SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current
Report
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February
24, 2006
Charter
Communications, Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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000-27927
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43-1857213
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification
Number)
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12405
Powerscourt Drive
St.
Louis, Missouri 63131
(Address
of principal executive offices including zip code)
(314)
965-0555
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check
the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
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o
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR
230.425)
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o
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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o
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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ITEM
1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
(a)
On
February 27, 2006, Charter Communications Operating, LLC ("Charter Operating"),
an indirect subsidiary of Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter"), entered
into
a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") with Cebridge Acquisition Co.
LLC
("Cebridge") to sell certain cable television systems (the "Systems")
in West
Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio for approximately $770 million
(the
"Purchase Price"). The systems being sold pursuant to the Agreement serve
approximately 240,000 analog video, 116,000 digital video and 78,000
high-speed
Internet customers. The Purchase Price is subject to adjustment as provided
in
the Agreement, and the Agreement includes representations, warranties
and
covenants from both parties that are typical in cable television industry
transactions.
Cebridge
has agreed to deposit approximately 1.5% of the Purchase Price, and has
agreed
to make an additional deposit equal to approximately 1.5% of the Purchase
Price
if certain conditions are not met by May 15, 2006, all as provided in
the
Agreement. If Cebridge terminates the Agreement, other than upon a breach
of the
Agreement by Charter Operating, it will forfeit such deposit.
Charter
Operating has agreed, during time periods specified in the Agreement,
not to
offer for sale, solicit proposals relating to alternative transactions
with
respect to, or participate in discussions regarding, the Systems, or
make
information about the Systems available to any person in connection with
a
possible sale of the Systems.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement is expected
to occur
in the third quarter of 2006, following the satisfaction or waiver of
customary
closing conditions and the receipt of regulatory approvals.
A
press
release announcing the transaction is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
(b)
Charter and Michael J. Lovett, Charter's Executive Vice President and
Chief
Operating Officer, have entered into a new employment agreement, effective
as of
February 28, 2006 (the "Agreement"), whereby Mr. Lovett will serve as
its
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at a salary of $700,000
per
year which is to be reviewed annually, and will perform such duties and
responsibilities set forth in the Agreement. The Agreement amends, supersedes
and replaces Mr. Lovett's prior employment agreement dated March 31,
2005.
The term of the Agreement is three years from the effective date and
will be
reviewed and considered for extension at 18-month intervals during Mr.
Lovett's
employment. Under the Agreement, Mr. Lovett will be entitled to receive
cash
bonus payments in an amount per year targeted at 100% of salary in accordance
with the senior management plan and to participate in all employee benefit
plans
as are offered to other senior executives. Mr. Lovett will also receive
a grant
of 150,000 restricted shares of Charter's Class A common stock on the
effective
date of the Agreement, vesting in equal installments over a three-year
period
from employment date; an award of 300,000 restricted shares of Charter's
Class A
common stock on the first anniversary of the Agreement, vesting in equal
installments over a three-year period; an award of options to purchase
432,000
shares of Charter's Class A common stock under terms of the stock incentive
plan
on the effective date of the Employment Agreement; an award of options
to
purchase 864,000 shares of Charter's Class A common stock under the terms
of the
stock incentive plan on the first anniversary of the Agreement; an award
of
259,200 performance shares under the stock incentive plan on the effective
date
of the Agreement and will be eligible to earn these shares over a performance
cycle from January 2006 to December 2006; and an award of 518,400 performance
shares under the stock incentive plan on the first anniversary of the
Agreement
and will be eligible to earn these shares over a three-year performance
cycle
January 2007- December 2009.
If
terminated other than for "cause," as such term is defined in the Agreement,
prior to March 31, 2007, Mr. Lovett will receive relocation expenses
to the city
of his choice in the 48 contiguous states in accordance with Charter's
relocation policy. In the event that Mr. Lovett is terminated by Charter
without
"cause,'' for "good reason'' or by Mr. Lovett within 60 days following
a "change
in control," as those terms are defined in the employment agreement,
Mr. Lovett
will receive his salary for the remainder of the term of the agreement;
a pro
rata bonus for the year of termination; and the immediate vesting of
options,
restricted stock and performance shares. The Agreement also contains
a two-year
non-solicitation clause.
A
copy of
the Agreement is attached as Exhibit 99.2.
ITEM
1.02 TERMINATION OF MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.
See
the
description set forth in Item 1.01(b) above.
ITEM
8.01 OTHER EVENTS.
On
February 24, 2006, Charter Operating entered into a definitive agreement
with
New Wave Communications to sell certain cable television systems in Southern
Illinois and Kentucky for approximately $126 million. The systems being
sold
serve approximately 76,000 analog video, 26,000 digital video and 13,000
high-speed Internet customers. This transaction is subject to customary
closing
conditions, potential price adjustments and regulatory review approval.
The
closing is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2006.
A
press
release announcing the transaction is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
ITEM
9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
The
following exhibit is filed pursuant to Item 1.01:
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99.1
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Press
Release dated February 28 2006. *
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| 99.2 | Employment Agreement dated February 28, 2006.* |
*
filed
herewith
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Charter
Communications, Inc. has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on
its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Registrant
Dated:
March 3, 2006
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By:/s/
Grier C. Raclin
Name:
Grier C. Raclin
Title:
Executive
Vice President and General
Counsel
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
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99.1
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Press
Release dated February 28 2006. *
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| 99.2 | Employment Agreement dated February 28, 2006.* |
*
filed
herewith