Summary
Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) filed an 8-K on September 21, 2017, detailing the closing of a significant debt issuance. The company's subsidiaries, Charter Communications Operating, LLC and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., successfully issued a total of $750 million in 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2047 and $1.25 billion in 4.200% Senior Secured Notes due 2028. These notes are senior secured obligations, guaranteed by parent entities and certain subsidiaries, and are secured by a first-priority lien on the issuers' and guarantors' assets that also secure existing credit agreement obligations. This debt issuance, managed by Merrill Lynch and Citigroup, was sold to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons under Rule 144A and Regulation S, respectively, and was not registered under the Securities Act. The filing also includes associated Indentures and Exchange and Registration Rights Agreements, which contain covenants limiting the company's ability to incur liens, sell assets, or merge. The company is obligated to file registration statements for these notes within specified timelines to avoid additional interest payments, indicating a proactive approach to managing its capital structure and compliance.
Key Highlights
- 1Charter Communications closed on the issuance of $750 million of 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2047 and $1.25 billion of 4.200% Senior Secured Notes due 2028.
- 2The total aggregate principal amount raised through this issuance is $2.0 billion.
- 3The notes are senior secured obligations of the Issuers and are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by Charter's Parent Guarantor and certain subsidiaries.
- 4The notes are secured by a first-priority security interest in the Issuers' and Guarantors' assets, subject to permitted liens.
- 5The issuance was conducted in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S, indicating sales to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons.
- 6Exchange and Registration Rights Agreements were entered into, requiring Charter to file registration statements for the notes within 365 days to avoid penalty interest payments.