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| Charter Reports First Quarter Financial and Operating Results |
Click here to view the First Quarter Financial Addendum. ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2008--Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) (along with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Charter") today reported its first quarter 2008 financial and operating results.
"Our pro forma double digit revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth for the first quarter was driven by strong RGU additions and ARPU growth," said Neil Smit, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our continued strong performance into 2008 reflects our focus and execution as we pursue the right strategies for Charter, including driving bundled penetration and targeting our operating and capital investments toward the projects with the highest expected returns." Key Operating Results All of the following customer growth and ARPU statistics are presented on a pro forma basis. Charter added a net 302,300 RGUs during the first quarter of 2008. As of March 31, 2008, Charter served approximately 5,598,800 customers and the Company's 12,084,400 RGUs were comprised of 5,208,000 basic video, 3,023,200 digital video, 2,768,200 HSI, and 1,085,000 telephone customers.
First Quarter Results - Pro Forma First quarter revenues were $1.564 billion, a pro forma increase of $148 million, or 10.5%. The increase resulted primarily from increases in telephone and HSI revenues. Telephone revenues nearly doubled to $121 million compared to pro forma revenue of $63 million in the year-ago quarter. HSI revenues increased $35 million, up 11.9% year-over-year on a pro forma basis, due primarily to an increased number of customers. Video revenues increased $27 million, up 3.2% year-over-year on a pro forma basis, primarily as a result of digital and advanced services revenue growth and rate adjustments. Commercial revenues increased $12 million, or 14.8%, on a pro forma basis, as Charter continues to market The Charter Business Bundle(R). Advertising sales revenue increased $6 million, reflecting a pro forma increase of 9.7% compared to the first quarter of 2007. Operating expenses, which include programming, service and advertising sales costs, increased 8.8% year-over-year on a pro forma basis, reflecting annual programming rate increases, increased labor and maintenance costs to support improved service levels, and growth of the Company's telephone business and other advanced services. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by 13.8% on a pro forma basis compared to the year-ago quarter, reflecting expenditures to further improve the customer experience, increases in bad debt expense, and higher marketing expenditures targeted at revenue growth and retaining customers. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $545 million for the first quarter of 2008, a pro forma increase of 10.5% compared to the year-ago quarter. Net cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of 2008 were $204 million, compared to a pro forma $263 million for the first quarter of 2007. First Quarter Results - Actual First quarter revenues increased 9.8% and operating costs and expenses increased 9.7% compared to year-ago results. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2008 grew 9.9% versus the actual results in the year-ago period. Income from operations was $205 million in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $156 million in the first quarter of 2007. Net loss for the first quarter of 2008 was $358 million, or $.97 per common share. For the first quarter of 2007, Charter reported a net loss of $381 million and net loss per common share of $1.04. The decrease in reported net loss was primarily related to higher adjusted EBITDA resulting from higher RGUs and increased ARPU. Net cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of 2008 were $204 million, compared to $266 million for the first quarter of 2007. Expenditures for property, plant, and equipment for the first quarter of 2008 were $334 million, compared to first quarter 2007 expenditures of $298 million. The increase in capital expenditures primarily reflects year-over-year increases in scalable infrastructure related to network upgrades to support higher HSI speeds and other advanced services. As of March 31, 2008, Charter had $20.575 billion in long-term debt and $467 million of cash on hand. Availability under the Company's revolving credit facility was approximately $1.4 billion at March 31, 2008, none of which was limited by covenant restrictions. Charter expects that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, and amounts available under its credit facilities will be adequate to meet its projected cash needs through 2009 and will not be sufficient to fund projected cash needs in 2010 (primarily as a result of the CCH II, LLC $2.2 billion of senior notes maturing in September 2010) and thereafter. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics The Company uses certain measures that are not defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to evaluate various aspects of its business. Adjusted EBITDA, pro forma adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by Charter, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from operations before depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, and other operating expenses, such as special charges and loss on sale or retirement of assets. As such, it eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of the Company's businesses as well as other non-cash or non-recurring items, and is unaffected by the Company's capital structure or investment activities. Adjusted EBITDA and pro forma adjusted EBITDA are liquidity measures used by Company management and its board of directors to measure the Company's ability to fund operations and its financing obligations. For this reason, it is a significant component of Charter's annual incentive compensation program. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and the cash cost of financing for the Company. Company management evaluates these costs through other financial measures. Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA, pro forma adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow provide information useful to investors in assessing Charter's ability to service its debt, fund operations, and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under the Company's credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with the covenants contained in the facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission). Adjusted EBITDA and pro forma adjusted EBITDA, as presented, include management fee expenses in the amount of $34 million and $32 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, which expense amounts are excluded for the purposes of calculating compliance with leverage covenants. In addition to the actual results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, we have provided pro forma results in this release for the three months ended March 31, 2007. We believe these pro forma results facilitate meaningful analysis of the results of operations. Pro forma results in this release reflect certain sales and acquisition of cable systems in 2007 as if they had occurred on January 1, 2007. Pro forma income statements for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and pro forma customer statistics as of March 31, 2007 are provided in the addendum of this news release. Additional Information Available on Website A slide presentation to accompany the first quarter conference call will be available on the Investor & News Center of our website at www.charter.com in the "Presentations/Webcasts" section. Pro forma data, including disclosure concerning the pro forma data and the basis upon which it was calculated, for each quarter of 2007 can also be found on the Investor & News Center in the "Pro Forma Information" section. Conference Call The Company will host a conference call on Monday, May 12, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) related to the contents of this release. The conference call will be webcast live via the Company's website at www.charter.com. Access the webcast by clicking on "About Charter" at the top of the home page. Participants should go to the call link at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to register. The call will be archived on the website beginning two hours after its completion. Accompanying slides will also be available on the site. Those participating via telephone should dial 888/233-1576 no later than 10 minutes prior to the call. International participants should dial 706/643-3458. The passcode for the call is 43490012. A replay of the call will be available at 800/642-1687 or 706/645-9291 beginning two hours after the completion of the call through the end of business on May 19, 2008. The passcode for the replay is 43490012. About Charter Communications(R) Charter Communications, Inc. is a leading broadband communications company and the third-largest publicly traded cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter Digital Cable(R) video entertainment programming, Charter High-Speed(R) Internet access, and Charter Telephone(R). Charter Business(TM) similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, video and music entertainment services, and business telephone. Charter's advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media(R) brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com. (1) Pro forma results are described below in the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics" section and are provided in the addendum of this news release. (2) Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics" section and is reconciled to net cash flows from operating activities in the addendum of this news release.
(3) Average revenue per basic customer. This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under "Risk Factors" from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this release may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "will," "may," "intend," "estimated," "aim," "on track," "target," "opportunity" and "potential," among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this release are set forth in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OPERATING DATA
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND SHARE DATA)
Three Months Ended March 31,
----------------------------------------
2008 2007
Actual Actual % Change
------------- ------------- ---------
REVENUES:
Video $ 858 $ 838 2.4%
High-speed Internet 328 294 11.6%
Telephone 121 63 92.1%
Commercial 93 81 14.8%
Advertising sales 68 63 7.9%
Other 96 86 11.6%
------------- -------------
Total revenues 1,564 1,425 9.8%
------------- -------------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Operating (excluding
depreciation and
amortization)(a) 681 631 7.9%
Selling, general and
administrative (excluding
stock compensation
expense)(b) 338 298 13.4%
------------- -------------
Operating costs and
expenses 1,019 929 9.7%
------------- -------------
Adjusted EBITDA 545 496 9.9%
------------- -------------
Adjusted EBITDA margin 34.8% 34.8%
------------- -------------
Depreciation and
amortization 321 331
Stock compensation expense 8 5
Other operating expenses,
net 11 4
------------- -------------
Income from operations 205 156
------------- -------------
OTHER EXPENSES:
Interest expense, net (465) (464)
Change in value of
derivatives (37) (1)
Other expense, net (3) (3)
------------- -------------
(505) (468)
------------- -------------
Loss before income taxes (300) (312)
Income tax expense (58) (69)
------------- -------------
Net loss $ (358) $ (381)
============= =============
Loss per common share, basic
and diluted $ (0.97) $ (1.04)
============= =============
Weighted average common shares
outstanding, basic and
diluted 370,085,187 366,120,096
============= =============
Three Months Ended March
31,
---------------------------
2007
Pro Forma(a) % Change
-------------- ---------
REVENUES:
Video $ 831 3.2%
High-speed Internet 293 11.9%
Telephone 63 92.1%
Commercial 81 14.8%
Advertising sales 62 9.7%
Other 86 11.6%
--------------
Total revenues 1,416 10.5%
--------------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Operating (excluding depreciation and
amortization)(a) 626 8.8%
Selling, general and administrative
(excluding stock compensation
expense)(b) 297 13.8%
--------------
Operating costs and expenses 923 10.4%
--------------
Adjusted EBITDA 493 10.5%
--------------
Adjusted EBITDA margin 34.8%
--------------
Depreciation and amortization 330
Stock compensation expense 5
Other operating expenses, net 3
--------------
Income from operations 155
--------------
OTHER EXPENSES:
Interest expense, net (464)
Change in value of derivatives (1)
Other expense, net (3)
--------------
(468)
--------------
Loss before income taxes (313)
Income tax expense (50)
--------------
Net loss $ (363)
==============
Loss per common share, basic and diluted $ (0.99)
==============
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
basic and diluted 366,120,096
==============
(a) Pro forma results reflect certain sales and acquisitions of cable
systems in 2007 as if they occurred as of January 1, 2007. The
pro forma statements of operations do not include adjustments for
financing transactions completed by Charter during the periods
presented or certain other dispositions of assets because those
transactions did not significantly impact Charter's adjusted
EBITDA. However, all transactions completed in 2007 have been
reflected in the operating statistics. The pro forma data is
based on information available to Charter as of the date of this
document and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable
under the circumstances. The financial data required allocation
of certain revenues and expenses and such information has been
presented for comparative purposes and is not intended to provide
any indication of what our actual financial position, or results
of operations would have been had the transactions described
above been completed on the dates indicated or to project our
results of operations for any future date.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
------------ ------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 467 $ 75
Short-term investments 74 -
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
doubtful accounts 207 225
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 38 36
------------ ------------
Total current assets 786 336
------------ ------------
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
Property, plant and equipment, net 5,114 5,103
Franchises, net 8,941 8,942
------------ ------------
Total investment in cable properties,
net 14,055 14,045
------------ ------------
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS 316 285
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 15,157 $ 14,666
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 1,408 $ 1,332
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 1,408 1,332
------------ ------------
LONG-TERM DEBT 20,575 19,908
NOTE PAYABLE - RELATED PARTY 67 65
DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEES - RELATED PARTY 14 14
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 1,237 1,035
MINORITY INTEREST 201 199
PREFERRED STOCK - REDEEMABLE 5 5
SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT (8,350) (7,892)
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
deficit $ 15,157 $ 14,666
============ ============
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-------------------
2008 2007
--------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss $ (358) $ (381)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 321 331
Noncash interest expense 13 11
Change in value of derivatives 37 1
Deferred income taxes 57 68
Other, net 13 11
Changes in operating assets and liabilities,
net of effects from dispositions
Accounts receivable 18 37
Prepaid expenses and other assets (2) (4)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other 105 192
--------- ---------
Net cash flows from operating activities 204 266
--------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (334) (298)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital
expenditures (31) (32)
Purchases of short-term investments (74) -
Other, net 3 9
--------- ---------
Net cash flows from investing activities (436) (321)
--------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings of long-term debt 1,765 911
Repayments of long-term debt (1,102) (691)
Payments for debt issuance costs (39) (20)
--------- ---------
Net cash flows from financing activities 624 200
--------- ---------
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 392 145
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period 75 60
--------- ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $ 467 $ 205
========= =========
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST $ 323 $ 304
========= =========
NONCASH TRANSACTIONS:
Cumulative adjustment to Accumulated Deficit
for the adoption of FIN 48 $ - $ 56
========= =========
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED SUMMARY OF OPERATING STATISTICS
Approximate as of
--------------------------------------
Actual Pro Forma
------------------------- ------------
March 31, December 31, March 31,
2008(a) 2007(a) 2007(a)
------------ ------------ ------------
Customer Summary:
Customer Relationships:
Residential (non-bulk) basic
video customers(b) 4,949,100 4,959,800 5,084,600
Multi-dwelling (bulk) and
commercial unit
customers(c) 258,900 260,100 268,700
------------ ------------ ------------
Total basic video
customers 5,208,000 5,219,900 5,353,300
Non-video customers(b) 390,800 376,400 343,700
------------ ------------ ------------
Total customer
relationships(d) 5,598,800 5,596,300 5,697,000
============ ============ ============
Pro forma average monthly
revenue per basic video
customer (e) $ 100.14 $ 97.99 $ 88.28
Pro forma average monthly video
revenue per basic video
customer(f) $ 57.46 $ 56.05 $ 54.11
Residential bundled
customers(g) 2,602,800 2,506,700 2,305,300
Revenue Generating Units:
Basic video customers(b)(c) 5,208,000 5,219,900 5,353,300
Digital video customers(h) 3,023,200 2,920,400 2,835,400
Residential high-speed
Internet customers(i) 2,768,200 2,682,500 2,517,300
Telephone customers(j) 1,085,000 959,300 573,300
------------ ------------ ------------
Total revenue generating
units(k) 12,084,400 11,782,100 11,279,300
============ ============ ============
Video Cable Services:
Basic Video:
Estimated homes passed(l) 11,795,600 11,744,300 11,530,200
Basic video customers(b)(c) 5,208,000 5,219,900 5,353,300
Estimated penetration of
basic homes
passed(b)(c)(l)(m) 44.2% 44.4% 46.4%
Pro forma basic video
customers quarterly net
gain (loss)(b)(c)(n) (11,900) (66,400) 17,100
Digital Video:
Estimated digital video
homes passed(l) 11,701,000 11,650,000 11,426,000
Digital video customers(h) 3,023,200 2,920,400 2,835,400
Estimated penetration of
digital homes
passed(h)(l)(m) 25.8% 25.1% 24.8%
Digital penetration of basic
video customers(b)(c)(h)(o) 58.0% 55.9% 53.0%
Digital set-top terminals
deployed 4,340,300 4,192,700 4,077,500
Pro forma digital video
customers quarterly net
gain(h)(n) 102,800 59,700 65,100
Non-Video Cable Services:
High-Speed Internet Services:
Estimated high-speed
Internet homes passed(l) 11,078,100 11,023,700 10,777,400
Residential high-speed
Internet customers(i) 2,768,200 2,682,500 2,517,300
Estimated penetration of
high-speed Internet homes
passed(i)(l)(m) 25.0% 24.3% 23.4%
Pro forma average monthly
high-speed Internet revenue
per high-speed Internet
customer(f) $ 40.08 $ 40.53 $ 39.76
Pro forma high-speed
Internet customers
quarterly net gain(i)(n) 85,700 50,500 123,900
Telephone Services:
Estimated telephone homes
passed(l) 9,525,200 9,013,900 7,264,000
Telephone customers(j) 1,085,000 959,300 573,300
Estimated penetration of
telephone homes
passed(i)(l)(m) 11.4% 10.6% 7.9%
Pro forma average monthly
telephone revenue per
telephone customer(f) $ 40.42 $ 41.77 $ 42.06
Pro forma telephone
customers quarterly net
gain(j)(n) 125,700 155,300 127,000
Pro forma operating statistics reflect the sales and acquisitions of
cable systems in 2007 as if such transactions had occurred as of the
last day of the respective period for all periods presented. The pro
forma statements of operations do not include adjustments for
financing transactions completed by Charter during the periods
presented or certain other dispositions of assets because those
transactions did not significantly impact Charter's adjusted EBITDA.
However, all transactions completed in 2007 have been reflected in
the operating statistics.
(a) "Customers" include all persons our corporate billing records show
as receiving service (regardless of their payment status), except
for complimentary accounts (such as our employees). In addition,
at March 31, 2008, December 31, 2007, and March 31, 2007,
"customers" include approximately 30,600, 48,200, and 31,700
persons whose accounts were over 60 days past due in payment,
approximately 4,700, 10,700, and 4,100 persons whose accounts
were over 90 days past due in payment and approximately 3,200,
2,900, and 2,000 of which were over 120 days past due in payment,
respectively.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP MEASURES
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Three Months Ended March 31,
--------------------------------
2008 2007 2007
Actual Actual Pro Forma(a)
--------- --------- ------------
Net cash flows from operating
activities $ 204 $ 266 $ 263
Less: Purchases of property, plant
and equipment (334) (298) (298)
Less: Change in accrued expenses
related to capital expenditures (31) (32) (32)
--------- --------- ------------
Free cash flow (161) (64) (67)
Interest on cash pay obligations(b) 452 453 453
Purchases of property, plant and
equipment 334 298 298
Change in accrued expenses related to
capital expenditures 31 32 32
Other, net 10 2 2
Change in operating assets and
liabilities (121) (225) (225)
--------- --------- ------------
Adjusted EBITDA(c) $ 545 $ 496 $ 493
========= ========= ============
(a) Pro forma results reflect certain sales and acquisitions of cable
systems in 2007 as if they occurred as of January 1, 2007.
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
-------------------
2008 2007
--------- ---------
Customer premise equipment(a) $ 165 $ 161
Scalable infrastructure(b) 81 49
Line extensions(c) 21 24
Upgrade/Rebuild(d) 17 12
Support capital(e) 50 52
--------- ---------
Total capital expenditures $ 334 $ 298
========= =========
(a) Customer premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer
residence to secure new customers, revenue units and additional
bandwidth revenues. It also includes customer installation costs
in accordance with SFAS No. 51 and customer premise equipment
(e.g., set-top boxes and cable modems, etc.).
CONTACT: Charter Communications, Inc. |
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