body.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 8-A/A
Amendment No. 1
FOR
REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Charter
Communications, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as
Specified in Its Charter)
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Delaware
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43-1857213
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(State
of Incorporation or Organization)
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(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
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12405
Powerscourt Drive, St. Louis, Missouri
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63131
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(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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If this
form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box. x
If this
form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box. ¨
Securities
Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: CIK
1091667/SIC 4841
Securities
to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title
Of Each Class
To
Be So Registered
______________________
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Name
Of Each Exchange On Which
Each
Class Is To Be Registered
______________________________
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Preferred
Share Purchase Rights
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Nasdaq
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Securities
to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title
of Class)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 1.
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Description
of Registrant's Securities to be
Registered.
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On December 10, 2008, the Board of
Directors (the "Board") of
Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter")
approved of an amendment (the "Amendment")
to the Rights Agreement dated August 14, 2007 (the "Rights
Agreement") between Charter and Mellon Investor Services LLC
(''Rights
Agent"). The Amendment was further approved by unanimous
written consent of the holders of a majority of the Class B Common Stock of
Charter by resolution dated December 23, 2008.
The
Rights Agreement is currently set to terminate on the earlier to occur of: a
specified event among a set of events, or the fixed date of December 31,
2008. The Amendment extends the fixed date to December 31,
2009.
The
Rights Agreement was adopted by the Board in an effort to protect stockholder
value by attempting to protect against a possible limitation on our ability to
use our net operating loss carryforwards (the "NOLs") to
reduce potential future federal income tax obligations. Charter has
experienced and continues to experience substantial operating losses, and under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1968, as amended (the "Code") and rules promulgated
by the Internal Revenue Service, Charter may "carry forward" these losses in
certain circumstances to offset any current and future earnings and thus reduce
our federal income tax liability, subject to certain requirements and
restrictions. To the extent that the NOLs do not otherwise become
limited, Charter believes that it will be able to carry forward several billion
dollars of NOLs, and therefore these NOLs could be a substantial asset to
it. However, if Charter experiences an "Ownership Change," as defined
in Section 382 of the Code, its ability to use the NOLs could be substantially
limited, and the timing of the usage of the NOLs could be substantially delayed,
which could therefore significantly impair the value of that asset.
The Rights Agreement is intended to deter any such Ownership Change without the
Board's approval through a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase
right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of Charter's Class A common stock, par value $0.001
(the "Class
A Common
Stock") and Class B common stock, par value $0.001 (the "Class B Common
Stock") on August 31, 2007. Subject to the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, if the Rights become exercisable, each
Right would initially represent the right to purchase from Charter one
one-thousandth of a share of Charter's Series B Junior Preferred Stock, par
value $0.001 (the "Preferred
Stock"). If issued, each fractional share of Preferred Stock
would give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and
liquidation rights as one share of Charter's Class A Common
Stock. However, prior to exercise, a Right will not give its holder
any rights as a stockholder of Charter, including without limitation any
dividend, voting or liquidation rights. The Rights are not
exercisable until 10 days after a public announcement by Charter of an event of
ownership change as described in further detail in the Rights Agreement upon the
terms and conditions also as more fully set forth therein. Further, upon an
issuance of Class A Common Stock and/or Class B Common Stock under the Rights
Plan, additional membership units will be issued to the Charter, as holder of
the Class B common membership units, by Charter Communications Holding Company,
LLC ("
Holdco "), to mirror
at Holdco
the economic effect of such issuance of common stock pursuant to that certain
letter agreement for mirror rights dated August 14, 2007 by and among Charter,
Charter Investment, Inc., and Vulcan Cable III Inc. (the "Holdco Mirror
Agreement"). Holders of the Holdco common membership units that are
convertible into shares of our Class B Common Stock will have equivalent rights
which may be exercised, on generally the same terms and conditions as set forth
in the Rights Plan, for additional Holdco common membership
units. Concurrent with the Amendment, the parties to the Holdco
Mirror Agreement have approved and executed an amendment also extending the
expiration date of the Holdco Mirror Agreement to December 31, 2009 (the "Holdco
Mirror Agreement Amendment").
Before the Distribution Date (as
defined in the Rights Agreement), the Board may amend or supplement the Rights
Agreement without the consent of the holders of the Rights in respect of our
Class A Common Stock. After the Distribution Date, the Board may
amend or supplement the Rights Agreement only to cure an ambiguity, to alter
time period provisions, to correct inconsistent provisions or to make any
additional changes to the Rights Agreement, but only to the extent that those
changes do not impair or adversely affect any rights holder and do not result in
the rights again becoming redeemable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Charter and
the Rights Agent shall not supplement or amend the Rights Agreement without the
prior approval of the holders of a majority of the Class B Common
Stock.
A copy of the Amendment is attached
hereto as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing
descriptions of the Amendment and the Rights Agreement do not purport to be
complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Amendment and
the Rights Agreement.
The
following exhibits are filed as part of this registration
statement:
Exhibit
Number
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Description
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4.01
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First
Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2008, by and
between Charter Communications, Inc. and Mellon Investor Services
LLC*. |
4.02 |
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Amendment to Letter
Agreement for Mirror Rights, dated as of December 23, 2008, by and between
Charter Communications, Inc., Charter Investment, Inc. and Vulcan Cable
III, Inc. *. |
* Filed
herewith.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: December
23, 2008
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.
By: /s/ Eloise
Schmitz
Name: Eloise Schmitz
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
exhibit4_01.htm
EXHIBIT
4.01
FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
This
First Amendment to Rights Agreement (the "Amendment") is made and entered into
effective as of this 23rd day of December, 2008 by and between CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and MELLON INVESTOR
SERVICES LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights
Agent").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights
Agent are parties to that certain Rights Agreement dated August 14, 2007 (the
"Agreement") that provides, inter alia, for the terms of a rights plan and
dividend distribution of certain preferred share purchase rights to the holders
of outstanding Class A and outstanding Class B common stock of the Company as of
the record date provided therein.
WHEREAS, the Agreement is set to
terminate by its terms on December 31, 2008.
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the
Company has determined that it is in the best interest of the Company and its
shareholders to extend the term of the Agreement as more fully set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows.
AGREEMENTS:
1. Accuracy of
Recitals/Incorporation of Defined Terms. The parties
acknowledge and agree that the foregoing recitals are true and
accurate. Unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, all
capitalized terms shall have the meaning set forth in the
Agreement.
2. Extension of
Agreement/Revision of Definition of Expiration Date. Section
1(w) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced as
follows:
"Expiration Date"
shall mean the earliest of: (i) immediately following such
time as notice is given to the Company, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 25 hereof at the address set forth therein as of the date hereof, of a
determination by holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock to
terminate this Agreement, (ii) the Close of Business on December 31, 2009; (iii)
the Close of Business on the date on which the Company makes a public
announcement (by press release, filing made with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or otherwise) that the Board has determined that the Company's
Section 382 Ownership Level dropped below 25%; (iv) the time at which
the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 22 hereof, and (v) the time at which
the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 23 hereof. For the
purposes of the Board's determination pursuant to sub-section (iii) above, the
Board's good faith reliance on the representations of management shall be
sufficient and the Board shall not be obligated to perform its own calculation
with respect to the Company's purported Section 382 Ownership
Level.
3. Amendment to Severability
Provision. Section 30 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in
its entirety and replaced as follows:
If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable,
the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,
impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term,
provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be
invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith
judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely
affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set
forth in Section 22 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the
Close of Business on the tenth Business Day following the date of such
determination by the Board. If such excluded provision shall affect
the rights, immunities, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent, the Rights
Agent shall be entitled to resign upon one Business Day’s notice to the
Company. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring a
specific group of directors to act is held to by any court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such
determination shall then be made by the Board in accordance with applicable law
and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws.
4. Conformity of Exhibits with
Amendment. The first page of the form of Rights Certificate
attached to the Agreement as Exhibit B is amended
and restated in its entirety as set forth in Annex 1 attached
hereto. All other exhibits in the Agreement are otherwise hereby
deemed modified to reflect and conform to all amendments contained
herein.
5. Amendment
Binding. This Amendment inures to the benefit of, and binds
the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
6. Ratification. Except
as expressly set forth herein, all of the terms, conditions and covenants
contained in the Agreement shall remain unmodified and in full force and
effect.
7. Counterparts; Facsimile
Signatures. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. Any or all parties may
execute this Amendment by facsimile signature, and any such facsimile signature
shall be deemed an original signature.
8. Governing
Law. This amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the law of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the internal laws of such State applicable to
contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State; except that the
rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent under this Amendment shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed the foregoing First Amendment
to Rights Agreement effective as of the day and year first above
written.
"COMPANY"
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Eloise
Schmitz
Print
Name: Eloise Schmitz
Title: Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
"RIGHTS
AGENT"
MELLON INVESTOR
SERVICES LLC
By: /s/ Jane A.
Marten
Print
Name: Jane A. Marten
Title: Asst.
Vice President
ANNEX 1
Exhibit
B
FORM
OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate
No.
R-___________ ___________Rights
in respect of Class __ Common Stock
NOT
EXERCISABLE AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED, EXCHANGED OR
AMENDED. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, EXCHANGE AND AMENDMENT
AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR
AN AFFILIATE OR AN ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED
IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR A TRANSFEREE THEREOF MAY BECOME NULL AND
VOID.
RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE
Charter
Communications, Inc.
This
certifies that _________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner
of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner
thereof, subject to the terms, provisions, and conditions of the Rights
Agreement (including without limitation Section 11(a)(ii)), (the “Rights
Agreement”), by and between Charter Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”),
and BNY Mellon Investor Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company
(the “Rights
Agent”), dated as of August 14, 2007, as amended by the First Amendment
to Rights Agreement dated as of December 23, 2008, to purchase from the Company
at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Expiration Date (as
such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) at the office or offices of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, one one-thousandth of a fully paid
nonassessable share of Series B Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the “Preferred
Shares”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $25.00 per one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase
Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with
the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly
executed. If this Rights Certificate is exercised in part, the holder
will be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise
thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of the date of the Rights Agreement, based on the
Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. Terms used herein with
initial capital letters and not defined herein are used herein with the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Rights Agreement.
As
provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and/or the number and/or
kind of shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities, as the case may be)
which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain
events.
exhibit4_02.htm
EXHIBIT
4.02
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
December
23, 2008
Charter
Investment, Inc.
Vulcan
Cable III Inc.
505 Fifth
Avenue South, Suite 900
Seattle,
WA 98104
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the letter
agreement among Charter Communications, Inc. (the “Company”), Charter
Investment, Inc. and Vulcan Cable III Inc., dated as of August 14, 2007 (the
“Letter Agreement”), with respect to the CCI Rights
Agreement. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have
the meaning set forth in the Letter Agreement.
The CCI Rights Agreement expires on
December 31, 2008. The Company has entered into a First Amendment of
the CCI Rights Agreement (the “First Amendment”) to amend clause (ii) of Section
1(w) (the definition of the term “Expiration Date”) of the CCI Rights Agreement
to extend the date in such clause to December 31, 2009.
The Letter Agreement by its terms
expires on the Expiration Date of the CCI Rights Agreement.
This purpose of this letter is to
confirm our understanding that (i) the Letter Agreement is hereby amended to
provide that all references to the CCI Rights Agreement shall include references
to the CCI Rights Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, (ii) the Letter
Agreement shall terminate on the Expiration Date, as such term is amended by the
First Amendment, and (iii) all of the rights of each Allen Entity under the
Letter Agreement continue in full force and effect.
[signature
page follows]
If this letter accurately reflects our
understanding, please sign and return the enclosed copy.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
as Manager and member
of Charter
Communications
Holdings Company, LLC
By: /s/ Eloise
Schmitz
Name: Eloise
Schmitz
Title: Executive
Vice President and Chief
Financial
Officer
AGREED AND
ACCEPTED
as
of the first date written above
CHARTER INVESTMENT,
INC.
By: /s/ W. Lance
Conn
Name:
W. Lance Conn
Title:
Vice President
VULCAN CABLE III INC.
By: /s/
William
McGrath
Name:
William L. McGrath
Title:
Vice President