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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

       
(Mark One)
   
[X]
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

or

       
[  ]
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  

For the transition period from                     to                    

     
Commission file number:
  333-77499
  333-77499-01

Charter Communications Holdings, LLC
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation*


(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)
     
Delaware   43-1843179
     
Delaware   43-1843177

 
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

12405 Powerscourt Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63131


(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(314) 965-0555


(Registrants’ telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are accelerated filers (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES [  ] NO [X]

Number of shares of common stock of Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation outstanding as of November 12, 2004: 100

* Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) to Form 10-Q and is therefore filing with the reduced disclosure format.



 


Charter Communications Holdings, LLC
Charter Communications Holdings Capital Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Period ended September 30, 2004

Table of Contents

         
    Page
       
    4  
Financial Statements - Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
       
    5  
    6  
    7  
    8  
    24  
    50  
    50  
       
    52  
    56  
    57  
    58  
 Letter Re Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 Certification of Interim Co-Chief Financial Officer
 Certification of Interim Co-Chief Financial Officer
 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 Certification of Interim Co-Chief Financial Officer
 Certification of Interim Co-Chief Financial Officer

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004. The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this quarterly report. In addition, information that we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede information contained in this quarterly report. In this quarterly report, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries.

 


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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the forward-looking statements set forth in the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections under Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this quarterly report. 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 “Certain Trends and Uncertainties” under Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this quarterly report. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “will,” “may,” “intend,” “estimated” and “potential,” among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:

  our and our parent companies ability to pay or refinance debt as it becomes due;
 
  our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flows from operating activities by offering video, high-speed data, telephony and other services and to maintain a stable customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition from other service providers;
 
  the availability of funds to meet interest payment obligations under our and our parent company’s debt and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through cash flows from operating activities, further borrowings or other sources;
 
  our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which would result in a violation of the applicable facility or indenture and could trigger a default of other obligations under cross-default provisions;
 
  any adverse consequences arising out of our and our parent company’s restatements of the respective 2000, 2001 and 2002 financial statements;
 
  the results of the pending grand jury investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and the ability to reach a final approved settlement with respect to the putative class action, the unconsolidated state action, and derivative shareholders litigation against Charter Communications, Inc., our indirect parent, on the terms of the memoranda of understanding described herein;
 
  our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to pass programming cost increases on to our customers;
 
  general business conditions, economic uncertainty or slowdown; and
 
  the effects of governmental regulation, including but not limited to local franchise taxing authorities, on our business.

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 quarterly report.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Member
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC:

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Charter Communications Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2004, the related condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the related condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. These condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in member’s equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 1, 2004, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

As discussed in Note 3 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements, effective September 30, 2004, the Company adopted Topic D-108, Use of the Residual Method to Value Acquired Assets Other than Goodwill.

As discussed in Note 14 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2003, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.

/s/ KPMG LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
November 4, 2004

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
                 
    September 30,   December 31,
    2004
  2003
    (Unaudited)    
ASSETS
               
CURRENT ASSETS:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 91     $ 85  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $16 and $17, respectively
    184       189  
Receivables from related party
          56  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    20       21  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current assets
    295       351  
 
   
 
     
 
 
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
               
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,778 and $3,834, respectively
    6,230       6,808  
Franchises, net of accumulated amortization of $3,300 and $3,445, respectively
    9,885       13,680  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total investment in cable properties, net
    16,115       20,488  
 
   
 
     
 
 
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS
    370       309  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 16,780     $ 21,148  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 1,206     $ 1,179  
Payables to related party
    35        
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current liabilities
    1,241       1,179  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LONG-TERM DEBT
    17,740       17,873  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LOANS PAYABLE - RELATED PARTY
    39       37  
 
   
 
     
 
 
DEFERRED MANAGEMENT FEES - RELATED PARTY
    14       14  
 
   
 
     
 
 
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    515       687  
 
   
 
     
 
 
MINORITY INTEREST
    650       719  
 
   
 
     
 
 
MEMBER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT):
               
Member’s equity (deficit)
    (3,393 )     696  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (26 )     (57 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total member’s equity (deficit)
    (3,419 )     639  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities and member’s equity
  $ 16,780     $ 21,148  
 
   
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Unaudited
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30,
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
REVENUES
  $ 1,248     $ 1,207     $ 3,701     $ 3,602  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
                               
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization)
    525       484       1,552       1,457  
Selling, general and administrative
    252       235       735       702  
Depreciation and amortization
    371       352       1,105       1,095  
Impairment of franchises
    2,433             2,433        
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net
          10       (104 )     23  
Option compensation expense, net
    8       1       34       1  
Special charges, net
    3       8       100       18  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    3,592       1,090       5,855       3,296  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income (loss) from operations
    (2,344 )     117       (2,154 )     306  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE:
                               
Interest expense, net
    (413 )     (368 )     (1,193 )     (1,103 )
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments and hedging activities, net
    (8 )     31       48       35  
Loss on extinguishment of debt
                (21 )      
Gain on debt exchange, net
          187             187  
Other, net
          (2 )           (3 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
    (421 )     (152 )     (1,166 )     (884 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Loss before minority interest, income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change
    (2,765 )     (35 )     (3,320 )     (578 )
MINORITY INTEREST
    34       (4 )     25       (11 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Loss before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change
    (2,731 )     (39 )     (3,295 )     (589 )
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE)
    45       (1 )     41       (3 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Loss before cumulative effect of accounting change
    (2,686 )     (40 )     (3,254 )     (592 )
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE, NET OF TAX
    (840 )           (840 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net loss
  $ (3,526 )   $ (40 )   $ (4,094 )   $ (592 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
Unaudited
                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2004
  2003
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net loss
  $ (4,094 )   $ (592 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities:
               
Minority interest
    (25 )     11  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,105       1,095  
Impairment of franchises
    2,433        
Option compensation expense, net
    25        
Special charges, net
    85        
Noncash interest expense
    232       313  
Gain on derivative instruments and hedging activities, net
    (48 )     (35 )
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net
    (104 )     23  
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    18        
Gain on debt exchange, net
          (187 )
Deferred income taxes
    (41 )     3  
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net
    840        
Other, net
    (1 )     1  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from dispositions:
               
Accounts receivable
    2       66  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (3 )     6  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    (18 )     (50 )
Receivables from and payables to related party, including deferred management fees
    (53 )     (64 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash flows from operating activities
    353       590  
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (616 )     (481 )
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures
    (11 )     (102 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    727        
Purchases of investments
    (14 )     (6 )
Other, net
    (2 )     (3 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash flows from investing activities
    84       (592 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Borrowings of long-term debt
    2,873       452  
Repayments of long-term debt
    (4,707 )     (646 )
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    1,500       30  
Payments for debt issuance costs
    (97 )     (30 )
Repayments to related parties
          (36 )
Distribution
          (26 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash flows from financing activities
    (431 )     (256 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    6       (258 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
    85       310  
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
  $ 91     $ 52  
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST
  $ 809     $ 710  
 
   
 
     
 
 
NONCASH TRANSACTIONS:
               
Issuance of debt by CCH II, LLC
  $     $ 1,572  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Retirement of debt
  $     $ 1,257  
 
   
 
     
 
 
CCH II, LLC notes distributed to retire parent company debt
  $     $ 521  
 
   
 
     
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions)

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”) is a holding company whose primary assets at September 30, 2004 are equity interests in its operating subsidiaries. Charter Holdings is a subsidiary of Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC (“Charter Holdco”), which is a subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Charter Holdings and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.” All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated. The Company is a broadband communications company operating in the United States. The Company offers its customers traditional cable video programming (analog and digital video) as well as high-speed data services and, in some areas, advanced broadband services such as high definition television, video on demand, telephony and interactive television. The Company sells its cable video programming, high-speed data and advanced broadband services on a subscription basis.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs; depreciation and amortization costs; impairments of property, plant and equipment, franchises and goodwill; income taxes; and contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain 2003 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2004 presentation.

2. Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company incurred net losses of $3.5 billion and $4.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively, and $40 million and $592 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively. The Company’s net cash flows from operating activities were $353 million and $590 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

The Company has historically required significant cash to fund capital expenditures and debt service costs. Historically, the Company has funded these requirements through cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under its credit facilities, equity contributions from Charter Holdco, issuances of debt securities and cash on hand. The mix of funding sources changes from period to period, but for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, approximately 47% of the Company’s funding requirements were met from cash flows from operating activities and 53% from proceeds from the sale of systems. This gives effect to the use of proceeds from the sale of systems, described below, to repay long-term debt. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company had net cash flows used in financing activities of $431 million, reflecting a net repayment of $334 million of debt. Additionally, the Company increased cash on hand by $6 million to $91 million.

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions)

The Company has a significant level of debt. The Company’s long-term financing as of September 30, 2004 consists of $5.4 billion of credit facility debt and $12.3 billion principal amount of high-yield notes. In the fourth quarter of 2004, $7.5 million of the Company’s debt will mature and an additional $30 million will mature in each of 2005 and 2006, respectively. In addition, the credit facilities of our subsidiary, Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”), require the CC V Holdings, LLC notes to be redeemed within 45 days after the Charter Holdings leverage ratio, discussed below, is determined to be below 8.75 to 1.0. In 2007 and beyond, significant additional amounts will become due under the Company’s remaining long-term debt obligations. As the principal amounts owing under the Company’s various debt obligations become due, meeting the Company’s liquidity needs in 2007 and beyond will depend on its ability to access additional sources of capital.

The Company’s ability to operate depends upon, among other things, its continued access to capital, including credit under the Charter Operating credit facilities. The Company expects that cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities and the amounts available under its credit facilities will be adequate to meet its cash needs in 2004. The Company’s borrowing availability under the credit facilities totaled $957 million as of September 30, 2004, none of which was restricted due to covenants.

The Charter Operating credit facilities are subject to certain restrictive covenants, some of which require the Company to achieve specified operating results. The Company expects to maintain compliance with these covenants in 2004. If the Company’s operating performance results in non-compliance with these covenants, or if any of certain other events of non-compliance under these credit facilities or indentures governing the Company’s debt occurs, funding under the credit facilities may not be available and defaults on some or potentially all of the Company’s debt obligations could occur.

Any financial or liquidity problems of Charter could cause serious disruption to the Company’s business and have a material adverse effect on its business and results of operations. Charter’s ability to make interest payments on its convertible senior notes, and, in 2005 and 2006, to repay the outstanding principal of its convertible senior notes will depend on its ability to raise additional capital and/or on receipt of payments or distributions from Charter Holdco or its subsidiaries, including CCH II, LLC (“CCH II”), CCO Holdings, LLC (“CCO Holdings”) and Charter Operating. The indentures governing the CCH II notes, CCO Holdings notes, and Charter Operating notes, however, restrict these entities and their subsidiaries from making distributions to their parent companies (including Charter and Charter Holdco) for payment of principal on Charter’s convertible senior notes, in each case unless there is no default under the applicable indenture and a specified leverage ratio test is met. In addition, each of CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating must independently assess whether such payments or distributions are advisable. CCH II, CCO Holdings and Charter Operating currently meet the applicable leverage ratio test under each of their respective indentures, and therefore are not currently prohibited from making any such distributions to their respective direct parent.

The indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings to make distributions to Charter Holdco for payment of interest or principal on Charter’s convertible senior notes, only if, after giving effect to the distribution, Charter Holdings could incur additional debt under a leverage ratio test of 8.75 to 1.0, there is no default under Charter Holdings’ indentures and the other specified tests are met. For the quarter ended September 30, 2004, there were no defaults under the Charter Holdings indentures and the other specified tests were met. However, Charter Holdings continued not to meet the leverage ratio test of 8.75 to 1.0 at September 30, 2004. As a result, distributions from Charter Holdings to Charter or Charter Holdco have been restricted and will continue to be restricted until that test is met.

During this restriction period, the indentures governing the Charter Holdings notes permit Charter Holdings and its subsidiaries to make specified investments in Charter Holdco or Charter, up to an amount determined by a formula, as long as there is no default under the indentures. As of September 30, 2004, Charter Holdco had $31 million in cash on hand and was owed $39 million in intercompany loans from its subsidiaries, which were available to Charter Holdco to pay interest on Charter’s convertible senior notes, which is expected to be approximately $21 million for the remainder of 2004.

Currently, Charter does not expect that cash flows from operating activities and amounts available under its credit facilities will be sufficient to fund its operations and permit Charter to satisfy its principal repayment obligations that come due in 2005 and thereafter. In the event that Charter is not able to demonstrate that it has access to liquidity in an

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions)

amount sufficient to fund its business and to make principal repayment obligations that come due in 2005 and thereafter, Charter and its subsidiaries’ ability to receive an unqualified opinion from an independent registered public accounting firm may be adversely affected. The failure of Charter Operating to receive an unqualified opinion would constitute a default under Charter Operating’s credit facilities. An event of default under the covenants governing any of the Company’s debt instruments could result in the acceleration of its payment obligations under that debt and, under certain circumstances, in cross-defaults under its other debt obligations, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

As a result of the foregoing, it is likely that Charter or Charter Holdco will require additional funding to repay debt maturing in 2005 and 2006. The Company understands that Charter is working with its financial advisors to address such funding requirements. However, there can be no assurance that such funding will be available to Charter. Although Mr. Allen and his affiliates have purchased equity from Charter and its subsidiaries in the past, Mr. Allen and his affiliates are not obligated to purchase equity from, contribute to or loan funds to Charter or its subsidiaries in the future.

On March 1, 2004, the Company closed the sale of certain cable systems in Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC. The Company closed on the sale of an additional cable system in New York to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC in April 2004. These transactions resulted in a $105 million pretax gain recorded as a gain on sale of assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Subject to post-closing contractual adjustments, the Company expects the total net proceeds from the sale of all of these systems to be approximately $733 million, of which $5 million is currently held in an indemnity escrow account (with the unused portion thereof to be released by March 1, 2005). The proceeds received to date have been used to repay a portion of amounts outstanding under the Company’s credit facilities.

3. Franchises and Goodwill

On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, which eliminates the amortization of indefinite-lived intangible assets. Accordingly, beginning January 1, 2002, all franchises that qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142 are no longer amortized against earnings but instead are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently as warranted by events or changes in circumstances. Based on the guidance prescribed in Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 02-7, Unit of Accounting for Testing of Impairment of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, franchises are aggregated into essentially inseparable asset groups to conduct the valuations. The asset groups generally represent geographic clustering of the Company’s cable systems into groups by which such systems are managed. Management believes such grouping represents the highest and best use of those assets. Fair value is determined based on estimated discounted future cash flows using assumptions that are consistent with internal forecasts. The Company has historically followed a residual method of valuing its franchise assets, which had the effect of including goodwill with the franchise assets.

In September 2004, the SEC staff issued Topic D-108, Use of the Residual Method to Value Acquired Assets Other than Goodwill, which requires the direct method of separately valuing all intangible assets and does not permit goodwill to be included in franchise assets. On September 30, 2004, the Company adopted Topic D-108 which resulted in the Company recording a cumulative effect of accounting change of $840 million (approximately $875 million before tax effects of $16 million and minority interest effects of $19 million) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.

The Company performed an impairment assessment during the third quarter 2004 using an independent third-party appraiser and following the guidance of EITF Issue 02-17, Recognition of Customer Relationship Intangible Assets Acquired in a Business Combination, and Topic D-108. The use of lower projected growth rates and the resulting revised estimates of future cash flows in the Company’s valuation, primarily as a result of increased competition, led to the recognition of a $2.4 billion impairment charge for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004.

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions)

The independent third-party appraisers’ valuation as of September 30, 2004 yielded a total enterprise value of approximately $19.3 billion, which included approximately $2.0 billion assigned to customer relationships and approximately $0.9 billion assigned to goodwill. At October 1, 2003, the independent third-party appraisers’ valuation yielded an enterprise value of approximately $24.7 billion, which included approximately $3.2 billion assigned to customer relationships and approximately $1.1 billion assigned to goodwill. The valuation completed at October 1, 2003 resulted in no impairment. SFAS No. 142 does not permit the recognition of intangible assets not previously recognized.

As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets are presented in the following table:

                                                 
    September 30, 2004
  December 31, 2003
    Gross           Net   Gross           Net
    Carrying   Accumulated   Carrying   Carrying   Accumulated   Carrying
    Amount
  Amortization
  Amount
  Amount
  Amortization
  Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
                                               
Franchises with indefinite lives
  $ 13,129     $ 3,287     $ 9,842     $ 17,018     $ 3,412     $ 13,606  
Goodwill
    52             52       52             52  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 13,181     $ 3,287     $ 9,894     $ 17,070     $ 3,412     $ 13,658  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Finite-lived intangible assets:
                                               
Franchises with finite lives
  $ 56     $ 13     $ 43     $ 107     $ 33     $ 74  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the net carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangible assets was reduced by $484 million as a result of the sale of cable systems to Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC discussed in Note 2. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2004, approximately $29 million of franchises that were previously classified as finite-lived were reclassified to indefinite-lived, based on the Company’s renewal of these franchise assets in 2003. Franchise amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $1 million and $3 million, respectively, and franchise amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $2 million and $6 million, respectively, which represents the amortization relating to franchises that did not qualify for indefinite-life treatment under SFAS No. 142, including costs associated with franchise renewals. The Company expects that amortization expense on franchise assets will be approximately $4 million annually for each of the next five years. Actual amortization expense in future periods could differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives and other relevant factors.

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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions)

4. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003:

                 
    September 30,   December 31,
    2004
  2003
Accounts payable — trade
  $ 74     $ 150  
Accrued capital expenditures
    82       93  
Accrued expenses:
               
Interest
    428       270  
Programming costs
    303       319  
Franchise-related fees
    55       70  
State sales tax
    45       61  
Other
    219       216  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 1,206     $ 1,179  
 
   
 
     
 
 

5. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003:

                                 
    September 30, 2004
  December 31, 2003
    Face Value
  Accreted Value
  Face Value
  Accreted Value
Long-Term Debt
                               
Charter Holdings:
                               
March 1999
                               
8.250% senior notes due 2007
  $ 451     $ 451     $ 451     $ 450  
8.625% senior notes due 2009
    1,244       1,242       1,244       1,242  
9.920% senior discount notes due 2011
    1,108       1,108       1,108       1,082  
January 2000
                               
10.000% senior notes due 2009
    640       640