CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. /MO/
For the period ended Mar 31, 2026. Filed Apr 24, 2026.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Mar 31, 2026 · Filed Apr 24, 2026
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2025-09-30; filed 2025-10-31.
0001091667-25-000168
Item 1A. Risk FactorsCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2026-03-31; filed 2026-04-24.
0001091667-26-000028
Item 1A. Risk FactorsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 63 previous paragraphs and 2 current paragraphs.
1 unchanged; 1 reworded; 0 added; 61 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Removed paragraphs (61)
Previous report
The Cox Transactions are subject to conditions, some or all of which may not be satisfied, or completed on a timely basis, if at all. Failure to complete the Cox Transactions could have a material adverse effect on us.
Previous report
The completion of the Cox Transactions is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, (i) the approval of the certificate amendment proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class; (ii) the approval of the share issuance proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Charter Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class; (iii) any applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and any commitments by the parties not to close before a certain date under any timing agreement entered into with a government entity, in each case, with respect to the Cox Transactions shall have expired or been terminated (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); (iv) the receipt of certain other required regulatory approvals, including approval of the Federal Communications Commission and certain local franchise authority, state franchising and state public utility commission approvals (solely with respect to the obligations of the Charter parties to close, without the imposition of a burdensome condition); (v) the absence of any law, rule, executive order, decree, judgment, injunction or other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which makes unlawful, prohibits, delays, enjoins or otherwise prevents or restrains the completion of the Cox Transactions; (vi) each party’s representations and warranties being true and correct (subject to certain materiality and material adverse effect qualifications); (vii) the absence of a material adverse effect on each party; and (viii) each party having performed in all material respects its obligations under the Transaction Agreement.
Previous report
While the parties have agreed in the Transaction Agreement to use reasonable best efforts to satisfy the closing conditions, the parties may not be successful in their efforts to do so. The failure to satisfy all of the required conditions could delay the completion of the Cox Transactions for a significant period of time or prevent completion from occurring at all. Any delay in completing the Cox Transactions could cause us not to realize some or all of the benefits of the Cox Transactions, or realize them on a different timeline than expected. There can be no assurance that the conditions in the Transaction Agreement will be satisfied or (to the extent permitted) waived or that the Cox Transactions will be completed. In addition, subject to limited exceptions, either Charter or Cox Enterprises may terminate the Transaction Agreement if the Cox Transactions have not been consummated by the end date, so long as the terminating party’s failure to comply in all material respects with the Transaction Agreement has not been a primary cause of the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the end date.
Previous report
If the Cox Transactions are not completed, we may be materially adversely affected, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of having completed the Cox Transactions, and we will be subject to a number of risks, including the following:
Previous report
•the market price of Charter common stock could decline;
Previous report
•we could owe a substantial termination fee to Cox Enterprises under certain circumstances;
Previous report
•if the Transaction Agreement is terminated and we seek another transaction, we may not find a party willing to enter into a transaction on terms comparable to or more attractive than the terms agreed to in the Transaction Agreement;
Previous report
•time and resources, financial and other, committed by Charter’s and its subsidiaries’ management to matters relating to the Cox Transactions could otherwise have been devoted to pursuing other beneficial opportunities;
Previous report
•Charter and its subsidiaries may experience negative reactions from the financial markets or from our customers, suppliers, regulators or employees;
Previous report
•we will be required to pay certain costs relating to the Cox Transactions, such as legal, accounting, financial advisory, filing, printing and mailing fees, whether or not the Cox Transactions are completed;
Previous report
•Charter and Cox Communications are subject to restrictions on the conduct of their respective businesses prior to the effective time, as set forth in the Transaction Agreement, which may prevent us or Cox Communications, as applicable, from making certain acquisitions or taking other actions during the pendency of the Cox Transactions; and
Previous report
•we may experience reputational harm due to the adverse perception of any failure to successfully complete the Cox Transactions.
Previous report
In addition, if the Cox Transactions are not completed, we could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the Cox Transactions or related to any enforcement proceeding commenced against us to perform our obligations under the Transaction Agreement. Any of these risks could materially and adversely impact our financial condition, financial results and stock price.
Previous report
Our plans for funding the cash consideration and assuming indebtedness of Cox Communications may be adversely affected to the extent of any greater-than-expected increases in our indebtedness, lower-than-expected operating results, credit rating downgrades, or significant financial market disruptions.
Previous report
We are obligated to fund $4.0 billion of cash consideration under the Transaction Agreement which we expect to fund by incurring indebtedness, and expect to assume approximately $12.4 billion of Cox Communications’ outstanding net debt and finance leases in connection with the Cox Transactions, including Cox Communications’ outstanding unsecured notes as of Closing (the “Cox Notes”). The indentures and supplemental indentures governing the Cox Notes contain certain negative covenants, including restrictions on the incurrence of secured indebtedness and indebtedness of restricted subsidiaries. If our indebtedness increases more than expected, our operating results are lower than expected, or significant financial markets disruptions occur, our cash on hand and available liquidity under our existing credit facilities may be insufficient to fund the cash portion of the consideration. Further, completion of the Cox Transactions may constitute a “change of control repurchase event” under the supplemental indentures governing certain of the Cox Notes if, in connection with the Cox Transactions, each of S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Fitch Ratings, Inc. downgrade the credit rating of certain series of Cox Notes to a rating below “investment grade” (regardless of whether the rating prior to such downgrade was “investment grade” or below “investment grade”) prior to 60 days following consummation of a change of control (which period may be extended in certain circumstances). In such a circumstance, Charter (or one of its subsidiaries that, at the time, is the primary obligor of such series of notes) would be required to offer to repurchase each applicable holder’s Cox Notes of such series at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such series of Cox Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In the event of such ratings downgrades, we may require additional debt financing to fund such repurchases, which may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. A failure to make the applicable change of control offer or to pay the applicable change of control purchase price when due would result in a default in respect of the applicable series of Cox Notes and could result in a default under the terms of other indebtedness of Charter and its subsidiaries.
Previous report
Charter and Cox Communications are subject to contractual restrictions while the Cox Transactions are pending, which could adversely affect their respective businesses and operations.
Previous report
Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement, Charter and Cox Communications are subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of their respective businesses prior to the Closing. Such limitations may affect Charter’s or Cox Communications’ ability to execute certain of their business strategies, including the ability in certain cases to amend their organizational documents, repurchase shares or declare dividends in certain circumstances, incur certain indebtedness or complete certain acquisitions and other transactions, which could adversely affect Charter or Cox Communications prior to the effective time.
Previous report
The risks described above may be exacerbated by delays or other adverse developments with respect to the completion of the Cox Transactions.
Previous report
We will incur direct and indirect costs as a result of the Cox Transactions.
Previous report
We will incur substantial expenses in connection with and as a result of completing the Cox Transactions, including advisory, legal and other transaction costs, and, following the completion of the Cox Transactions, we expect to incur additional expenses in connection with combining the companies. A portion of these costs have already been incurred or will be incurred regardless of whether the Cox Transactions are completed. Factors beyond our control could affect the total amount or timing of these expenses, many of which, by their nature, are difficult to estimate accurately. Our management continues to assess the magnitude of these costs, and additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in connection with the Cox Transactions.
Previous report
Although we expect that the realization of benefits related to the Cox Transactions will offset such costs and expenses over time, no assurances can be made that this net benefit will be achieved in the near term, or at all.
Previous report
A/N and Liberty Broadband currently have governance rights that give them influence over corporate transactions and other matters. In connection with the Cox Transactions, Liberty Broadband will lose its governance rights (assuming the closing of the Liberty Broadband Combination), A/N’s governance rights will be modified and Cox Enterprises will receive governance rights pursuant to the amended stockholders agreement and amendments to Charter’s governing documents, and Cox Enterprises and A/N will have influence over corporate transactions and other matters.
Previous report
The Transaction Agreement contemplates that, at the Closing, Charter, A/N and Cox Enterprises will enter into the amended stockholders agreement, which will amend and restate in its entirety the existing stockholders agreement. If the Liberty Broadband Combination is completed, the existing stockholders agreement, which sets forth, among other things, certain of Liberty Broadband’s governance rights with respect to Charter, will terminate with respect to Liberty Broadband. The Liberty Broadband side letter further provides that Liberty Broadband will cause the three Liberty Broadband designees serving on Charter’s board of directors (the “Charter Board”) to resign effective immediately prior to the effective time of the closing of the Liberty Broadband Combination.
Previous report
Based on Charter’s share count as of September 30, 2025, Charter expects that Cox Enterprises will own approximately 24.8% of the combined entity’s diluted shares outstanding, on an as-exchanged, as-converted basis and assuming the contemporaneous closing of the previously announced Liberty Broadband Combination. Pursuant to the amended stockholders agreement and the amended certificate of incorporation, the size of the Charter Board will continue to be fixed at 13 directors, and at the Closing, the directors then serving as A/N’s designees will continue to serve on the Charter Board and three designees selected by Cox Enterprises (with the prior approval of Charter (not to be unreasonably withheld)) will become members of the Charter Board. Thereafter, each of Cox Enterprises and A/N will be entitled to designate up to three nominees to be elected to the Charter Board provided that each maintains certain specified voting or equity ownership thresholds. Cox Enterprises and A/N will be required to vote (subject to the applicable voting cap) their respective shares of Charter common stock for the director nominees nominated by the nominating committee of the Charter Board, including the respective designees of Cox Enterprises and A/N, and against any other nominees, except that, with respect to the directors that were not designated by either Cox Enterprises or A/N (the “Unaffiliated Directors”), Cox Enterprises and A/N must instead vote in the same proportion as the voting securities are voted by stockholders other than Cox Enterprises and A/N or any group (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which includes any of them are voted, if doing so would cause a different outcome with respect to the Unaffiliated Directors. Cox Enterprises and A/N also will have certain committee designation and other governance rights. Additionally, the amended stockholders agreement will provide that each of Cox Enterprises and A/N will be subject to certain limits on acquisitions of Charter shares (30% in the case of Cox Enterprises; 19% in the case of A/N). In addition, any shares owned by Cox Enterprises or A/N in excess of its applicable voting cap (30% in the case of Cox Enterprises; 15% in the case of A/N) must be voted in proportion to the public stockholders of Charter, other than with respect to certain excluded matters.
Previous report
The amended stockholders agreement will also provide that at the Closing, Alexander C. Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cox Enterprises, will serve as the Chairman of the Charter Board for an initial three-year term (unless Mr. Taylor ceases to serve as a member of the Charter Board prior thereto). The lead independent director of the Charter Board at the Closing will be Eric L. Zinterhofer, current Non-executive Chairman of the Charter Board. Following Mr. Taylor’s term as Chairman, the Charter Board will return to its normal annual process. Additionally, following Mr. Taylor’s term as Chairman, Christopher L. Winfrey, the Chief Executive Officer of Charter, will serve as Chairman of the Charter Board; provided that if Mr. Winfrey is no longer a member of the Charter Board or is unwilling to serve as Chairman, then Mr. Zinterhofer instead will serve as Chairman (subject to his continued membership on the Charter Board and willingness to serve).
Previous report
At the Closing, Charter will amend its certificate of incorporation and bylaws in order to, among other things, reflect the agreed-upon governance terms to be included in the amended stockholders agreement.
Previous report
As a result of their rights under the amended stockholders agreement and their significant equity and voting stakes in Charter, Cox Enterprises and/or A/N, who may have interests different from those of other stockholders, will be able to exercise substantial influence over certain matters relating to the governance of Charter, including the approval of significant corporate actions, such as mergers and other business combination transactions.
Previous report
The amended stockholders agreement will provide A/N and Cox Enterprises with preemptive rights with respect to issuances of Charter equity in connection with certain transactions, and in the event that A/N or Cox Enterprises exercises these rights, holders of Charter Class A common stock may experience further dilution.
Previous report
The amended stockholders agreement will provide that after the Closing, if Charter proposes to issue any equity securities of Charter in a capital raising transaction, each of Cox Enterprises and A/N (for so long as each party’s equity interest in Charter is equal to or greater than 10%), will have the right to purchase, in whole or in part, for cash a number of such securities that will be determined based on such investor’s pro rata equity interest in Charter. The amended stockholders agreement will define a capital raising transaction as any offering of shares of Charter Class A common stock (or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Charter Class A common stock) for cash, whether registered under the Securities Act or otherwise (other than pursuant to a stockholders rights plan).
Previous report
As a result, if Cox Enterprises and/or A/N elect to exercise their preemptive rights, (i) these parties would not experience the dilution experienced by the other holders of Charter Class A common stock, and (ii) such other holders of Charter Class A common stock may experience further dilution of their interest in Charter upon such exercise.
Previous report
We currently have a significant amount of debt and expect to incur additional debt in connection with the Cox Transactions, which could adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to react to changes in our business.
Previous report
We have significant debt, with total principal amount of approximately $95.0 billion and a leverage ratio of 4.2 times Adjusted EBITDA as of September 30, 2025. We expect to incur additional debt in the future as Charter plans to maintain leverage near the midpoint of its stated 4.0 to 4.5 times Adjusted EBITDA target leverage range (net debt divided by the last twelve months Adjusted EBITDA) in the period leading up to the Closing and to fund the $4.0 billion of cash consideration required in the Cox Transactions using debt. Charter will also assume Cox Communications' approximately $12.4 billion of net debt and finance leases as part of the Cox Transactions. Charter plans to adjust its long-term target leverage range after Closing to 3.5 to 4.0 times Adjusted EBITDA but will still have a significant amount of debt.
Previous report
Our significant amount of debt could have adverse consequences, such as to:
Previous report
•impact our ability to raise additional debt capital at reasonable rates, or at all;
Previous report
•make us vulnerable to interest rate increases, in part because approximately 13% of our borrowings as of September 30, 2025 were, and may continue to be, subject to variable rates of interest;
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•expose us to increased interest expense to the extent we refinance existing debt with higher cost debt;
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•require us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operating activities to make payments on our debt, reducing our funds available for capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes;
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•limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, the cable and telecommunications industries, and the economy at large;
Previous report
•place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have proportionately less debt; and
Showing the first 40 of 61 passages. Open the source sections for the rest.
Reworded paragraphs (1)
Previous wording
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes "Risk Factors" under Item 1A of Part I. There have been no material changes from the risk factors described in our Form 10-K except to add the risk factors set forth below.
Current wording
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 includes "Risk Factors" under Item 1A of Part I. There have been no material changes from the risk factors described in our Form 10-K.