13,326 | $13,542 | ||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES: | |||||||||
Operating costs and expenses(a) | 8,134 | 8,261 | 8,321 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,183 | 2,099 | 2,022 | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill | — | — | 836 | ||||||
Other — net | 206 | (32) | 66 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 10,523 | 10,328 | 11,245 | ||||||
OPERATING INCOME | 2,550 | 2,998 | 2,297 | ||||||
NON-OPERATING EXPENSES: | |||||||||
Interest expense — net | (373) | (361) | (390) | ||||||
Investment (expense) income — net | (47) | (151) | 5 | ||||||
Gain on derivative instruments | — | — | 237 | ||||||
Miscellaneous income (expense) — net | 45 | 43 | (40) | ||||||
Total non-operating expenses | (375) | (469) | (188) | ||||||
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 2,175 | 2,529 | 2,109 | ||||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | (450) | (626) | (554) | ||||||
NET INCOME | 1,725 | 1,903 | 1,555 | ||||||
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | — | 18 | 8 | ||||||
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | $1,725 | $1,921 | $1,563 | ||||||
(a) | See Note 14 — Transactions with Affiliated Companies and Related Parties for impacts associated with related parties. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||
Net income | $1,725 | $1,903 | $1,555 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 2,183 | 2,099 | 2,022 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes | (4) | 150 | (37) | ||||||
Investment expense (income) — net | 47 | 151 | (5) | ||||||
Gain on derivative instruments | — | — | (237) | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill | — | — | 836 | ||||||
Provision for doubtful accounts | 95 | 93 | 78 | ||||||
Restructuring | 180 | — | — | ||||||
Changes in certain assets and liabilities: | |||||||||
Increase in accounts receivable | (128) | (84) | (107) | ||||||
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets | (10) | (66) | (20) | ||||||
Decrease in accounts payable | (66) | — | (108) | ||||||
Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities | (6) | 8 | 71 | ||||||
Other — net | (26) | 7 | 30 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 3,990 | 4,261 | 4,078 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||
Capital expenditures | (2,497) | (2,867) | (2,693) | ||||||
Increase in amounts due from Cox Enterprises, Inc. | (2,938) | (387) | (639) | ||||||
Acquisition — net of cash acquired | — | (239) | — | ||||||
Proceeds from settlement of derivative instruments — net | — | — | 349 | ||||||
Other — net | 45 | 32 | (28) | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (5,390) | (3,461) | (3,011) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of debt | 2,998 | 1,000 | — | ||||||
Repayment of debt | (576) | (490) | (21) | ||||||
Purchases of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests | — | (516) | — | ||||||
Dividends paid | (1,000) | (750) | (1,000) | ||||||
Other — net | (45) | (27) | (23) | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 1,377 | (783) | (1,044) | ||||||
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (23) | 17 | 23 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Beginning of period | 120 | 103 | 80 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — End of period | $97 | $120 | $103 | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions) | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Retained Earnings | Noncontrolling Interests | Total | ||||||||||
BALANCE — January 1, 2022 | $— | $4,814 | $7,598 | $60 | $12,472 | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | 1,563 | (8) | 1,555 | ||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (1,000) | — | (1,000) | ||||||||||
BALANCE — December 31, 2022 | — | 4,814 | 8,161 | 52 | 13,027 | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) | — | — | 1,921 | (18) | 1,903 | ||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (750) | — | (750) | ||||||||||
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | — | (385) | — | (34) | (419) | ||||||||||
BALANCE — December 31, 2023 | — | 4,429 | 9,332 | — | 13,761 | ||||||||||
Net income | — | — | 1,725 | — | 1,725 | ||||||||||
Dividends | — | — | (1,000) | — | (1,000) | ||||||||||
BALANCE — December 31, 2024 | $— | $4,429 | $10,057 | $— | $14,486 | ||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS |
• | Reclassified the accruals for programming costs and third-party labor costs from accrued expenses and other current liabilities to accrued programming costs and the renamed accrued labor and benefits, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. |
• | Presented detail of equity accounts on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. |
• | Provided additional context as to related party expenses by reference to Note 14 — Transactions with Affiliated Companies and Related Parties on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. |
• | Inserted tables for disaggregation of revenue and operating costs and expenses. See Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. |
• | Reversed accumulated amortization of goodwill, recognized impairment of goodwill after testing at newly determined reporting units and recorded related deferred tax impacts. See Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 3 — Acquisitions, Note 5 — Goodwill and Intangibles, Note 10 — Income Taxes and Note 13 — Fair Value Measurements. |
• | Recognized customer relationship intangible assets within intangible assets — net (previously subsumed into goodwill — net) and recorded amortization expense and related deferred tax impacts. See Note 3 — Acquisitions, Note 5 — Goodwill and Intangibles and Note 10 — Income Taxes. |
• | Disclosed fair values of notes and debentures. See Note 9 — Debt and Note 13 — Fair Value Measurements. |
• | Added table showing reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits. See Note 10 — Income Taxes. |
2. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Balance — beginning of year | $(33) | $(28) | $(22) | ||||||
Charged to bad debt expense | (95) | (93) | (78) | ||||||
Write-offs — net of recoveries | 96 | 88 | 72 | ||||||
Balance — end of year | $(32) | $(33) | $(28) | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions, except for useful lives) | Estimated Useful Lives | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
Transmission and distribution facilities | 3 - 20 years | $19,836 | $18,798 | ||||||
Computer hardware and software | 3 - 5 years | 5,209 | 5,143 | ||||||
Customer premise equipment | 3 - 7 years | 2,702 | 2,622 | ||||||
Finance lease assets | Various | 1,028 | 1,140 | ||||||
Buildings and building improvements, including leasehold improvements | 10 - 39 years(a) | 1,245 | 1,201 | ||||||
Construction-in-progress | N/A | 930 | 1,158 | ||||||
Other property and equipment | 2 - 10 years | 731 | 732 | ||||||
Land and land improvements | 10 years | 114 | 113 | ||||||
Property and equipment — at cost | $31,795 | $30,907 | |||||||
Less accumulated depreciation | (19,579) | (19,063) | |||||||
Property and equipment — net(b) | $12,216 | $11,844 | |||||||
(a) | Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the asset's estimated useful life or lease term. |
(b) | Includes ROU assets under finance leases totaling $376 million and $383 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Residential | |||||||||
Data | $6,026 | $6,079 | $5,938 | ||||||
Video | 2,530 | 2,749 | 3,092 | ||||||
Telephony | 235 | 294 | 370 | ||||||
Other(a) | 549 | 560 | 525 | ||||||
Total residential | 9,340 | 9,682 | 9,925 | ||||||
Commercial | 3,417 | 3,365 | 3,193 | ||||||
Advertising | 316 | 279 | 424 | ||||||
Total revenues | $13,073 | $13,326 | $13,542 | ||||||
(a) | Other residential revenue includes franchise, regulatory and customer late fees, service protection fees, Cox Mobile and other miscellaneous revenues. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Programming costs(a) | $2,064 | $2,220 | $2,350 | ||||||
Other costs of revenue(b) | 1,190 | 1,091 | 1,063 | ||||||
Field and technology operations(c) | 918 | 976 | 1,212 | ||||||
Customer operations(d) | 188 | 164 | 196 | ||||||
Sales and marketing | 1,246 | 1,255 | 1,254 | ||||||
General and administrative | 2,528 | 2,555 | 2,246 | ||||||
Total operating costs and expenses | $8,134 | $8,261 | $8,321 | ||||||
(a) | Programming costs are amounts paid to programmers for cable content and to television stations for retransmission consent and are generally paid on a per-subscriber basis. |
(b) | Other costs of revenues include expenses that Cox incurs in conjunction with providing its residential, commercial and advertising services. |
(c) | Field and technology operations are costs associated with providing and maintaining Cox's nationwide Internet Protocol network and outside cable network. |
(d) | Customer operations are care costs necessary to maintain Cox's customer base in addition to sales and marketing. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. | ACQUISITIONS |
(in millions) | |||
Fair value of consideration transferred | $246 | ||
Total fair value to be allocated | $246 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $7 | ||
Other current and noncurrent assets | 24 | ||
Property and equipment | 6 | ||
Goodwill | 172 | ||
Intangible assets | 54 | ||
Deferred tax assets | 5 | ||
Current and other noncurrent liabilities | (22) | ||
Total fair value of net assets acquired | $246 | ||
4. | SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
Years Ending December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Significant non-cash transactions: | |||||||||
Operating lease ROU assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations | $39 | $31 | $41 | ||||||
Supplemental cash flow information: | |||||||||
Cash paid for interest | $555 | $432 | $429 | ||||||
Cash paid for income taxes | 476 | 490 | 611 | ||||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |||||||||
Operating cash flows for operating leases | 82 | 81 | 80 | ||||||
Operating cash flows for finance leases | 43 | 44 | 45 | ||||||
Financing cash flows for finance leases | 34 | 26 | 24 | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5. | GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS |
(in millions) | Gross Value | Accumulated Impairment Loss | Goodwill — net | ||||||
Balance — January 1, 2023 | $2,581 | $(1,477) | $1,104 | ||||||
Acquisition | 170 | — | 170 | ||||||
Dispositions | (16) | — | (16) | ||||||
Balance — December 31, 2023 | 2,735 | (1,477) | 1,258 | ||||||
Measurement period adjustments | 2 | — | 2 | ||||||
Balance — December 31, 2024 | $2,737 | $(1,477) | $1,260 | ||||||
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except for WARUL) | WARUL (in years) | Gross Carrying Value | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Value | Gross Carrying Value | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||
Finite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Customer relationships | 24 | $622 | $(108) | $514 | $622 | $(84) | $538 | ||||||||||||||
Amortizable trade names | 6 | 42 | (21) | 21 | 42 | (17) | 25 | ||||||||||||||
Franchise renewal and contribution costs | — | 27 | (26) | 1 | 27 | (26) | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Other agreements and rights | 5 | 80 | (50) | 30 | 78 | (43) | 35 | ||||||||||||||
Total finite-lived intangible assets | $771 | $(205) | $566 | $769 | $(170) | $599 | |||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cable franchise value | 15,879 | 15,879 | |||||||||||||||||||
Trade names and other | 351 | 351 | |||||||||||||||||||
CBRS spectrum licenses | 213 | 213 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets | 16,443 | 16,443 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total intangible assets — net | $17,009 | $17,042 | |||||||||||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions) | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets | ||
2025 | $35 | ||
2026 | 35 | ||
2027 | 34 | ||
2028 | 30 | ||
2029 | 29 | ||
Thereafter | 403 | ||
Total | $566 | ||
6. | INVESTMENTS |
December 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Debt securities and other | $42 | $39 | ||||
Equity method investments | 32 | 28 | ||||
Nonmarketable equity securities | 12 | 61 | ||||
Total investments — net | $86 | $128 | ||||
7. | RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES |
(in millions) | December 31, 2024 | ||
Balance at beginning of period | $— | ||
Expense(a) | 180 | ||
Payments | — | ||
Balance at end of period | $180 | ||
(a) | Restructuring related charges were recorded to other — net on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
8. | LEASES |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Operating lease expense (included within operating costs and expenses)(a) | $82 | $82 | $81 | ||||||
Finance lease expense: | |||||||||
Amortization of ROU assets (included within depreciation and amortization) | 39 | 39 | 45 | ||||||
Interest on lease liabilities (included within interest expense — net) | 43 | 44 | 45 | ||||||
Total finance lease cost | 82 | 83 | 90 | ||||||
Variable lease expense (included within operating costs and expenses) | 31 | 29 | 8 | ||||||
Sublease income (included within operating costs and expenses) | (11) | (11) | (1) | ||||||
Total lease related expenses — net | $184 | $183 | $178 | ||||||
(a) | Includes short-term leases, which are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
December 31, | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term: | ||||||
Operating leases | 4 years | 4 years | ||||
Finance leases | 13 years | 14 years | ||||
Weighted Average Discount Rate: | ||||||
Operating leases | 3% | 3% | ||||
Finance leases | 7% | 7% | ||||
(in millions) | Operating Leases | Finance Leases | ||||
2025 | $71 | $73 | ||||
2026 | 59 | 73 | ||||
2027 | 37 | 65 | ||||
2028 | 23 | 60 | ||||
2029 | 12 | 61 | ||||
Thereafter | 17 | 628 | ||||
Total lease payments | 219 | 960 | ||||
Less amounts representing interest(a) | 20 | 376 | ||||
Present value of lease payments | $199 | $584 | ||||
(a) | Represents amount necessary to reduce lease payments to present value calculated at Cox’s incremental borrowing rate at inception. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
9. | DEBT |
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
(in millions) | Annual Interest Rate | Carrying Value | Fair Value | Carrying Value | Fair Value | ||||||||||
Notes and debentures with maturities(a): | |||||||||||||||
Five years or less | 3.35% to 7.63% | $3,989 | $3,959 | $4,177 | $4,091 | ||||||||||
Between five and 10 years | 1.80% to 5.70% | 3,100 | 2,819 | 2,050 | 1,809 | ||||||||||
Greater than 10 years | 2.95% to 8.38% | 5,610 | 4,717 | 4,009 | 3,459 | ||||||||||
Total notes and debentures | 12,699 | $11,495 | 10,236 | $9,359 | |||||||||||
Finance lease obligations(b)(c) | 1.33% to 8.24% | 584 | 597 | ||||||||||||
Less unamortized discounts, premiums and issuance costs | (83) | (71) | |||||||||||||
Total debt | 13,200 | 10,762 | |||||||||||||
Less current maturities(b) | 877 | 569 | |||||||||||||
Total long-term debt | $12,323 | $10,193 | |||||||||||||
(a) | Require semi-annual cash interest payments based on their issuance dates. |
(b) | Current portion of finance lease obligations totaled $27 million and $30 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. |
(c) | Cox leases certain office facilities, cable transmission and distribution facilities, customer premise equipment and automobiles under finance leases. |
(in millions) | Debt Maturities | ||
2025 | $850 | ||
2026 | 1,000 | ||
2027 | 1,000 | ||
2028 | 1,139 | ||
2029 | — | ||
Thereafter | 8,710 | ||
Total | $12,699 | ||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
10. | INCOME TAXES |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Current expense: | |||||||||
Federal | $(415) | $(429) | $(540) | ||||||
State | (39) | (47) | (51) | ||||||
Total current expense | (454) | (476) | (591) | ||||||
Deferred (expense) benefit: | |||||||||
Federal | (30) | (77) | 8 | ||||||
State | 34 | (73) | 29 | ||||||
Total deferred (expense) benefit | 4 | (150) | 37 | ||||||
Total income tax expense | $(450) | $(626) | $(554) | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
U.S. federal statutory income taxes | $(457) | $(531) | $(442) | ||||||
State income taxes — net of federal income tax impact | (38) | (55) | (53) | ||||||
Changes in estimated effective tax rates — net of federal tax impact | 31 | (45) | 20 | ||||||
Impairment of goodwill | — | — | (114) | ||||||
Other — net | 14 | 5 | 35 | ||||||
Total income tax expense | $(450) | $(626) | $(554) | ||||||
December 31, | ||||||
(in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets: | ||||||
Property and equipment | $(2,115) | $(2,109) | ||||
Intangible assets | (3,657) | (3,723) | ||||
Investments | (86) | (43) | ||||
Employee benefits and compensation | 106 | 104 | ||||
Net operating losses and tax credits | 355 | 392 | ||||
Finance lease obligations | 130 | 141 | ||||
Operating lease ROU assets | (45) | (46) | ||||
Operating lease liabilities | 46 | 48 | ||||
Other — net | 69 | 65 | ||||
Total | (5,197) | (5,171) | ||||
Valuation allowance | (268) | (299) | ||||
Total net deferred tax liability | $(5,465) | $(5,470) | ||||
(in millions) | |||
Balance — January 1, 2023 | $72 | ||
Activity on prior year tax positions | 7 | ||
Additions on current year tax positions | 3 | ||
Reductions on settlements with taxing authorities and expirations | (29) | ||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions) | |||
Balance — December 31, 2023 | 53 | ||
Activity on prior year tax positions | 5 | ||
Additions on current year tax positions | 4 | ||
Reductions on settlements with taxing authorities and expirations | (25) | ||
Balance — December 31, 2024 | $37 | ||
11. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. | EQUITY |
13. | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Level 1 — | Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; |
Level 2 — | Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and |
Level 3 — | Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require an entity to develop its own assumptions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
14. | TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATED COMPANIES AND RELATED PARTIES |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||
(in million) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Employee Benefits Plans | |||||||||
Healthcare and other employee benefits | $255 | $244 | $238 | ||||||
Qualified and nonqualified pension(a) | 91 | 91 | 196 | ||||||
401(k) Plan | 91 | 80 | 78 | ||||||
Postemployment and postretirement benefits(a) | 22 | 22 | 18 | ||||||
Long-term incentive compensation | 142 | 170 | 122 | ||||||
Other Allocated Expenses(b) | |||||||||
Management services | 278 | 236 | 253 | ||||||
Occupancy-related services | 26 | 39 | 28 | ||||||
(a) | The service cost component related to Cox’s qualified and nonqualified pension plans and postretirement benefits is recorded to operating costs and expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The non-service cost component, which includes interest cost, expected return on plan assets, prior service cost amortization and actuarial loss amortization, is recorded to miscellaneous income (expense) — net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and totaled $26 million, $33 million and $(35) million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. |
(b) | Cox receives certain management (e.g., legal, corporate secretarial, tax, cash management, treasury, internal audit, risk management, employee benefit administration and other support services) and occupancy-related (e.g., repairs and maintenance, utilities, insurance and property taxes) services from CEI. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(in millions) | CTech Lease | Cox Headquarters Lease | ||||
2025 | $26 | $23 | ||||
2026 | 27 | 24 | ||||
2027 | 27 | 24 | ||||
2028 | 28 | 25 | ||||
2029 | 29 | 26 | ||||
Thereafter | 262 | 301 | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND TERMS | A-5 | ||||||||
Section 1.1 | Certain Definitions | A-5 | |||||||
Section 1.2 | Other Terms | A-22 | |||||||
Section 1.3 | Other Definitional Provisions | A-22 | |||||||
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE; CLOSING | A-23 | ||||||||
Section 2.1 | Closing | A-23 | |||||||
Section 2.2 | Transaction | A-23 | |||||||
Section 2.3 | Payment of Consideration | A-23 | |||||||
Section 2.4 | Withholding Rights | A-24 | |||||||
Section 2.5 | Closing Deliveries | A-24 | |||||||
Section 2.6 | Adjustment | A-24 | |||||||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CABOT PARENT | A-25 | ||||||||
Section 3.1 | Organization and Qualification; Equity Interests | A-25 | |||||||
Section 3.2 | Authorization | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.3 | Government Approvals | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.4 | Non-Contravention | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.5 | Binding Effect | A-27 | |||||||
Section 3.6 | Financial Statements | A-27 | |||||||
Section 3.7 | Absence of Changes | A-28 | |||||||
Section 3.8 | Absence of Liabilities; Indebtedness | A-28 | |||||||
Section 3.9 | Litigation and Claims | A-28 | |||||||
Section 3.10 | Franchises; Governmental Authorizations | A-28 | |||||||
Section 3.11 | Contracts | A-29 | |||||||
Section 3.12 | Real Property | A-31 | |||||||
Section 3.13 | Tangible Personal Property; Assets | A-32 | |||||||
Section 3.14 | Benefit Plans | A-32 | |||||||
Section 3.15 | Labor Relations | A-33 | |||||||
Section 3.16 | Communications Laws and Copyright Compliance; Rate Regulation | A-34 | |||||||
Section 3.17 | Environmental Matters | A-34 | |||||||
Section 3.18 | Taxes | A-35 | |||||||
Section 3.19 | Compliance with Laws | A-36 | |||||||
Section 3.20 | Subscribers; System Information | A-37 | |||||||
Section 3.21 | Intellectual Property | A-37 | |||||||
Section 3.22 | Bonds | A-38 | |||||||
Section 3.23 | Organizational Documents | A-38 | |||||||
Section 3.24 | Disclosure Documents | A-38 | |||||||
Section 3.25 | Finders’ Fees | A-38 | |||||||
Section 3.26 | Affiliate Transactions | A-38 | |||||||
Section 3.27 | Investment Intent | A-38 | |||||||
Section 3.28 | Insurance | A-39 | |||||||
Section 3.29 | Title to Assets; Sufficiency of Assets | A-40 | |||||||
Section 3.30 | No Additional Representations | A-40 | |||||||
Section 3.31 | No Outside Reliance | A-40 | |||||||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COLUMBUS | A-41 | ||||||||
Section 4.1 | Organization and Qualification | A-41 | |||||||
Section 4.2 | Capitalization | A-41 | |||||||
Section 4.3 | Authorization | A-42 | |||||||
Section 4.4 | Government Approvals | A-42 | |||||||
Section 4.5 | Non-Contravention | A-42 | |||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||||||
Section 4.6 | Binding Effect | A-43 | |||||||
Section 4.7 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements | A-43 | |||||||
Section 4.8 | Absence of Changes | A-43 | |||||||
Section 4.9 | Absence of Liabilities | A-44 | |||||||
Section 4.10 | Litigation and Claims | A-44 | |||||||
Section 4.11 | Finders’ Fees | A-44 | |||||||
Section 4.12 | Compliance with Laws | A-44 | |||||||
Section 4.13 | Availability of Funds | A-44 | |||||||
Section 4.14 | No Additional Representations | A-44 | |||||||
Section 4.15 | No Outside Reliance | A-45 | |||||||
ARTICLE V COVENANTS | A-45 | ||||||||
Section 5.1 | Access and Information | A-45 | |||||||
Section 5.2 | Conduct of Business by the Cabot Parties | A-47 | |||||||
Section 5.3 | Conduct of Business by Columbus | A-50 | |||||||
Section 5.4 | Consents; Further Assurances | A-52 | |||||||
Section 5.5 | Regulatory Approvals | A-52 | |||||||
Section 5.6 | Transfer Tax and Sales Tax Matters; General Tax Cooperation | A-54 | |||||||
Section 5.7 | Employees | A-54 | |||||||
Section 5.8 | Notification | A-59 | |||||||
Section 5.9 | Transition Matters | A-59 | |||||||
Section 5.10 | Columbus Stockholder Meeting | A-59 | |||||||
Section 5.11 | No Solicitation; Other Offers | A-59 | |||||||
Section 5.12 | Proxy Filing; Information Supplied | A-62 | |||||||
Section 5.13 | Financing Cooperation | A-63 | |||||||
Section 5.14 | Treatment of Cabot Indebtedness | A-64 | |||||||
Section 5.15 | Cooperation as to Pending Litigation | A-68 | |||||||
Section 5.16 | Cabot Restructuring; Guarantees | A-69 | |||||||
Section 5.17 | Intercompany Accounts; Intercompany Arrangements | A-71 | |||||||
Section 5.18 | Insurance | A-71 | |||||||
Section 5.19 | Lewis Transactions | A-72 | |||||||
Section 5.20 | Tax Cooperation | A-72 | |||||||
Section 5.21 | Tax Treatment; Purchase Price Allocation | A-73 | |||||||
Section 5.22 | Term Sheets | A-74 | |||||||
Section 5.23 | Shared Contracts | A-74 | |||||||
Section 5.24 | Separation Planning | A-75 | |||||||
Section 5.25 | Wrong Pockets | A-76 | |||||||
Section 5.26 | D&O Indemnification and Insurance | A-76 | |||||||
Section 5.27 | Corporate Name | A-78 | |||||||
Section 5.28 | R&W Insurance Policy | A-78 | |||||||
Section 5.29 | Financing Activities | A-79 | |||||||
Section 5.30 | Cabot Aviation | A-79 | |||||||
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO CLOSING | A-80 | ||||||||
Section 6.1 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Columbus Parties and the Cabot Parties | A-80 | |||||||
Section 6.2 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Columbus Parties | A-80 | |||||||
Section 6.3 | Conditions to the Obligations of the Cabot Parties | A-81 | |||||||
ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION | A-81 | ||||||||
Section 7.1 | Survival | A-81 | |||||||
Section 7.2 | Indemnification by Cabot Parent | A-82 | |||||||
Section 7.3 | Indemnification by Columbus | A-82 | |||||||
Section 7.4 | Certain Limitations | A-82 | |||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||||||
Section 7.5 | Indemnification Procedures | A-83 | |||||||
Section 7.6 | Damages | A-84 | |||||||
Section 7.7 | Payments | A-84 | |||||||
Section 7.8 | Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments | A-85 | |||||||
Section 7.9 | Effect of Investigation | A-85 | |||||||
Section 7.10 | Exclusive Remedies | A-85 | |||||||
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION | A-85 | ||||||||
Section 8.1 | Termination by Mutual Consent | A-85 | |||||||
Section 8.2 | Termination by Cabot Parent or Columbus | A-85 | |||||||
Section 8.3 | Effect of Termination | A-86 | |||||||
Section 8.4 | Liquidated Expenses | A-87 | |||||||
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS | A-87 | ||||||||
Section 9.1 | Notices | A-87 | |||||||
Section 9.2 | Amendment; Waiver | A-88 | |||||||
Section 9.3 | No Assignment or Benefit to Third Parties | A-88 | |||||||
Section 9.4 | Entire Agreement | A-88 | |||||||
Section 9.5 | Enforcement | A-88 | |||||||
Section 9.6 | Public Disclosure | A-89 | |||||||
Section 9.7 | Expenses | A-89 | |||||||
Section 9.8 | Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Selection of Forum; Waiver of Trial by Jury | A-89 | |||||||
Section 9.9 | Counterparts | A-89 | |||||||
Section 9.10 | Headings | A-89 | |||||||
Section 9.11 | Severability | A-89 | |||||||
Section 9.12 | Privileged Matters; Conflicts of Interest. | A-89 | |||||||
Exhibit A | Amended and Restated Certificate | |||||
Exhibit B | Amended and Restated Bylaws | |||||
Exhibit C | Preferred Term Sheet | A-93 | ||||
Exhibit D | Letter Agreement | |||||
Exhibit E | Reverse Transition Services Term Sheet | |||||
Exhibit F | Stockholders Agreement | |||||
Exhibit G | Tax Receivables Agreement | |||||
Exhibit H | Transition Services Term Sheet | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. | As of the date of this Agreement, Cabot Parent and its Subsidiaries operate the Cabot Business; |
B. | Prior to the Closing, Cabot Parent and its Subsidiaries shall effect the Restructuring in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and |
C. | Cabot Parent desires to (i) cause NewCo 1 to sell and transfer to Columbus NewCo, and Columbus NewCo shall purchase and acquire from NewCo 1, all of NewCo 1’s right, title and interest in and to the NewCo 2 Equity Interests, the NewCo 3 Equity Interests, the NewCo 4 Equity Interests and the NewCo 5 Equity Interests and (ii) cause NewCo 1 to contribute, assign, convey, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Membership Interests and the Cabot Assets to Columbus Holdings, and Columbus Holdings desires to accept such contribution, assignment, conveyance, transfer and delivery from NewCo 1, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction”). |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
if to any Columbus Party, to: | ||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||||
400 Washington Blvd. | ||||||
Stamford, CT 06902 | ||||||
Attention: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | ||||||
51 West 52nd Street | ||||||
New York, New York 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | Steven A. Cohen | |||||
John L. Robinson | ||||||
Steven R. Green | ||||||
E-mail: | SACohen@wlrk.com | |||||
JLRobinson@wlrk.com | ||||||
SRGreen@wlrk.com | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
if to any Cabot Party, to: | ||||||
Cox Enterprises, Inc. | ||||||
6205-A Peachtree Dunwoody Road | ||||||
Atlanta, GA 30328 | ||||||
Attention: | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Latham & Watkins LLP | ||||||
330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800 | ||||||
Chicago, Illinois 60611 | ||||||
Attention: | Bradley C. Faris | |||||
Victoria E. VanStekelenburg | ||||||
E-mail: | bradley.faris@lw.com | |||||
victoria.vanstekelenburg@lw.com | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COX ENTERPRISES, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Alex C. Taylor | ||||||||
Name: | Alex C. Taylor | ||||||||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key Terms | Additional Details | |||||||
Ranking | Senior preferred units with no additional preferred units of this ranking or senior ranking to be issued. | As long as Cabot maintains 50% of the preferred units issued to it at Closing, Cabot to have veto on the issuance of additional preferred units of Columbus Holdco LLC having equal or superior liquidation preference.1 | ||||||
Notional | $6 billion | Aggregate liquidation preference of the securities. | ||||||
Maturity | Perpetual | No stated maturity on the security. | ||||||
Dividend | 6.875% | Annual yield on the security, which is paid in cash through a dividend at such rate on the liquidation preference, payable quarterly in arrears. | ||||||
Reference Price | $353.64 | Represents VWAP agreed upon to set the valuation parameters of the Contribution. | ||||||
Conversion Premium / Price | 35% / $477.41 | Conversion price equal to Reference Price x 1.35, subject to Conversion Price Adjustment. | ||||||
Issuer Forced Conversion | Issuer may force conversion after 5 years if stock price exceeds 130% of conversion price. | Issuer may force conversion of security into common units after 5 years if (1) customary liquidity conditions are satisfied and (2) stock price exceeds 130% of conversion price (i) for 20 out of 30 calendar days, and (ii) on the date on which the forced conversion notice is sent. Any accrued and unpaid dividends will be paid in cash upon conversion, including all accrued and unpaid penalty interest thereon, if any. | ||||||
Dividends Format | Cumulative | If dividends are suspended or otherwise not paid at any time, the dividends will accrue until they are paid, with all accrued and unpaid dividends to accrue penalty interest at the rate of 6.875% per annum, plus 200 basis points, if not paid in the subsequent quarter. No dividends or distributions other than tax distributions may be paid on, and no repurchases may be made of, any other class of Columbus Holdco LLC common or preferred until all accrued dividends on the preferred have been paid (including all accrued and unpaid penalty interest thereon, if any). Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that if a tax distribution has been made to Columbus Holdco LLC’s members or if Columbus otherwise has requisite funds, Columbus may use such funds for share buybacks. | ||||||
1 | Seniority protection will not include any back-to-back preferred required from LLC for debt at Columbus |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key Terms | Additional Details | |||||||
Conversion Price Adjustment | Adjusted for dividends paid on Columbus common over the life of the security, as well as other standard anti-dilution adjustments, except for tax distributions made (which will be carved out from any adjustments to the conversion price). | Consistent with terms of Preferred Units previously issued to Amundsen. | ||||||
Tax Matters | Columbus Holdco LLC shall use the “traditional method” for purposes of Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and Treasury Regulations thereunder, with respect to any asset contributed to Columbus Holdco LLC by Cabot. With respect to U.S. federal, state and local audits, adjustments, or other similar proceedings for tax years ending before the date of closing, Columbus Holdco LLC shall make a “push out” election under Section 6226 of the Code (and applicable state and local tax laws). Columbus Holdco LLC will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly provide Cabot with information reasonably requested by Cabot to prepare U.S. federal income tax returns and any state, local or foreign income tax returns (including information required for Cabot to comply with the CAMT rules). The payment of the preferred dividend will not be treated as disguised sale proceeds. Preferred units will be allocated gross income. | |||||||
Fundamental Change | On the effective date of a fundamental change (i.e., change of control (defined consistently with existing LLC Agreement), bankruptcy event or delisting), unless otherwise agreed in writing by Columbus and Cabot, each Preferred Unit will be redeemed for the consideration that would have been payable in respect of a number of shares of Columbus common stock equal to the greater of (i) the sum of (A) the number of shares of Columbus common stock the holder would have been entitled to receive based on the Conversion Price determined as if the conversion occurred immediately prior to the effective date of | Consistent with structure of Preferred Units previously issued to Amundsen, updated for customary fundamental change-related language. | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key Terms | Additional Details | |||||||
the fundamental change plus (B) a make-whole calculated pursuant to a market standard make-whole table to callable date/price based on standard Kynex model to be mutually agreed, after consultation with financial advisors, as promptly as practicable after signing of the Transaction Agreement and (ii) the Liquidation Preference per Preferred Unit divided by the greater of (A) a market- standard calculation of the effective price of the fundamental change (consistent with the terms of the Preferred Units that were issued to Amundsen) and (B) $176.82 per share (subject to adjustment at the same time as, and in a manner inverse to, any adjustment to the conversion rate), which is 50% of the Reference Price, plus, in the case of clause (ii), all accrued and unpaid dividends and penalty interest thereon, if any, on the Preferred Units being redeemed. | ||||||||
Liquidation Preference | At par. | At the aggregate par of $6 billion (60 mm $100 Liquidation Preference Preferred Shares) plus accrued distributions (including all accrued and unpaid penalty interest thereon, if any). | ||||||
Right of First Offer | Cabot will not transfer the Preferred Units without first notifying Columbus and offering to sell the Preferred Units to Columbus (and if Columbus accepts such offer, Cabot will sell the Preferred Units to Columbus at the agreed price). | This term is in lieu of the right of first refusal provisions under Section 6.5 of the existing LLC Agreement. | ||||||
Other terms | Other terms (including governance, registration rights (which shall be updated to reflect current market provisions as may be mutually agreed), standstill, and transfer restrictions, among others) to be substantially consistent with the terms applicable to the Preferred Units previously issued to Amundsen or as described in the Transaction Agreement and the form Ancillary Agreements and term sheets attached thereto. | |||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If to Columbus: | |||||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. 400 Washington Blvd. Stamford, CT 06902 | |||||||||
Attention: | [***] | ||||||||
Email: | [***] | ||||||||
With a copy to: | |||||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 W 52nd St. New York, NY 10019 | |||||||||
Facsimile: | (212) 403-1000 | ||||||||
Attention: | Steven A. Cohen | ||||||||
John L. Robinson | |||||||||
Steven R. Green | |||||||||
Email: | SACohen@wlrk.com | ||||||||
JLRobinson@wlrk.com | |||||||||
SRGreen@wlrk.com | |||||||||
If to Cabot Parent: | |||||||||
Cox Enterprises, Inc. 6205-A Peachtree Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30328 | |||||||||
Attention: | [***] | ||||||||
Email: | [***] | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
With a copy to: | |||||||||
Latham & Watkins LLP 330 N Wabash Ave #2800 Chicago, IL 60611 | |||||||||
Attention: | Bradley Faris | ||||||||
Victoria VanStekelenburg | |||||||||
E-mail: | Bradley.Faris@lw.com | ||||||||
Victoria.VanStekelenburg@lw.com | |||||||||
If to the Stockholder: | |||||||||
Liberty Broadband Corporation 12300 Liberty Boulevard Englewood, CO 80112 | |||||||||
Attention: | [***] | ||||||||
Email: | [***] | ||||||||
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | |||||||||
O’Melveny & Myers LLP 1301 6th Ave Suite 1700 New York, NY 10019 | |||||||||
Attention: | C. Brophy Christensen | ||||||||
Noah K. Kornblith | |||||||||
Email: | bchristensen@omm.com | ||||||||
nkornblith@omm.com | |||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COX ENTERPRISES, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Alex C. Taylor | ||||||||
Name: | Alex C. Taylor | ||||||||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Renee L. Wilm | ||||||||
Name: | Renee L. Wilm | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Stockholder | Columbus Class A Common Stock | ||||
Liberty Broadband Corporation | 43,900,886 | ||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If to Columbus: | ||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. 400 Washington Blvd. Stamford, CT 06902 | ||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
With a copy to: | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 W 52nd St. New York, NY 10019 | ||||||
Facsimile: | (212) 403-1000 | |||||
Attention: | Steven A. Cohen | |||||
John L. Robinson | ||||||
Steven R. Green | ||||||
Email: | SACohen@wlrk.com | |||||
JLRobinson@wlrk.com | ||||||
SRGreen@wlrk.com | ||||||
If to Cabot Parent: | ||||||
Cox Enterprises, Inc. 6205-A Peachtree Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30328 | ||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||
E-mail: | [***] | |||||
With a copy to: | ||||||
Latham & Watkins LLP 330 N Wabash Ave #2800 Chicago, IL 60611 | ||||||
Attention: | Bradley Faris | |||||
Victoria VanStekelenburg | ||||||
E-mail: | Bradley.Faris@lw.com | |||||
Victoria.VanStekelenburg@lw.com | ||||||
If to the Stockholder: | ||||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership 6350 Court St. East Syracuse, NY 13057 | ||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership One World Trade Center New York, New York 10007 | ||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
and to: | ||||||
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 1285 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | Robert B. Schumer | |||||
Michael E. Vogel | ||||||
Email: | rschumer@paulweiss.com | |||||
mvogel@paulweiss.com | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COX ENTERPRISES, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Alex C. Taylor | ||||||||
Name: | Alex C. Taylor | ||||||||
Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADVANCE/NEWHOUSE PARTNERSHIP | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Steven A. Miron | ||||||||
Name: | Steven A. Miron | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Stockholder | Columbus Class A Common Stock | Columbus Class B Common Stock | ||||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership | 3,136,511 | 1 | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | The name of the corporation is Charter Communications, Inc. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 18, 2016. |
2. | The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 18, 2016 and was amended by the Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 23, 2024. |
3. | This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends and, as amended, restates in its entirety the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, and has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL. |
4. | This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective in accordance with Section 103(d) of the DGCL at [ ], Eastern Time, on [ ]. |
5. | The text of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows: |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Charter COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS | E-3 | ||||||||
Section 1.1 | Definitions | E-3 | |||||||
Section 1.2 | General Interpretive Principles | E-10 | |||||||
ARTICLE II. GOVERNANCE | E-10 | ||||||||
Section 2.1 | Board Size; Initial Composition | E-10 | |||||||
Section 2.2 | Election and Appointment | E-11 | |||||||
Section 2.3 | Voting on Matters by Board | E-13 | |||||||
Section 2.4 | Committees | E-14 | |||||||
Section 2.5 | Search Committee | E-14 | |||||||
Section 2.6 | Expenses and Fees; Indemnification | E-15 | |||||||
Section 2.7 | Voting as Stockholder | E-15 | |||||||
Section 2.8 | Top Up Rights | E-16 | |||||||
Section 2.9 | Chairman; Lead Independent Director | E-17 | |||||||
Section 2.10 | Corporate Name; Branding | E-17 | |||||||
Section 2.11 | Corporate HQ; Atlanta Presence; Community | E-17 | |||||||
Section 2.12 | Change of Control | E-18 | |||||||
Section 2.13 | Tax Actions | E-18 | |||||||
ARTICLE III. STANDSTILL, ACQUISITIONS OF SECURITIES AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS | E-18 | ||||||||
Section 3.1 | Limitation on Share Acquisition and Ownership | E-18 | |||||||
Section 3.2 | Standstill | E-19 | |||||||
Section 3.3 | Permitted Actions | E-19 | |||||||
Section 3.4 | No Investor Party Group | E-20 | |||||||
Section 3.5 | Transfer Restrictions | E-20 | |||||||
Section 3.6 | Rights Plan | E-22 | |||||||
ARTICLE IV. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS | E-22 | ||||||||
Section 4.1 | Capital Raising Preemptive Rights | E-22 | |||||||
Section 4.2 | Section 16b-3 | E-23 | |||||||
Section 4.3 | Matters as to Preemptive Rights | E-23 | |||||||
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | E-25 | ||||||||
Section 5.1 | Representations and Warranties of the Company | E-25 | |||||||
Section 5.2 | Representations and Warranties of Cox | E-25 | |||||||
Section 5.3 | Representations and Warranties of A/N | E-26 | |||||||
ARTICLE VI. TERMINATION | E-26 | ||||||||
Section 6.1 | Termination | E-26 | |||||||
Section 6.2 | Effect of Termination; Survival | E-27 | |||||||
ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS | E-27 | ||||||||
Section 7.1 | Amendment and Modification | E-27 | |||||||
Section 7.2 | Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries | E-28 | |||||||
Section 7.3 | Binding Effect; Entire Agreement | E-28 | |||||||
Section 7.4 | Severability | E-28 | |||||||
Section 7.5 | Notices and Addresses | E-28 | |||||||
Section 7.6 | Governing Law | E-29 | |||||||
Section 7.7 | Headings | E-29 | |||||||
Section 7.8 | Counterparts | E-29 | |||||||
Section 7.9 | Further Assurances | E-29 | |||||||
Section 7.10 | Remedies | E-29 | |||||||
Section 7.11 | Jurisdiction and Venue | E-30 | |||||||
Section 7.12 | Adjustments | E-30 | |||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 | To be confirmed prior to Closing. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If to the Company or Charter Holdings LLC: | ||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||||
400 Washington Blvd. | ||||||
Stamford, CT 06902 | ||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | ||||||
51 West 52nd Street | ||||||
New York, New York 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | Steven A. Cohen, Esq. | |||||
John L. Robinson, Esq. | ||||||
Steven R. Green, Esq. | ||||||
Email: | sacohen@wlrk.com | |||||
jlrobinson@wlrk.com | ||||||
srgreen@wlrk.com | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If to Cox: | ||||||
Cox Enterprises, Inc. | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | [•] | |||||
E-Mail: | [•] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Latham & Watkins LLP | ||||||
555 Eleventh Street, NW Suite 1000 | ||||||
Washington, D.C. 20004 | ||||||
Attention: | Matthew Brill; Bradley Faris; Victoria VanStekelenburg | |||||
Email: | matthew.brill@lw.com; bradley.faris@lw.com; victoria.vanstekelenburg@lw.com | |||||
If to A/N: | ||||||
A/N Partnership | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | [•] | |||||
E-Mail: | [•] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
A/N | ||||||
One World Trade Center, | ||||||
New York, New York 10007 | ||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP | ||||||
1285 Avenue of the Americas | ||||||
New York, New York 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | [•] | |||||
Email: | [•] | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
COX ENTERPRISES, INC. | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
ADVANCE/NEWHOUSE PARTNERSHIP | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sincerely, | |||||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Fusion Merger Sub 1, LLC | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Fusion Merger Sub 2, Inc. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledged and agreed to this 16th day of May, 2025: | |||||||||
Liberty Broadband Corporation | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Renee L. Wilm | ||||||||
Name: | Renee L. Wilm | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sincerely, | ||||||
[ ] | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this letter agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the LLC Agreement, as of the date hereof. |
2. | The Original Letter Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) the Closing (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) and (b) the termination of the Cox Transaction Agreement in accordance with its terms (such earlier date, the “Original Letter Termination Date”). The Original Letter Agreement shall be automatically terminated and of no force and effect, on and from the Original Letter Termination Date, without any further action by the parties hereto or thereto. |
3. | This letter agreement shall be in full force and effect, as of the date hereof; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 9 and Annex A hereto shall only be effective on and from the Original Letter Termination Date. |
4. | Prior to the Original Letter Termination Date, Charter and A/N acknowledge and agree that the redemptions by Charter of Common Units from A/N pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, repurchases or redemptions pursuant to Annex A of the Original Letter Agreement; therefore, to the extent Charter redeems Common Units from A/N pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement in any repurchase period under the Original Letter Agreement, the number of Common Units so redeemed (the “Tax Distribution Repurchased Units”) shall be deducted from the number of Potential Repurchase Shares (as defined in the Original Letter Agreement) (but shall not cause the number of Potential Repurchase Shares (as defined in the Original Letter Agreement) to be less than zero; provided that any excess Tax Distribution Repurchased Units that would have reduced the number of Potential Repurchase Shares (as defined in the Original Letter Agreement) to less than zero shall instead reduce the number of Potential Repurchase Shares in the succeeding repurchase period under the Original Letter Agreement) in respect of such repurchase period under the Original Letter Agreement. |
5. | The parties hereto shall complete the transactions set forth on Annex A hereto on the terms set forth therein. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6. | On and from the Original Letter Termination Date, Charter and A/N acknowledge and agree that the redemptions by Charter of Common Units from A/N pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, repurchases or redemptions pursuant to Annex A hereto; therefore, to the extent Charter redeems Common Units from A/N pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement in any Repurchase Period (as defined in Annex A hereto), the number of Common Units so redeemed (the “Tax Distribution Repurchased Units”) shall be deducted from the number of Potential Repurchase Shares (but shall not cause the number of Potential Repurchase Shares to be less than zero; provided that any excess Tax Distribution Repurchased Units that would have reduced the number of Potential Repurchase Shares to less than zero shall instead reduce the number of Potential Repurchase Shares in the succeeding Repurchase Period) in respect of such Repurchase Period. |
7. | If, in respect of any applicable period, Charter waives a portion of its Common Tax Distribution pursuant to Section 5.4(b)(ii) of the LLC Agreement (the amount so waived, the “Shortfall Amount”), A/N will have the option, in its discretion, to receive or waive a Tax Loan for the Shortfall Amount, subject to applicable law; provided, that, if such Tax Loan is made, (x) interest shall accrue and be payable annually in arrears in respect of such Tax Loan at the Applicable Rate, (y) the maturity date in respect of such Tax Loan shall be the seventh anniversary of the making of such Tax Loan (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, A/N may repay such Tax Loan at any time prior to such maturity date without penalty) and (z) A/N shall represent and warrant to Charter and Charter Holdings as of the date of each such Tax Loan that A/N believes in good faith that the issuance of such Tax Loan is not prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Tax Loan shall have such terms and conditions and be governed by definitive documents in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Charter and A/N. |
8. | Notwithstanding Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement, if, in respect of any applicable period, Charter does not waive a portion of its Common Tax Distribution pursuant to Section 5.4(b)(ii) of the LLC Agreement, any amount of such Common Tax Distribution above Charter’s tax needs (such amount, “Excess Tax Distribution Amount”) will be treated as follows: If Charter plans to invoke a pro-rata redemption under Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement using the Excess Tax Distribution Amount (such redemption, a “Pro-Rata Excess Redemption”) during the quarter of the applicable tax period, then it shall notify A/N in advance of making such Common Tax Distribution and A/N shall be entitled to determine in its sole discretion whether to decline to participate in such Pro-Rata Excess Redemption entirely or whether to participate in whole or in part. To the extent A/N elects not to participate in such Pro-Rata Excess Redemption, Charter shall not distribute to A/N the portion of its Common Tax Distribution corresponding to the waived Pro-Rata Excess Redemption, no Common Units of A/N shall be redeemed and the redemptions otherwise contemplated by Section 3.2(b)(iv) shall be consummated as promptly as practicable (and, in any case, prior to Charter Holdings making any further distributions). At A/N’s option, Columbus shall make a Tax Loan under Section 5.4(b)(ii) of the LLC Agreement to A/N in respect of such portion of its Common Tax Distribution to the extent that A/N’s participation in the portion of Pro-Rata Excess Redemption waived by A/N would have caused A/N’s Equity Interest (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) to be less than (a) prior to the earlier of (i) the Closing (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) and (ii) the termination of the Cox Transaction Agreement in accordance with its terms, 11% or (b) after the Closing, 9.2% (clause (a) or (b), as applicable, the “Ownership Threshold”). |
9. | Charter Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allocate Nonrecourse Liabilities (as defined in the LLC Agreement) in a manner that minimizes gain recognized by any partner in Charter Holdings, provided that such efforts shall not obligate Charter Holdings to incur additional liabilities. |
10. | This letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof to the extent that such principles would direct a matter to another jurisdiction. |
11. | Each party hereto agrees that it shall bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this letter agreement exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Chosen Court”), and solely in connection with claims arising under this letter agreement (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Court, (b) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in the Chosen Court, (c) waives any objection that the Chosen Court is an inconvenient forum or does not have jurisdiction over any party hereto and (d) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with paragraph 12. Each party hereto |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. | Any notice hereunder shall be made in writing by overnight courier, personal delivery or email (provided that no email transmission error is received by the sender), shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date such notice is received (as evidenced by confirmation of delivery or receipt), and, in each case, shall be sent as follows: |
If to Charter Communications, Inc.: | ||||||||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. 400 Washington Boulevard Stamford, CT 06902 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||||||||
Telephone: | [***] | |||||||||||
Email: | [***] | |||||||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Steven A. Cohen John L. Robinson Steven R. Green | |||||||||||
Telephone: | (212) 403-1000 | |||||||||||
Email: | sacohen@wlrk.com jlrobinson@wlrk.com srgreen@wlrk.com | |||||||||||
If to Advance/Newhouse Partnership: | ||||||||||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership 6350 Court St. East Syracuse, NY 13057 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||||||||
E-Mail: | [***] | |||||||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||||||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership One World Trade Center New York, New York 10007 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | [***] | |||||||||||
Email: | [***] | |||||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
and to: | |||||||||
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP | |||||||||
1285 Avenue of the Americas | |||||||||
New York, New York 10019 | |||||||||
Attention: | Robert B. Schumer Michael E. Vogel | ||||||||
Email: | rschumer@paulweiss.com | ||||||||
mvogel@paulweiss.com | |||||||||
13. | This letter agreement (including Annex A), together with the documents referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Charter hereby covenants and agrees that it is not party to, and will not enter into, any agreement, arrangement or understanding that would violate, conflict with or, prevent Charter from complying with, the terms of this Agreement. |
14. | This letter agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts (each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same letter agreement) and shall become effective as of the date first set forth above. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this letter agreement via e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter agreement. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sincerely, | |||||||||
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Name: | Jessica M. Fischer | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADVANCE/NEWHOUSE PARTNERSHIP | |||||||||
By: | /s/ Steven A. Miron | ||||||||
Name: | Steven A. Miron | ||||||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | Charter, Charter Holdings and A/N (on behalf of itself and each other A/N Party (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement)) hereby agree on the following standing bilateral share repurchase agreement. |
2. | On the sixth Business Day following the last Business Day of each calendar month (each such last Business Day, a “Monthly Determination Date”) on which a Repurchase Period (defined below) ends, Charter will provide written notice, (each, a “Charter Repurchase Notice”) to A/N, in respect of such Repurchase Period containing: |
(a) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock directly or indirectly repurchased or redeemed (including through the repurchase or redemption of convertible equity securities) by Charter during the Repurchase Period (other than from A/N or any other A/N Party (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement)), which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include all shares of Class A Common Stock, Common Units or Charter Holdings Preferred Units (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) in Charter Holdings repurchased or redeemed during the Repurchase Period (the “Monthly Repurchased Shares”); |
(b) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be outstanding on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis (without duplication) as of the start of such Repurchase Period (other than any shares held by A/N or any other A/N Party and without giving effect to the transactions contemplated by (i) the Cox Transaction Agreement or (ii) the Liberty Merger Agreement (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement), in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), unless and until such transaction has been consummated) (the “Beginning Monthly Share Balance”); |
(c) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by the A/N Parties or represented by Common Units or Columbus Holdings Preferred Units (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) in Charter Holdings held by the A/N Parties on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis as of the start of such calendar month (the “A/N Total Shares”); |
(d) | the per share price to be paid by Charter pursuant to Section 4 of this Annex A to purchase from A/N or the applicable A/N Party shares of Class A Common Stock or Common Units (the “Repurchase Price”), which price shall be the average price at which the Monthly Repurchased Shares (other than Monthly Repurchased Shares that (i) were purchased in transactions that were negotiated with the seller, or otherwise consummated, in connection with or substantially contemporaneous with any other transaction, agreement or arrangement between the Charter and such seller (or its affiliates); (ii) were deemed repurchased or redeemed due to cashless exercise of or payment of withholding taxes with respect to director, officer or employee equity awards of Charter; (iii) were repurchased or redeemed by Charter from Liberty pursuant to the letter agreement, dated February 23, 2021, by and between Charter and A/N, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Stockholders Agreement and Letter Agreement, dated November 12, 2024, by and among Charter, Liberty and A/N, and as it may be further amended in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement or (iv) were repurchased or redeemed by Charter from Cox pursuant to the letter agreement to be entered into at the Closing (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) by and between Charter and Cox, as it may be amended in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement ((i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) collectively, the “Excluded Repurchased Shares”)) were repurchased or redeemed by Charter during the Repurchase Period, calculated as the quotient of (i) the aggregate purchase price paid for the Monthly Repurchased Shares (other than Excluded Repurchased Shares) divided by (ii) the number of Monthly Repurchased Shares (other than Excluded Repurchased Shares); provided that if Charter has not repurchased or redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock during the relevant Repurchase Period (other than Excluded Repurchased Shares), the Repurchase Price shall be based on a Bloomberg VWAP methodology proposed by Charter and reasonably acceptable to A/N; and |
(e) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Common Units that the A/N Parties may sell back to Charter or Charter Holdings, which number shall be calculated as the product of (x) the quotient of (I) the Monthly Repurchased Shares, less the number of shares issued during the Repurchase Period under any employee equity incentive plan, divided by (II) the Beginning Monthly Share Balance, multiplied by (y) the A/N Total Shares (such product, the “Potential Repurchase Shares”). The A/N Parties have the right to designate whether the Potential Repurchase Shares are shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Common Units held by the A/N Parties. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(f) | The “Repurchase Period” shall mean the period ending on (and including) the applicable Monthly Determination Date and beginning on the first day following the prior Monthly Determination Date during which Charter repurchases, redeems or buys back any shares of Class A Common Stock; provided that the Repurchase Period may be modified pursuant to the following paragraph. |
3. | No later than the fifth Business Day following the receipt of each Charter Repurchase Notice, A/N will provide notice to Charter (the “A/N Repurchase Notice”) of A/N’s designation, in its sole discretion, as to whether the Potential Repurchase Shares (if any) shall consist (in whole or in part) of (x) shares of Class A Common Stock held by the A/N Parties at such time, (y) Common Units held by the A/N Parties at such time or (z) a combination of shares of Class A Common Stock and Common Units held by the A/N Parties at such time. |
4. | On the eighth Business Day following A/N’s receipt of the Charter Repurchase Notice (the “Repurchase Closing Date”), Charter Holdings will settle the exchange of the applicable number of Common Units (which will correspond to either (such number, the “Actual Repurchase Shares”) (i) the number of Potential Repurchase Shares or (i) if a Suspension Notice is issued by A/N prior to the Repurchase Period, the number of Reduced Repurchase Shares) pursuant to and subject to the provisions of the Exchange Agreement (and the Tax Receivables Agreement, if applicable) in cash at the Repurchase Price. |
(a) | For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the A/N Parties have designated some or all of the Actual Repurchase Shares to consist of shares of Class A Common Stock rather than Common Units, the applicable A/N Party will sell and transfer a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to such number of Actual Repurchase Shares to Charter for cash at the Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Closing Date. |
(b) | In connection with any repurchase of Common Units or Class A Common Stock, A/N will provide to Charter Holdings or Charter, as applicable, substantially similar representations and warranties and appointment as attorney of A/N as provided in the last two paragraphs of the Exchange Notice provided pursuant to Section III of Annex A of the Original Letter (with appropriate changes to give effect to the repurchase rather than an exchange). |
5. | Termination: Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the Stockholders Agreement, this letter agreement shall terminate or be suspended immediately after the occurrence of the first Repurchase Closing Date to occur following the delivery of written notice of termination or suspension by (i) Charter to A/N, (a) prior to the sixth anniversary of the earlier of (such earlier date, the “Termination Trigger Date”) (i) the date of the Closing (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) and (ii) the date of termination of the Cox Transaction Agreement in accordance with its terms, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), if an unforeseen circumstance arises that would cause the continued repurchases pursuant to this letter agreement to result in any significant adverse impact to Charter as determined by Charter in good faith, or (b) at any time after the sixth anniversary of the Termination Trigger Date, or (iv) by A/N to Charter at any time (each, a “Termination Notice” or “Suspension Notice”, as applicable), except that if the number of Potential Repurchase Shares for such Repurchase Closing Date would be zero (0), such termination or suspension shall be effective immediately upon the delivery of such Termination Notice or Suspension Notice, as applicable; provided, that any Suspension Notice may be revoked at any time, by written notice from the party who issued the Suspension Notice to the other party (a “Revocation Notice”), with effect as of immediately prior to the first Monthly Determination Date after the date specified in such Revocation Notice, which shall be at least 30 days after delivery of such Revocation Notice (the “Reinstatement Date”). Following the receipt of a Termination Notice, this letter agreement shall forthwith become void and be of no further force and affect; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability incurred prior to the date of such termination. Following the receipt of any Suspension Notice, the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in Sections 1 through 4 of this Annex A shall be suspended to the extent specified in the Suspension Notice until such time as a Revocation Notice is issued. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, A/N may suspend this letter agreement at any time, in whole or in part, in advance of any one or more upcoming Repurchase Periods, by reducing (specifically or otherwise) the number of equity securities (if any) to be repurchased by Charter during such Repurchase Periods (such reduced number of equity securities to be repurchased may be determined by A/N, at A/N’s sole discretion, provided that such number shall not exceed the Potential Repurchase Shares and such equity securities are referred hereto as the “Reduced Repurchased Shares”). On and from the Reinstatement Date, the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in Sections 1 through 4 of this Annex A shall continue in full force and effect. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, A/N may |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this letter agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), dated as of [ ], by and among Charter Holdings, Charter Communications Inc. (“Charter”), CCH II, LLC, Cox Enterprises, Inc. (“Cox”) Advance/Newhouse Partnership and the other party or parties thereto (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”). |
2. | The parties agree to complete the transactions set forth on Annex A hereto on the terms set forth therein. |
3. | Charter and Cox acknowledge and agree that the redemptions by Charter of Common Units from Cox pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, repurchases or redemptions pursuant toAnnex A hereto; therefore, to the extent Charter redeems Common Units from Cox pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement in any Repurchase Period (as defined in Annex A hereto), the number of Common Units so redeemed (the “Tax Distribution Repurchased Units”) shall be deducted from the number of Potential Repurchase Shares (but shall not cause the number of Potential Repurchase Shares to be less than zero; provided that any excess Tax Distribution Repurchased Units that would have reduced the number of Potential Repurchase Shares to less than zero shall instead reduce the number of Potential Repurchase Shares in the succeeding Repurchase Period) in respect of such Repurchase Period. |
4. | If, in respect of any applicable period, Charter waives a portion of its Common Tax Distribution pursuant to Section 5.4(b)(ii) of the LLC Agreement (the amount so waived, the “Shortfall Amount”), Cox will have the option, in its discretion, to receive or waive a Tax Loan for the Shortfall Amount, subject to applicable law; provided that, if such Tax Loan is made, (x) interest shall accrue and be payable annually in arrears in respect of such Tax Loan at the Applicable Rate, (y) the maturity date in respect of such Tax Loan shall be the seventh anniversary of the making of such Tax Loan (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, Cox may repay such Tax Loan at any time prior to such maturity date without penalty) and (z) Cox shall represent and warrant to Charter and Charter Holdings as of the date of each such Tax Loan that Cox believes in good faith that the issuance of such Tax Loan is not prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Tax Loan shall have such terms and conditions and be governed by definitive documents in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Charter and Cox. |
5. | Notwithstanding Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement, if, in respect of any applicable period, Charter does not waive a portion of its Common Tax Distribution pursuant to Section 5.4(b)(ii) of the LLC Agreement, any amount of such Common Tax Distribution above Charter’s tax needs (such amount, “Excess Tax Distribution Amount”) will be treated as follows: If Charter plans to invoke a pro-rata redemption under Section 3.2(b)(iv) of the LLC Agreement using the Excess Tax Distribution Amount (such redemption, a “Pro-Rata Excess Redemption”) during the quarter of the applicable tax period, then it shall notify Cox in advance of making such Common Tax Distribution and Cox shall be entitled to determine in its sole discretion whether to decline to participate in such Pro-Rata Excess Redemption entirely or whether to participate in whole or in part. To the extent Cox elects not to participate in such Pro-Rata Excess Redemption, Charter shall not distribute to Cox the portion of its Common Tax |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6. | Charter Holdings shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allocate Nonrecourse Liabilities (as defined in the LLC Agreement) in a manner that minimizes gain recognized by any partner in Charter Holdings, provided that such efforts shall not obligate Charter Holdings to incur additional liabilities. |
7. | Other than as expressly set forth in this letter agreement, all of the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement and LLC Agreement are and will remain in full force and effect. |
8. | This letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof to the extent that such principles would direct a matter to another jurisdiction. |
9. | Each party hereto agrees that it shall bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this letter agreement exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Chosen Court”), and solely in connection with claims arising under this letter agreement (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Court, (b) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in the Chosen Court, (c) waives any objection that the Chosen Court is an inconvenient forum or does not have jurisdiction over any party hereto and (d) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with paragraph 10. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this letter agreement. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any lawsuit, action or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this letter agreement brought in the Chosen Court shall be conclusive and binding upon each of the parties hereto and may be enforced in any other courts the jurisdiction of which each of the parties is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment. |
10. | Any notice hereunder shall be made in writing by overnight courier, personal delivery or email (provided that no email transmission error is received by the sender), shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date such notice is received (as evidenced by confirmation of delivery or receipt), and, in each case, shall be sent as follows: |
If to Charter Communications, Inc.: | ||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||||
400 Washington Boulevard | ||||||
Stamford, CT 06902 | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
Telephone: | ||||||
Email: | ||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | ||||||
51 West 52nd Street | ||||||
New York, New York 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | Steven A. Cohen John L. Robinson Steven R. Green | |||||
Telephone: | [***] | |||||
Email: | sacohen@wlrk.com jlrobinson@wlrk.com srgreen@wlrk.com | |||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If to Cox Enterprises, Inc.: | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
Telephone: | ||||||
E-Mail: | ||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
Telephone: | ||||||
Email: | ||||||
11. | This letter agreement (including Annex A), together with the documents referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Charter hereby covenants and agrees that it is not party to, and will not enter into, any agreement, arrangement or understanding that would violate, conflict with or, prevent Charter from complying with, the terms of this Agreement. |
12. | This letter agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts (each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same letter agreement) and shall become effective as of the date first set forth above. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this letter agreement via e-mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this letter agreement. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sincerely, | ||||||
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Received and Acknowledged: | ||||||
COX ENTERPRISES, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. | Charter, Charter Holdings and Cox (on behalf of itself and each other Cox Party (as defined in the Amended and Restated Exchange Agreement, dated as of [ ], between, among others, Charter, Charter Holdings, Cox and A/N (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”) hereby agree on the following standing bilateral share repurchase agreement. |
2. | On the sixth Business Day following the last Business Day of each calendar month (each such last Business Day, a “Monthly Determination Date”) on which a Repurchase Period (defined below) ends, Charter will provide written notice, (each, a “Charter Repurchase Notice”) to Cox, in respect of such Repurchase Period containing: |
(a) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock directly or indirectly repurchased or redeemed (including through the repurchase or redemption of convertible equity securities) by Charter during the Repurchase Period (other than from Cox or any other Cox Party (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement)), which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include all shares of Class A Common Stock, Common Units or Charter Holdings Preferred Units (as defined in the Transaction Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Charter, Charter Holdings and Cox (the “Cox Transaction Agreement”)) in Charter Holdings repurchased or redeemed during the Repurchase Period (the “Monthly Repurchased Shares”); |
(b) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be outstanding on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis (without duplication) as of the start of such Repurchase Period (other than any shares held by Cox or any other Cox Party (the “Beginning Monthly Share Balance”); |
(c) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Cox Parties or represented by Common Units or Columbus Holdings Preferred Units (as defined in the Cox Transaction Agreement) in Charter Holdings held by the Cox Parties on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis as of the start of such calendar month (the “Cox Total Shares”); |
(d) | the per share price to be paid by Charter pursuant to Section I.3 of this Annex A to purchase from Cox or the applicable Cox Party shares of Class A Common Stock or Common Units (the “Repurchase Price”), which price shall be the average price at which the Monthly Repurchased Shares (other than Monthly Repurchased Shares that (i) were purchased in transactions that were negotiated with the seller, or otherwise consummated, in connection with or substantially contemporaneous with any other transaction, agreement or arrangement between the Charter and such seller (or its affiliates); (ii) were deemed repurchased or redeemed due to cashless exercise of or payment of withholding taxes with respect to director, officer or employee equity awards of Charter; or (iii) were repurchased or redeemed by Charter from A/N pursuant to the letter agreement, dated May [•], 2025, by and between Charter and A/N, as it may be amended in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement ((i), (ii) and (iii) collectively, the “Excluded Repurchased Shares”)) were repurchased or redeemed by Charter during the Repurchase Period, calculated as the quotient of (i) the aggregate purchase price paid for the Monthly Repurchased Shares (other than Excluded Repurchased Shares) divided by (ii) the number of Monthly Repurchased Shares (other than Excluded Repurchased Shares); provided that if Charter has not repurchased or redeemed shares of Class A Common Stock during the relevant Repurchase Period (other than Excluded Repurchased Shares), the Repurchase Price shall be based on a Bloomberg VWAP methodology proposed by Charter and reasonably acceptable to Cox; and |
(e) | the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Common Units that the Cox Parties may sell back to Charter or Charter Holdings, which number shall be calculated as the product of (x) the quotient of (I) the Monthly Repurchased Shares, less the number of shares issued during the Repurchase Period under any employee equity incentive plan, divided by (II) the Beginning Monthly Share Balance, multiplied by (y) the Cox Total Shares (such product, the “Potential Repurchase Shares”). The Cox Parties have the right to designate whether the Potential Repurchase Shares are shares of Class A Common Stock and/or Common Units held (or issuable upon the exchange or conversion of Convertible Preferred Units) by the Cox Parties. |
(f) | The “Repurchase Period” shall mean the period ending on (and including) the applicable Monthly Determination Date and beginning on the first day following the prior Monthly Determination Date during which Charter repurchases, redeems or buys back any shares of Class A Common Stock; provided that the Repurchase Period may be modified pursuant to the following paragraph. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. | No later than the fifth Business Day following the receipt of each Charter Repurchase Notice, Cox will provide notice to Charter (the “Cox Repurchase Notice”) of Cox’s designation, in its sole discretion, as to whether the Potential Repurchase Shares (if any) shall consist (in whole or in part) of (x) shares of Class A Common Stock held (or issuable upon the exchange or conversion of Convertible Preferred Units) by the Cox Parties at such time, (y) Common Units held by the Cox Parties at such time or (z) a combination of shares of Class A Common Stock and Common Units held (or issuable upon the exchange or conversion of Convertible Preferred Units) by the Cox Parties at such time. |
4. | On the eighth Business Day following Cox’s receipt of the Charter Repurchase Notice (the “Repurchase Closing Date”), Charter Holdings will settle the exchange of the applicable number of Common Units (which will correspond to either (such number, the “Actual Repurchase Shares”) (i) the number of Potential Repurchase Shares or (ii) if a Suspension Notice is issued by Cox prior to the Repurchase Period, the number of Reduced Repurchase Shares) pursuant to and subject to the provisions of the Exchange Agreement (and the Tax Receivables Agreement, if applicable) in cash at the Repurchase Price. |
(a) | For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the Cox Parties have designated some or all of the Actual Repurchase Shares to consist of shares of Class A Common Stock rather than Common Units, the applicable Cox Party will sell and transfer a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to such number of Actual Repurchase Shares to Charter for cash at the Repurchase Price on the Repurchase Closing Date. |
(b) | In connection with any repurchase of Common Units or Class A Common Stock, Cox will provide to Charter Holdings or Charter, as applicable, substantially similar representations and warranties and appointment as attorney of Cox as provided in the last two paragraphs of the Exchange Notice provided pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of the Exchange Agreement (with appropriate changes to give effect to the repurchase rather than an exchange). |
5. | Termination: Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3.1(b) of the Stockholders Agreement, this letter agreement shall terminate or be suspended immediately after the occurrence of the first Repurchase Closing Date to occur following the delivery of written notice of termination or suspension by (i) Charter to Cox, (a) prior to the sixth anniversary of the date hereof, if an unforeseen circumstance arises that would cause the continued repurchases pursuant to this letter agreement to result in any significant adverse impact to Charter as determined by Charter in good faith, or (b) at any time after the sixth anniversary of the date hereof, or (ii) by Cox to Charter at any time (each, a “Termination Notice” or “Suspension Notice”, as applicable), except that if the number of Potential Repurchase Shares for such Repurchase Closing Date would be zero (0), such termination or suspension shall be effective immediately upon the delivery of such Termination Notice or Suspension Notice, as applicable; provided, that any Suspension Notice may be revoked at any time, by written notice from the party who issued the Suspension Notice to the other party (a “Revocation Notice”), with effect as of immediately prior to the first Monthly Determination Date after the date specified in such Revocation Notice, which shall be at least 30 days after delivery of such Revocation Notice (the “Reinstatement Date”). Following the receipt of a Termination Notice, this letter agreement shall forthwith become void and be of no further force and affect; provided that nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liability incurred prior to the date of such termination. Following the receipt of any Suspension Notice, the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in Sections I.1 through I.4 of this Annex A shall be suspended to the extent specified in the Suspension Notice until such time as a Revocation Notice is issued. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Cox may suspend this letter agreement at any time, in whole or in part, in advance of any one or more upcoming Repurchase Periods, by reducing (specifically or otherwise) the number of equity securities (if any) to be repurchased by Charter during such Repurchase Periods (such reduced number of equity securities to be repurchased may be determined by Cox, at Cox’s sole discretion, provided that such number shall not exceed the Potential Repurchase Shares and such equity securities are referred hereto as the “Reduced Repurchased Shares”). On and from the Reinstatement Date, the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in Sections I.1 through I.4 of this Annex A shall continue in full force and effect. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Cox may also, in its sole discretion, elect to increase or decrease the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Common Units (if any) to be repurchased by Charter in respect of any Repurchase Period pursuant to this letter agreement, provided such amount does not exceed the number of Potential Repurchase Shares in respect of such Repurchase Period. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 | Note to Draft: To refer to Cox’s preferred units if not already covered. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
CCH II, LLC | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
COX ENTERPRISES, INC. | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
ADVANCE/NEWHOUSE PARTNERSHIP | ||||||
By | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
if to Charter: | ||||||
Charter Communications, Inc. | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: General Counsel | ||||||
E-Mail: | ||||||
if to CCH II, LLC: | ||||||
CCH II, LLC | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
E-Mail: | ||||||
with a copy (if to Charter or to CCH II, LLC) to: | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | ||||||
51 West 52nd Street | ||||||
New York, New York 10019 | ||||||
Attention: Jodi J. Schwartz | ||||||
E-Mail: JJSchwartz@wlrk.com | ||||||
if to A/N: | ||||||
Advance/Newhouse Partnership | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
E-Mail: | ||||||
with a copy (if to A/N) to: | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
E-mail: | ||||||
if to Cox: | ||||||
Cox Enterprises, Inc. | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
E-Mail: | ||||||
with a copy (if to Cox) to: | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
[•] | ||||||
Attention: | ||||||
E-mail: | ||||||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
388 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10013 | ![]() | ||
(1) | Columbus NewCo will pay an aggregate amount equal to $3.5 billion in cash to NewCo 1 (the “Columbus NewCo Cash Consideration”), in exchange for the NewCo 2 Equity Interests, the NewCo 3 Equity Interests, the NewCo 4 Equity Interests and the NewCo 5 Equity Interests; |
(2) | Charter Holdings will (a) pay $4.0 billion minus the cash payment described in the preceding clause (1) to NewCo 1 (the “Charter Holdings Cash Consideration”) and (b) issue Charter Holdings Preferred Units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion and 33,586,045 Charter Holdings Class C Common Units to Cox Parent (the “Charter Holdings Equity Consideration”), in each case in consideration for the Membership Interests and the Cabot Assets; and |
(3) | Charter will issue one share of Charter Class C Common Stock to Cox Parent (the “Charter Stock Consideration” and together with the Columbus NewCo Cash Consideration, the Charter Holdings Cash Consideration, and the Charter Holdings Equity Consideration, the “Aggregate Consideration”), in exchange for the sum of $1.00. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Very truly yours, | |||
![]() | |||
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. | |||
TABLE OF CONTENTS
![]() | LionTree Advisors LLC 745 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, NY 10151 | ||
(1) | Columbus NewCo will pay an aggregate amount equal to $3.5 billion in cash to NewCo 1 (the “Columbus NewCo Cash Consideration”), in exchange for the NewCo 2 Equity Interests, the NewCo 3 Equity Interests, the NewCo 4 Equity Interests and the NewCo 5 Equity Interests; |
(2) | Charter Holdings will (a) pay $4.0 billion minus the cash payment described in the preceding clause (1) to NewCo 1 (the “Charter Holdings Cash Consideration”) and (b) issue Charter Holdings Preferred Units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $6.0 billion and 33,586,045 Charter Holdings Class C Common Units to Cox Parent (the “Charter Holdings Equity Consideration”), in each case in consideration for the Membership Interests and the Cabot Assets; and |
(3) | Charter will issue one share of Charter Class C Common Stock to Cox Parent (the “Charter Stock Consideration” and together with the Columbus NewCo Cash Consideration, the Charter Holdings Cash Consideration, and the Charter Holdings Equity Consideration, the “Aggregate Consideration”), in exchange for the sum of $1.00. |
(i) | reviewed (A) an execution version of the Transaction Agreement furnished to us on May 16, 2025 and (B) a final form of the Third Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) to be entered at the closing of the Transaction by and among Charter, Cox Parent and Advance/Newhouse Partnership; |
(ii) | reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information relating to Charter; |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(iii) | reviewed certain internal financial estimates and other data relating to the business and financial prospects of Cox Communications and Charter, including estimates of net indebtedness of Cox Communications, that were provided to or discussed with us by the management of Charter and not publicly available, including (a) certain financial forecasts and other information and data relating to Cox Communications under the ownership and operation of Charter prepared by the management of Charter (the “Charter Projections for Cox Communications”) and (b) certain financial forecasts and other information and data relating to Charter prepared by the management of Charter based in part on consensus equity research estimates for Charter (the “Charter Projections for Charter”); |
(iv) | reviewed certain information relating to the amount and timing of potential tax benefits available to Charter anticipated by the management of Charter to result from the Transaction (the “Tax Benefit Estimates”), prepared by the management of Charter and not publicly available; |
(v) | reviewed certain estimates of synergies (including costs to achieve the synergies) anticipated by the management of Charter to result from the Transaction (the “Transaction Effects”), prepared by the management of Charter and not publicly available; |
(vi) | reviewed certain internal financial information and other data relating to the business and financial prospects of Charter, after giving pro forma effect to the Transaction (including the Tax Benefit Estimates and the Transaction Effects), prepared by the management of Charter and not publicly available; |
(vii) | conducted discussions with members of the senior management of Charter concerning the business and financial prospects of Cox Communications and Charter, as well as the Tax Benefit Estimates and the Transaction Effects; |
(viii) | reviewed the terms of the Charter Holdings Preferred Units and compared such terms with those of other securities we deemed relevant; |
(ix) | reviewed current and historical market prices of the Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Charter Class A Common Stock”), of Charter; |
(x) | reviewed certain publicly available financial and stock market data with respect to certain other companies we believe to be generally relevant; |
(xi) | compared certain financial terms of the Transaction with the publicly available financial terms of certain other transactions we believe to be generally relevant; and |
(xii) | conducted such other financial studies, analyses and investigations, and considered such other information, as we deemed necessary or appropriate. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Very truly yours, | |||
![]() | |||
LionTree Advisors LLC | |||
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
