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, 1997
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 333-30745
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 23-2175755
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-2148
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (215) 665-1700
--------------------------
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such requirements
for the past 90 days.
Yes X * No ___
* The Registrant became subject to the reporting requirements of the
Securities Act of 1934 on September 22, 1997.
--------------------------
As of September 30, 1997, there were 1,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
The Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a)
and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with the reduced
disclosure format.
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Number
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
as of September 30, 1997 and December 31,
1996 (Unaudited).............................................2
Condensed Consolidated Statement of
Operations for the Nine and Three Months
Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 (Unaudited)................3
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash
Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30,
1997 and 1996 (Unaudited)....................................4
Condensed Consolidated Statement of
Stockholder's Equity for the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 1997 (Unaudited)...............................5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements (Unaudited)........................6 - 11
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.............................................12 - 19
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings...........................................20
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K............................20
SIGNATURE...........................................................21
-----------------------------------
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward looking statements made
pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that such forward looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties which could significantly affect expected
results in the future from those expressed in any such forward looking
statements made by, or on behalf, of the Company. Certain factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation, the
effects of legislative and regulatory changes; the potential for increased
competition; technological changes; the need to generate substantial growth in
the subscriber base by successfully launching, marketing and providing services
in identified markets; pricing pressures which could affect demand for the
Company's services; the Company's ability to expand its distribution; changes in
labor, programming, equipment and capital costs; the Company's continued ability
to create or acquire programming and products that customers will find
attractive; future acquisitions, strategic partnerships and divestitures;
general business and economic conditions; and other risks detailed from time to
time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in millions, except share data)
September 30, December 31,
1997 1996
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents.................................................... $33.8 $38.4
Short-term investments....................................................... 0.6 21.5
Cash held by an affiliate.................................................... 36.9 53.5
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
accounts of $15.6 and $12.0................................................ 65.6 70.4
Inventories.................................................................. 30.1 28.1
Other current assets......................................................... 18.9 19.8
-------- --------
Total current assets..................................................... 185.9 231.7
-------- --------
INVESTMENTS..................................................................... 1.2 1.2
-------- --------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT.......................................................... 2,592.6 2,401.6
Accumulated depreciation..................................................... (994.5) (856.1)
-------- --------
Property and equipment, net.................................................. 1,598.1 1,545.5
-------- --------
DEFERRED CHARGES................................................................ 5,637.3 5,586.7
Accumulated amortization..................................................... (1,378.9) (1,151.8)
-------- --------
Deferred charges, net........................................................ 4,258.4 4,434.9
-------- --------
$6,043.6 $6,213.3
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses........................................ $233.8 $230.7
Accrued interest............................................................. 67.9 25.5
Current portion of long-term debt............................................ 35.1 115.7
Current portion of notes payable to affiliates............................... 20.0 2.6
Due to affiliates............................................................ 182.0 152.3
-------- --------
Total current liabilities................................................ 538.8 526.8
-------- --------
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion............................................ 2,574.8 3,068.3
-------- --------
MINORITY INTEREST AND OTHER..................................................... 217.5 246.3
-------- --------
NOTES PAYABLE TO AFFILIATES, less current portion............................... 578.3 404.5
-------- --------
DUE TO AFFILIATE................................................................ 372.8 291.8
-------- --------
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES, due to affiliate......................................... 1,481.0 1,580.3
-------- --------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Common stock, $1 par value - authorized and issued, 1,000 shares.............
Additional capital........................................................... 3,066.2 3,050.6
Accumulated deficit.......................................................... (2,785.8) (2,124.0)
Unrealized loss on marketable securities..................................... (1.4)
Notes receivable from affiliate.............................................. (829.9)
-------- --------
Total stockholder's equity............................................... 280.4 95.3
-------- --------
$6,043.6 $6,213.3
======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in millions)
Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
1997 1996 1997 1996
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SERVICE INCOME................................................ $1,537.0 $1,170.9 $515.1 $392.6
-------- -------- ------ ------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Operating.................................................. 668.6 482.6 217.9 160.1
Selling, general and administrative........................ 350.7 255.3 117.1 88.0
Depreciation and amortization.............................. 462.7 289.3 155.9 96.7
-------- -------- ------ ------
1,482.0 1,027.2 490.9 344.8
-------- -------- ------ ------
OPERATING INCOME.............................................. 55.0 143.7 24.2 47.8
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE
Interest expense........................................... 174.2 168.1 54.3 57.3
Interest expense on notes payable to affiliates............ 24.8 25.9 12.4 10.4
Investment income, net..................................... (3.6) (6.3) (1.6) (3.5)
Other...................................................... (0.1) 0.6 (0.1) (0.1)
-------- -------- ------ ------
195.3 188.3 65.0 64.1
-------- -------- ------ ------
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX BENEFIT, MINORITY
INTEREST AND EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS........................... (140.3) (44.6) (40.8) (16.3)
INCOME TAX BENEFIT............................................ (26.6) (6.4) (3.1) (2.8)
-------- -------- ------ ------
LOSS BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST AND
EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS........................................ (113.7) (38.2) (37.7) (13.5)
MINORITY INTEREST............................................. (15.8) (16.5) (5.6) (6.1)
-------- -------- ------ ------
LOSS BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS............................... (97.9) (21.7) (32.1) (7.4)
EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS........................................... (17.6) (2.1)
-------- -------- ------ ------
NET LOSS...................................................... ($115.5) ($21.7) ($34.2) ($7.4)
======== ======== ====== ======
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in millions)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
1997 1996
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
<S> <C> <C>
Net loss..................................................................... ($115.5) ($21.7)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization.............................................. 462.7 289.3
Non-cash interest expense.................................................. 1.3 1.5
Non-cash interest expense on notes payable to affiliates................... 1.2 5.2
Deferred expenses charged by an affiliate.................................. 81.0 48.7
Loss on sale of investment................................................. 1.6
Extraordinary items........................................................ 17.6
Minority interest.......................................................... (15.8) (16.5)
Deferred income tax benefit, due to affiliate.............................. (57.8) (23.6)
-------- ------
376.3 282.9
Decrease in accounts receivable............................................ 4.8 4.9
(Increase) decrease in inventories......................................... (2.0) 0.1
Decrease (increase) in other current assets................................ 0.9 (5.7)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses............... 7.1 (12.4)
Increase in accrued interest............................................... 42.4 14.9
Decrease in other non-current liabilities.................................. (11.8) (0.9)
-------- ------
Net cash provided by operating activities............................ 417.7 283.8
-------- ------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from borrowings..................................................... 1,805.8 298.0
Repayments of long-term debt................................................. (2,392.8) (134.5)
Proceeds from notes payable to affiliates.................................... 638.3 2.7
Repayment of notes payable to affiliates..................................... (140.8) (0.9)
Capital contributions........................................................ 0.3
Net transactions with affiliates............................................. 29.7 43.7
Deferred financing costs and other........................................... (15.6) (1.5)
-------- ------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities.................. (75.4) 207.8
-------- ------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisitions................................................................. (7.1) (2.8)
Sale of short-term investments............................................... 21.4
Capital expenditures......................................................... (367.1) (207.3)
Decrease (increase) in cash held by an affiliate............................. 16.6 (39.6)
Increase in notes receivable from affiliate.................................. (220.0)
Additions to deferred charges and other...................................... (10.7) (5.8)
-------- ------
Net cash used in investing activities................................ (346.9) (475.5)
-------- ------
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS................................ (4.6) 16.1
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period.................................. 38.4 11.6
-------- ------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period........................................ $33.8 $27.7
======== ======
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in millions)
Unrealized Notes
Loss on Receivable
Additional Accumulated Marketable from
Capital Deficit Securities Affiliate Total
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1997...................................... $3,050.6 ($2,124.0) ($1.4) ($829.9) $95.3
Net loss................................................... (115.5) (115.5)
Change in unrealized loss on marketable
securities, net of deferred taxes of $0.7................ 1.4 1.4
Interest income on notes receivable from affiliate......... 23.9 (23.9)
Income taxes on interest income on notes
receivable from affiliate................................ (8.3) (8.3)
Exchange of outstanding notes payable to
and notes receivable from affiliates..................... 307.5 307.5
Elimination of outstanding notes receivable
from affiliate through a non-cash dividend
to parent................................................ (546.3) 546.3
-------- --------- ----- ------- -----
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1997................................... $3,066.2 ($2,785.8 $ $ $280.4
======== ========= ===== ======= =====
</TABLE>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1996 has been
condensed from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. The
condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 1997, the
condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine and three
months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, the condensed consolidated
statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
1996 and the condensed consolidated statement of stockholder's equity for
the nine months ended September 30, 1997 have been prepared by Comcast
Cable Communications, Inc. (the "Company") and have not been audited by the
Company's independent auditors. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to
present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows
as of September 30, 1997 and for all periods presented have been made.
Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company's
annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. These condensed
consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
Company's December 31, 1996 audited financial statements which were
included in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, effective as
of September 22, 1997, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The results of operations for the periods ended September 30,
1997 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the full year.
Reorganization
On April 24, 1997, Comcast Corporation ("Comcast"), the Company's parent,
completed a restructuring of the legal organization of certain of its
subsidiaries (the "Reorganization"). The Reorganization involved Comcast's
contribution to the Company of ownership interests in certain of its
consolidated subsidiaries, all of which were under Comcast's direct or
indirect control (the "Contributed Subsidiaries"). The Reorganization has
been accounted for in a manner similar to a pooling of interests.
Accordingly, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of the Contributed Subsidiaries for all periods
presented.
In addition, certain expenses directly related to the Company's operations
which were historically paid by Comcast on behalf of the Company have been
reflected in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations
for all periods presented.
2. ACQUISITIONS
Cable TV Fund 14 A/B Venture
In October 1997, the Company and Jones Intercable, Inc. ("Jones
Intercable") entered into an agreement whereby the Company, through an
indirect majority owned subsidiary, will acquire Cable TV Fund 14 A/B
Venture, a cable television system serving approximately 65,000 subscribers
in and around Broward County, Florida for $140 million in cash, subject to
certain adjustments. The acquisition is expected to be funded with the
proceeds from borrowings under one of the Company's subsidiary's existing
credit facilities. The acquisition is subject to a number of conditions,
including the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and the approval of
the limited partners of Cable TV Fund 14 A/B Venture. The acquisition is
expected to close in the first quarter of 1998.
Scripps Cable
In November 1996, Comcast acquired the cable television operations
("Scripps Cable") of The E.W. Scripps Company ("E.W. Scripps") in exchange
for 93.048 million shares of Comcast's Class A Special Common Stock valued
at $1.552 billion (the "Scripps Acquisition"). Comcast accounted for the
Scripps Acquisition under the purchase method. Following the Scripps
Acquisition, Comcast contributed Scripps Cable to the Company (the "Scripps
Contribution") at Comcast's historical cost and Scripps Cable was
consolidated with the Company effective November 1, 1996. During the second
quarter of 1997, the Company recorded the final purchase price allocation
relating to the Scripps Contribution. The terms of the Scripps Acquisition
provide for, among other things, the indemnification of the Company by E.W.
Scripps for certain liabilities, including tax liabilities, relating to
Scripps Cable prior to the acquisition date.
6
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Unaudited)
Unaudited Pro Forma Information
The following unaudited pro forma information for the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 has been presented as if the Scripps Contribution had
occurred on January 1, 1996. This unaudited pro forma information is based
on historical results of operations adjusted for acquisition costs and, in
the opinion of management, is not necessarily indicative of what the
results would have been had the Company operated Scripps Cable since
January 1, 1996 (dollars in millions).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 1996
<S> <C>
Service income............................................... $1,398.3
Net loss..................................................... (92.6)
</TABLE>
3. INVESTMENTS
The Company received 552,014 shares of Time Warner, Inc. ("Time Warner")
Common Stock (the "Time Warner Stock") in exchange (the "Exchange") for all
of the shares of the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ("TBS") Stock (the
"TBS Stock") held by the Company as a result of the merger of Time Warner
and TBS in October 1996. As a result of the Exchange, the Company
recognized a pre-tax gain of $19.8 million in the fourth quarter of 1996,
representing the difference between the Company's historical cost basis in
the TBS Stock and the new basis for the Company's investment in Time Warner
Stock of $22.8 million, which was based on the closing price of the Time
Warner Stock on the merger date of $41.375 per share. As of December 31,
1996, the shares of Time Warner Stock held by the Company were recorded at
their fair value of $20.7 million and were included in short-term
investments in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet. The
unrealized loss on this investment of $2.1 million was reported in the
Company's December 31, 1996 condensed consolidated balance sheet as a
decrease in stockholder's equity, net of deferred income tax benefit of
$0.7 million. In January 1997, the Company sold its entire interest in Time
Warner for $21.2 million. In connection with this sale, the Company
recognized a pre-tax loss of $1.6 million, which is included in net
investment income in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of
operations for the nine months ended September 30, 1997.
4. LONG-TERM DEBT
Debt Offering
In May 1997, the Company completed the sale of $1.7 billion principal
amount of notes (the "Old Notes") through a private offering with
registration rights. The Old Notes were issued in four tranches: $300.0
million principal amount of 8 1/8% Notes due 2004 (the "Old Seven-Year
Notes"), $600.0 million principal amount of 8 3/8% Notes due 2007 (the "Old
Ten-Year Notes"), $550.0 million principal amount of 8 7/8% Notes due 2017
(the "Old Twenty-Year Notes") and $250.0 million principal amount of 8 1/2%
Notes due 2027 (the "Old Thirty-Year Notes"). The Company used
substantially all of the net proceeds from the offering of the Old Notes to
repay certain of its subsidiaries' notes payable to banks with the balance
used for subsidiary general purposes. Collectively, the offering of the Old
Notes and the repayment of the aforementioned notes payable with the net
proceeds from the offering of the Old Notes are referred to herein as the
"Refinancing."
Interest on the Old Notes is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1
of each year, commencing November 1, 1997. The Old Seven-Year Notes, the
Old Ten-Year Notes and the Old Twenty-Year Notes are redeemable, in whole
or in part, at the option of the Company at any time and the Old
Thirty-Year Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the
Company at any time after May 1, 2009, in each case at a redemption price
equal to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued
interest thereon to the date of redemption, or (ii) the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest
thereon discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the
Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined), plus accrued interest on the Old Notes
to the date of redemption. Each holder of the Old Thirty-Year Notes may
require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the Old Thirty-Year
Notes owned by such holder on May 1, 2009 at a purchase price equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof.
7
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Unaudited)
The Old Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company
and rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness and other obligations of the Company. The Old Notes are
effectively subordinated to all liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries,
including trade payables. The Old Notes are obligations only of the Company
and are not guaranteed by and do not otherwise constitute obligations of
Comcast.
The Indenture for the Old Notes, among other things, contains restrictions
(with certain exceptions) on the ability of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (as defined) to: (i) make dividend payments or other
restricted payments; (ii) create liens or enter into sale and leaseback
transactions; and (iii) enter into mergers, consolidations, or sales of all
or substantially all of their assets.
In October 1997, the Company completed an exchange of 100% of the Old Notes
for new notes (the "Notes") (having the terms described above) registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Refinancing had a significant impact on the maturities of the Company's
long-term debt. Maturities of long-term outstanding as of September 30,
1997 and December 31, 1996 through 2001 are as follows (dollars in
millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of As of
September 30, 1997 December 31, 1996
<S> <C> <C>
1997................................................. $ 2.3 (1) $115.7 (2)
1998................................................. 32.8 146.7
1999................................................. 109.6 366.2
2000................................................. 124.1 491.1
2001................................................. 239.6 944.2
</TABLE>
---------------
(1) Represents maturities of long-term debt for the remaining three months of
1997.
(2) Includes $80.0 million relating to optional debt repayments made from
January 1, 1997 through April 4, 1997.
As of September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996, the Company's effective
weighted average interest rate on its long-term debt outstanding was 8.06%
and 7.18%, respectively.
Debt Repayments
In June 1997, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding 10% Subordinated
Debentures, due 2003 (the "10% Debentures"). An aggregate principal amount
of $139.3 million of the 10% Debentures was redeemed at a redemption price
of 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest
thereon. As of the redemption date, the 10% Debentures had an accreted
value of $127.7 million. The Company redeemed the 10% Debentures with the
proceeds from the issuance of a $141.0 million note payable to a subsidiary
of Comcast which bears interest at a rate of 8.50%, payable quarterly, and
is due in 2002.
In July 1997, the Company made an optional debt repayment of $435.0 million
with the proceeds from the issuance of a $437.3 million note payable to a
subsidiary of Comcast which bears interest at a rate of 7.25%, payable
quarterly, and is due in 2002.
Extraordinary Items
In connection with the Refinancing, the redemption of the 10% Debentures
and the optional repayment of certain indebtedness, the Company expensed
unamortized debt acquisition costs and incurred debt extinguishment costs
of $27.1 million and $3.2 million, resulting in extraordinary losses, net
of tax, of $17.6 million and $2.1 million during the nine and three months
ended September 30, 1997, respectively.
Lines of Credit
As of October 31, 1997, certain subsidiaries of the Company had unused
lines of credit of $670.0 million. The availability and use of the unused
lines of credit are restricted by the covenants of the related debt
agreements and to subsidiary general purposes and dividend declaration. The
Company continually evaluates its debt structure with the intention of
reducing its debt service requirements when desirable.
8
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Unaudited)
Debt Assumption
During the nine months ended September 30, 1996, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Comcast assumed a $27.0 million note payable to a bank and $0.6 million
of accrued interest thereon. In return, the Company became liable under a
$27.6 million note payable to the subsidiary of Comcast.
Interest Rate Risk Management
The following table summarizes the terms of the Company's existing interest
rate exchange agreements ("Swaps"), interest rate cap agreements ("Caps")
and interest rate collar agreements ("Collars") as of September 30, 1997
and December 31, 1996 (dollars in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Notional Average Estimated
Amount Maturities Interest Rate Fair Value
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
As of September 30, 1997
Variable to Fixed Swaps $100.0 1998-1999 5.67% $0.2
Caps 150.0 1998 6.67%
Collar 50.0 1998 7.00% / 4.90%
As of December 31, 1996
Variable to Fixed Swaps $530.0 1997-1999 6.14% ($1.2)
Caps 250.0 1997 8.55%
Collars 400.0 1997-1998 7.09% / 5.04% 0.2
</TABLE>
The notional amounts of interest rate agreements, as presented in the above
table, are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not
represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. The estimated fair value
approximates the proceeds (costs) to settle the outstanding contracts.
While Swaps, Caps and Collars represent an integral part of the Company's
interest rate risk management program, their incremental effect on interest
expense for the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 was
not significant.
5. NOTES PAYABLE TO AND NOTES RECEIVABLE FROM AFFILIATES
During the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Company (i) repaid
$140.8 million of its notes payable to affiliates (the "Notes Payable")
with the proceeds from drawdowns under subsidiaries' existing credit
facilities ($55.0 million) and existing cash held by an affiliate ($85.8
million), (ii) completed the exchange of affiliate notes payable and notes
receivable, and the accrued interest thereon, between the Company, Comcast
and certain of their subsidiaries resulting in a reduction in the Company's
Notes Payable of $307.5 million, with a corresponding reduction in the
Company's notes receivable from affiliate (the "Notes Receivable"), and
(iii) eliminated the remaining Notes Receivable, and the accrued interest
thereon (aggregating $546.3 million), through a non-cash dividend to
Comcast.
As of September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996, Notes Payable include
$598.3 million and $383.4 million principal amount of Notes Payable to
Comcast and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries. During the nine
months ended September 30, 1997, the Company borrowed $638.3 million from
Comcast and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, the proceeds of which
were used primarily to redeem the 10% Debentures and make the optional debt
repayment described in Note 4. During the nine months ended September 30,
1996, the Company borrowed $30.3 million from certain wholly owned
subsidiaries of Comcast. Such borrowings include $27.6 million associated
with the debt assumption described in Note 4.
6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Comcast, on behalf of the Company, entered into an affiliation agreement
with QVC, Inc. ("QVC"), an electronic retailer and a majority-owned and
controlled subsidiary of Comcast, to carry its programming. In return for
carrying QVC programming, the Company receives incentive payments based on
the number of subscribers receiving the QVC channel. In addition, the
Company receives an allocated portion, based upon market share, of a
percentage
9
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
(Unaudited)
of net sales of merchandise sold to QVC customers located in the Company's
service area. For the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and
1996, the Company's service income includes $7.2 million, $5.7 million,
$3.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively, relating to QVC.
Comcast, through management agreements, manages the operations of the
Company's subsidiaries, including rebuilds and upgrades. The management
agreements generally provide that Comcast will supervise the management and
operations of the cable systems and arrange for and supervise (but not
necessarily perform itself) certain administrative functions. As
compensation for such services, the agreements provide for Comcast to
charge management fees of up to 6% of gross revenues. Comcast charged the
Company's subsidiaries management fees of $88.0 million, $66.9 million,
$29.0 million and $22.4 million during the nine and three months ended
September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. These management fees are
included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's
condensed consolidated statement of operations. Comcast has agreed to
permit certain subsidiaries of the Company to defer payment of a portion of
these expenses with the deferred portion being treated as a subordinated
long-term liability due to affiliate which will not be paid until the
subsidiaries' existing long-term debt is retired. In addition, payment of
certain of these expenses has been deferred until the California Public
Employees' Retirement System ("CalPERS") no longer has an interest in
Comcast MHCP Holdings, L.L.C. (the "LLC"), a majority owned subsidiary of
the Company. Management fees deferred during the nine and three months
ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, were $3.5 million, $3.2 million, $1.1
million and $1.1 million, respectively. Deferred management fees were
$135.7 million and $132.2 million as of September 30, 1997 and December 31,
1996, respectively.
On behalf of the Company, Comcast seeks and secures long-term programming
contracts that generally provide for payment based on either a monthly fee
per subscriber per channel or a percentage of certain subscriber revenues.
Comcast charges each of the Company's subsidiaries for programming on a
basis which generally approximates the amount each such subsidiary would be
charged if it purchased directly from the supplier, subject to limitations
imposed by debt facilities for certain subsidiaries, and did not benefit
from the purchasing power of the Company's consolidated operations. Amounts
charged to the Company by Comcast for programming (the "Programming
Charges") are included in operating expenses in the Company's condensed
consolidated statement of operations. The Company purchases certain other
services, including insurance and employee benefits, from Comcast under
cost-sharing arrangements on terms that reflect Comcast's actual cost. The
Company reimburses Comcast for certain other costs (primarily salaries)
under cost-reimbursement arrangements. Under all of these arrangements, the
Company incurred total expenses of $506.9 million, $367.4 million, $163.6
million and $123.4 million, including $424.0 million, $303.6 million,
$137.6 million and $101.6 million of Programming Charges, during the nine
and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The
Programming Charges include $33.6 million, $19.1 million, $13.8 million and
$6.2 million during the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and
1996, respectively, relating to programming purchased by the Company,
through Comcast, from suppliers in which Comcast holds an equity interest.
Comcast has agreed to permit certain of the Company's subsidiaries to defer
payment of a portion of the Programming Charges with the deferred portion
being treated as a subordinated long-term liability due to affiliate which
will not be payable until the subsidiaries' existing long-term debt is
retired. In addition, payment of certain of the Programming Charges has
been deferred until CalPERS no longer has an interest in the LLC.
Programming Charges deferred during the nine and three months ended
September 30, 1997 and 1996 were $77.5 million, $45.5 million, $25.3
million and $15.3 million, respectively. Deferred Programming Charges were
$237.1 million and $159.6 million as of September 30, 1997 and December 31,
1996, respectively.
Current due to affiliates in the Company's condensed consolidated balance
sheet primarily consists of amounts due to Comcast and its affiliates under
the cost-sharing arrangements described above and amounts payable to
Comcast and its affiliates as reimbursement for payments made, in the
ordinary course of business, by such affiliates on behalf of the Company.
The Company has entered into a custodial account arrangement with Comcast
Financial Agency Corporation ("CFAC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Comcast, under which CFAC provides cash management services to the
10
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONCLUDED
(Unaudited)
Company. Under this arrangement, the Company's cash receipts are deposited
with and held by CFAC, as custodian and agent, which invests and disburses
such funds at the direction of the Company. As of September 30, 1997 and
December 31, 1996, $36.9 million and $53.5 million, respectively, of the
Company's cash was held by CFAC. These amounts have been classified as cash
held by an affiliate in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet.
During the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, the
Company recognized investment income of $2.8 million, $3.1 million, $0.9
million and $1.1 million, respectively, on cash held by CFAC.
7. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS-SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The Company made cash payments for interest on its long-term debt of $130.5
million, $153.2 million, $17.8 million and $46.5 million during the nine
and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The
Company made cash payments for interest on the Notes Payable of $23.6
million, $20.7 million, $12.4 million and $8.4 million during the nine and
three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
The Company made cash payments to the respective state taxing authorities
for state income taxes of $6.1 million, $6.7 million, $1.7 million and $1.4
million during the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.
8. CONTINGENCIES
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the
ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the amount
of ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially
affect the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the
Company.
The Company has settled the majority of outstanding proceedings challenging
its rates charged for regulated cable services. In December 1995, the
Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") adopted an order approving a
negotiated settlement of rate complaints pending against the Company for
cable programming service tiers ("CPSTs") which provided $6.6 million in
refunds, plus interest, given in the form of bill credits during 1996, to
1.3 million of the Company's cable subscribers. As part of the negotiated
settlement, the Company agreed to forego certain inflation and external
cost adjustments for systems covered by its cost-of-service filings for
CPSTs. The FCC recently approved a social contract with the Company in
which the Company committed to complete certain system upgrades and
improvements by March 1999 in return for which it was authorized to move a
limited number of currently regulated programming services in certain cable
systems to a single migrated product tier on each system that may become an
unregulated new product tier after December 1997. In addition, the Company
will also provide free cable service connections, modems and modem service
to certain public and private schools and to 250 public libraries in its
franchise areas. In October 1997, the State of Connecticut issued draft
amended decisions recalculating the maximum permitted basic service rate
and installation and equipment charges since 1994 for certain of the
Company's cable systems in the State. While the Company cannot predict the
outcome of these proceedings, the Company believes that the ultimate
resolution of these pending regulatory matters will not have a material
adverse impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations
or liquidity.
11
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"), a wholly
owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation ("Comcast"), is a holding company which
conducts all of its operations through subsidiaries. The Company has experienced
significant growth in recent years through both strategic acquisitions and
growth in its existing business. The Company has historically met its cash needs
for operations through its cash flows from operating and financing activities.
Cash requirements for acquisitions and capital expenditures have been provided
through the Company's financing activities, as well as its existing cash, cash
equivalents, short-term investments and cash held by an affiliate.
General Developments of Business
Cable TV Fund 14 A/B Venture
In October 1997, the Company and Jones Intercable, Inc. ("Jones Intercable")
entered into an agreement whereby the Company, through an indirect majority
owned subsidiary, will acquire Cable TV Fund 14 A/B Venture, a cable television
system serving approximately 65,000 subscribers in and around Broward County,
Florida for $140 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. The
acquisition is expected to be funded with the proceeds from borrowings under one
of the Company's subsidiary's existing credit facilities. The acquisition is
subject to a number of conditions, including the receipt of necessary regulatory
approvals and the approval of the limited partners of Cable TV Fund 14 A/B
Venture. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 1998.
Debt Offering
In May 1997, the Company completed the sale of $1.7 billion principal amount of
notes (the "Old Notes") through a private offering with registration rights. The
Old Notes were issued in four tranches: $300.0 million principal amount of
8 1/8% Notes due 2004 (the "Old Seven-Year Notes"), $600.0 million principal
amount of 8 3/8% Notes due 2007 (the "Old Ten-Year Notes"), $550.0 million
principal amount of 8 7/8% Notes due 2017 (the "Old Twenty-Year Notes") and
$250.0 million principal amount of 8 1/2% Notes due 2027 (the "Old Thirty-Year
Notes"). The Company used substantially all of the net proceeds from the
offering of the Old Notes to repay certain of its subsidiaries' notes payable to
banks with the balance used for subsidiary general purposes. Collectively, the
offering of the Old Notes and the repayment of the aforementioned notes payable
with the net proceeds from the offering of the Old Notes are referred to herein
as the "Refinancing."
Interest on the Old Notes is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of
each year, commencing November 1, 1997. The Old Seven-Year Notes, the Old
Ten-Year Notes and the Old Twenty-Year Notes are redeemable, in whole or in
part, at the option of the Company at any time and the Old Thirty-Year Notes are
redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company at any time after
May 1, 2009, in each case at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100%
of their principal amount, plus accrued interest thereon to the date of
redemption, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled
payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption
on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined), plus accrued interest on the
Old Notes to the date of redemption. Each holder of the Old Thirty-Year Notes
may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the Old Thirty-Year
Notes owned by such holder on May 1, 2009 at a purchase price equal to 100% of
the principal amount thereof.
The Old Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and
rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and
other obligations of the Company. The Old Notes are effectively subordinated to
all liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries, including trade payables. The Old
Notes are obligations only of the Company and are not guaranteed by and do not
otherwise constitute obligations of Comcast.
The Indenture for the Old Notes, among other things, contains restrictions (with
certain exceptions) on the ability of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (as defined) to: (i) make dividend payments or other restricted
payments; (ii) create liens or enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and
(iii) enter into mergers, consolidations, or sales of all or substantially all
of their assets.
12
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
In October 1997, the Company completed an exchange of 100% of the Old Notes for
new notes (the "Notes") (having the terms described above) registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Scripps Cable
In November 1996, Comcast acquired the cable television operations ("Scripps
Cable") of The E.W. Scripps Company ("E.W. Scripps") in exchange for 93.048
million shares of Comcast's Class A Special Common Stock valued at $1.552
billion (the "Scripps Acquisition"). Comcast accounted for the Scripps
Acquisition under the purchase method. Following the Scripps Acquisition,
Comcast contributed Scripps Cable to the Company (the "Scripps Contribution") at
Comcast's historical cost. The Scripps Contribution was recorded as an increase
in additional capital and Scripps Cable was consolidated with the Company
effective November 1, 1996. During the second quarter of 1997, the Company
recorded the final purchase price allocation relating to the Scripps
Contribution. The terms of the Scripps Acquisition provide for, among other
things, the indemnification of the Company by E.W. Scripps for certain
liabilities, including tax liabilities, relating to Scripps Cable prior to the
acquisition date.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Short-term Investments and Cash Held by an Affiliate
Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash held by an affiliate as
of September 30, 1997 were $71.3 million. As of September 30, 1997, the majority
of the Company's cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash held by
an affiliate was restricted to use by subsidiaries of the Company under
contractual arrangements, including subsidiary credit agreements.
The Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments are recorded at cost
which approximates their fair value. As of December 31, 1996, short-term
investments of $21.5 million included the Company's investment in Time Warner,
Inc. ("Time Warner") common stock (the "Time Warner Stock") recorded at its fair
value of $20.7 million (see "Investments"). As of September 30, 1997, the
Company's short-term investments of $0.6 million had a weighted average maturity
of approximately 13 months. However, due to the high degree of liquidity and the
intent of management to use these investments as needed to fund its commitments,
the Company considers these as current assets.
The Company has entered into a custodial account arrangement with Comcast
Financial Agency Corporation ("CFAC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast,
under which CFAC provides cash management services to the Company. Under this
arrangement, the Company's cash receipts are deposited with and held by CFAC, as
custodian and agent, which invests and disburses such funds at the direction of
the Company. As of September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996, $36.9 million and
$53.5 million, respectively, of the Company's cash was held by CFAC. These
amounts have been classified as cash held by an affiliate in the Company's
condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Investments
Time Warner/TBS. The Company received 552,014 shares of Time Warner Stock in
exchange (the "Exchange") for all of the shares of Turner Broadcasting System,
Inc. ("TBS") stock (the "TBS Stock") held by the Company, as a result of the
merger of Time Warner and TBS in October 1996. As a result of the Exchange, the
Company recognized a pre-tax gain of $19.8 million in the fourth quarter of
1996, representing the difference between the Company's historical cost basis in
the TBS Stock and the new basis for the Company's investment in Time Warner
Stock of $22.8 million, which was based on the closing price of the Time Warner
Stock on the merger date of $41.375 per share. In January 1997, the Company sold
its entire interest in Time Warner for $21.2 million. In connection with this
sale, the Company recognized a pre-tax loss of $1.6 million, which is included
in net investment income in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of
operations for the nine months ended September 30, 1997.
Financing
Other than the Scripps Acquisition, the Company has historically utilized a
strategy of financing its acquisitions and other investing activities through
senior debt at the operating subsidiary level.
13
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
The Refinancing had a significant impact on the maturities of the Company's
long-term debt. Maturities of long-term debt outstanding as of September 30,
1997 and December 31, 1996 through 2001 are as follows (dollars in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
As of As of
September 30, 1997 December 31, 1996
<S> <C> <C>
1997................................................. $ 2.3 (1) $115.7 (2)
1998................................................. 32.8 146.7
1999................................................. 109.6 366.2
2000................................................. 124.1 491.1
2001................................................. 239.6 944.2
- -----------
</TABLE>
(1) Represents maturities of long-term debt for the remaining three months of
1997.
(2) Includes $80.0 million relating to optional debt repayments made from
January 1, 1997 through April 4, 1997.
As of September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996, the Company's effective weighted
average interest rate on its long-term debt outstanding was 8.06% and 7.18%,
respectively.
During the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Company (i) repaid $140.8
million of its notes payable to affiliates (the "Notes Payable") with the
proceeds from drawdowns under subsidiaries' existing credit facilities ($55.0
million) and existing cash held by an affiliate ($85.8 million), (ii) completed
the exchange of affiliate notes payable and notes receivable, and the accrued
interest thereon, between the Company, Comcast and certain of their subsidiaries
resulting in a reduction in the Company's Notes Payable of $307.5 million, with
a corresponding reduction in the Company's notes receivable from affiliate (the
"Notes Receivable"), and (iii) eliminated the remaining Notes Receivable, and
the accrued interest thereon (aggregating $546.3 million), through a non-cash
dividend to Comcast.
In June 1997, the Company redeemed all of its outstanding 10% Subordinated
Debentures, due 2003 (the "10% Debentures"). An aggregate principal amount of
$139.3 million of the 10% Debentures was redeemed at a redemption price of 100%
of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest thereon. As of
the redemption date, the 10% Debentures had an accreted value of $127.7 million.
The Company redeemed the 10% Debentures with the proceeds from the issuance of a
$141.0 million note payable to a subsidiary of Comcast which bears interest at a
rate of 8.50%, payable quarterly, and is due in 2002.
In July 1997, the Company made an optional debt repayment of $435.0 million with
the proceeds from the issuance of a $437.3 million note payable to a subsidiary
of Comcast which bears interest at a rate of 7.25%, payable quarterly, and is
due in 2002.
As of October 31, 1997, certain subsidiaries of the Company had unused lines of
credit of $670.0 million. The availability and use of the unused lines of credit
are restricted by the covenants of the related debt agreements and to subsidiary
general purposes and dividend declaration. The Company continually evaluates its
debt structure with the intention of reducing its debt service requirements when
desirable.
The following table summarizes the terms of the Company's existing interest rate
exchange agreements ("Swaps"), interest rate cap agreements ("Caps") and
interest rate collar agreements ("Collars") as of September 30, 1997 and
December 31, 1996 (dollars in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Notional Average Estimated
Amount Maturities Interest Rate Fair Value
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
As of September 30, 1997
Variable to Fixed Swaps $100.0 1998-1999 5.67% $0.2
Caps 150.0 1998 6.67%
Collar 50.0 1998 7.00% / 4.90%
As of December 31, 1996
Variable to Fixed Swaps $530.0 1997-1999 6.14% ($1.2)
Caps 250.0 1997 8.55%
Collars 400.0 1997-1998 7.09% / 5.04% 0.2
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
The notional amounts of interest rate agreements, as presented in the above
table, are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent
the amount of exposure to credit loss. The estimated fair value approximates the
proceeds (costs) to settle the outstanding contracts. While Swaps, Caps and
Collars represent an integral part of the Company's interest rate risk
management program, their incremental effect on interest expense for the nine
and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 was not significant.
As a result of the Scripps Contribution, the Company no longer has a
stockholder's deficiency. However, the Company expects to continue to recognize
significant losses for the foreseeable future, resulting in decreases in
stockholder's equity. The cable communications industry is experiencing
increasing competition and rapid technological changes. The Company's future
results of operations will be affected by its ability to react to changes in the
competitive environment and by its ability to implement new technologies.
However, the Company believes that competition, technological changes and its
significant losses will not significantly affect its ability to obtain
financing.
The Company believes that it will be able to meet its current and long-term
liquidity and capital requirements, including fixed charges, through its cash
flows from operating activities, existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term
investments, cash held by an affiliate and lines of credit and other external
financing.
Statement of Cash Flows
Cash and cash equivalents decreased $4.6 million as of September 30, 1997 from
December 31, 1996 and increased $16.1 million as of September 30, 1996 from
December 31, 1995. Changes in cash and cash equivalents resulted from cash flows
from operating, financing and investing activities which are explained below.
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $417.7 million and $283.8
million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The
increase of $133.9 million was principally due to the increase in the Company's
operating income before depreciation and amortization, including the effects of
the Scripps Contribution, and changes in working capital as a result of the
timing of receipts and disbursements (see "Results of Operations").
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was ($75.4) million and
$207.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Company
borrowed $1.806 billion, including the issuance of the Old Notes of $1.691
billion and borrowings under existing lines of credit, and repaid $2.393 billion
of its long-term debt, including $1.665 billion relating to the Refinancing,
$139.3 million relating to the redemption of the 10% Debentures and the $435.0
million optional debt repayment made in July 1997. During the nine months ended
September 30, 1997, proceeds from notes payable to affiliates, which were
principally used to redeem the 10% Debentures and to make the $435.0 million
optional debt repayment, together with accrued interest thereon, were $598.3
million. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the
Company repaid notes payable to affiliates of $100.8 million and entered into
net transactions with affiliates, which primarily resulted from the timing of
disbursements, of $29.7 million. Deferred financing costs incurred during the
nine months ended September 30, 1997 were related to the issuance of the Old
Notes. During the nine months ended September 30, 1996, the Company borrowed
$298.0 million under existing lines of credit and repaid $134.5 million of its
long-term debt. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 1996,
net transactions with affiliates, which primarily resulted from the timing of
disbursements, were $43.7 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $346.9 million and $475.5 million for
the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. During the nine
months ended September 30, 1997, net cash used in investing activities included
capital expenditures of $367.1 million, offset by a decrease in cash held by an
affiliate of $16.6 million and the proceeds from the sales of short-term
investments of $21.4 million, including the sale of the Company's shares of Time
Warner Stock of $21.2 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 1996,
net cash used in investing activities included capital expenditures of $207.3
million, an increase in notes receivable from affiliate of $220.0 million and an
increase in cash held by an affiliate of $39.6 million.
Results of Operations
The effects of the Company's recent acquisitions, as well as increased levels of
capital expenditures, were to increase significantly the Company's revenues and
expenses, resulting in substantial increases in its operating income before
15
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
depreciation and amortization, depreciation and amortization expense and
interest expense. As a result of the increases in depreciation and amortization
expense and interest expense, it is expected that the Company will continue to
recognize significant losses for the foreseeable future.
Summarized consolidated financial information for the Company for the nine and
three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 is as follows (dollars in
millions, "NM" denotes percentage is not meaningful):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Ended
September 30, Increase / (Decrease)
1997 1996 $ %
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Service income............................................ $1,537.0 $1,170.9 $366.1 31.3%
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses... 1,019.3 737.9 281.4 38.1
-------- --------
Operating income before depreciation and
amortization (1)....................................... 517.7 433.0 84.7 19.6
Depreciation and amortization............................. 462.7 289.3 173.4 59.9
-------- --------
Operating income.......................................... 55.0 143.7 (88.7) (61.7)
-------- --------
Interest expense.......................................... 174.2 168.1 6.1 3.6
Interest expense on notes payable to affiliates........... 24.8 25.9 (1.1) (4.2)
Investment income, net.................................... (3.6) (6.3) (2.7) (42.9)
Other..................................................... (0.1) 0.6 (0.7) NM
Income tax benefit........................................ (26.6) (6.4) 20.2 NM
Minority interest......................................... (15.8) (16.5) (0.7) (4.2)
Extraordinary items....................................... (17.6) 17.6 NM
-------- --------
Net loss.................................................. ($115.5) ($21.7) $93.8 NM
======== ========
Three Months Ended
September 30, Increase / (Decrease)
1997 1996 $ %
Service income............................................ $515.1 $392.6 $122.5 31.2%
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses... 335.0 248.1 86.9 35.0
-------- --------
Operating income before depreciation and
amortization (1)....................................... 180.1 144.5 35.6 24.6
Depreciation and amortization............................. 155.9 96.7 59.2 61.2
-------- --------
Operating income.......................................... 24.2 47.8 (23.6) (49.4)
-------- --------
Interest expense.......................................... 54.3 57.3 (3.0) (5.2)
Interest expense on notes payable to affiliates........... 12.4 10.4 2.0 19.2
Investment income, net.................................... (1.6) (3.5) (1.9) (54.3)
Other..................................................... (0.1) (0.1)
Income tax benefit........................................ (3.1) (2.8) 0.3 10.7
Minority interest......................................... (5.6) (6.1) (0.5) (8.2)
Extraordinary items....................................... (2.1) 2.1 NM
-------- --------
Net loss.................................................. ($34.2) ($7.4) $26.8 NM
======== ========
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Operating income before depreciation and amortization is commonly referred
to in the cable communications business as "operating cash flow." Operating
cash flow is a measure of a company's ability to generate cash to service
its obligations, including debt service obligations, and to finance capital
and other expenditures. In part due to the capital intensive nature of the
cable communications business and the resulting significant level of
non-cash depreciation and amortization expense, operating cash flow is
frequently used as one of the bases for comparing businesses in the cable
communications industry, although the Company's measure of operating cash
flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Operating cash flow does not purport to represent net income or net cash
provided by operating activities, as those terms are defined under
generally accepted accounting principles, and should not be considered as
an alternative to such measurements as an indicator of the
16
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
Company's performance. See "Statement of Cash Flows" above for a discussion
of net cash provided by operating activities.
As a result of the Scripps Contribution, the Company commenced consolidating the
financial results of Scripps Cable effective November 1, 1996. The following
tables present actual financial information for the nine and three months ended
September 30, 1997 and pro forma financial information for the nine and three
months ended September 30, 1996 as if the Scripps Contribution occurred on
January 1, 1996. Pro forma financial information is presented herein for
purposes of analysis and may not reflect what actual operating results would
have been had the Company owned Scripps Cable since January 1, 1996 (dollars in
millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Ended
September 30, Increase
1997 1996 $ %
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Service income................................... $1,537.0 $1,398.3 $138.7 9.9%
Operating, selling, general and
administrative expenses..................... 1,019.3 917.1 102.2 11.1
-------- -------- ------
Operating income before depreciation
and amortization (a)........................ $517.7 $481.2 $36.5 7.6%
======== ======== ======
Three Months Ended
September 30, Increase
1997 1996 $ %
Service income................................... $515.1 $469.2 $45.9 9.8%
Operating, selling, general and
administrative expenses..................... 335.0 307.9 27.1 8.8
-------- -------- ------
Operating income before depreciation
and amortization (a)........................ $180.1 $161.3 $18.8 11.7%
======== ======== ======
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(a) See footnote (1) on page 16.
Of the respective $138.7 million and $45.9 million pro forma increases in
service income for the nine and three month periods from 1996 to 1997, $28.7
million and $9.1 million are attributable to subscriber growth, $94.2 million
and $32.9 million relate to changes in rates and $15.8 million and $3.9 million
relate to other product offerings.
Of the respective $102.2 million and $27.1 million pro forma increases in
operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine and three
month periods from 1996 to 1997, $24.4 million and $4.4 million are attributable
to increases in the costs of cable programming as a result of subscriber growth,
additional channel offerings and changes in rates, $16.1 million and $5.0
million are attributable to increases in costs associated with customer service
and $61.7 million and $17.7 million result from increases in the cost of labor,
other volume related expenses and costs associated with new product offerings.
Comcast, on behalf of the Company, entered into an affiliation agreement with
QVC, Inc. ("QVC"), an electronic retailer and a majority-owned and controlled
subsidiary of Comcast, to carry its programming. In return for carrying QVC
programming, the Company receives incentive payments based on the number of
subscribers receiving the QVC channel. In addition, the Company receives an
allocated portion, based upon market share, of a percentage of net sales of
merchandise sold to QVC customers located in the Company's service area. For the
nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company's service
income includes $7.2 million, $5.7 million, $3.2 million and $1.9 million,
respectively, relating to QVC.
Comcast, through management agreements, manages the operations of the Company's
subsidiaries, including rebuilds and upgrades. The management agreements
generally provide that Comcast will supervise the management and operations of
the cable systems and arrange for and supervise (but not necessarily perform
itself) certain administrative functions. As compensation for such services, the
agreements provide for Comcast to charge management fees of up to 6% of gross
revenues. Comcast charged the Company's subsidiaries management fees of $88.0
million, $66.9 million, $29.0 million and $22.4 million during the nine and
three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
17
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
These management fees are included in selling, general and administrative
expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations.
On behalf of the Company, Comcast seeks and secures long-term programming
contracts that generally provide for payment based on either a monthly fee per
subscriber per channel or a percentage of certain subscriber revenues. Comcast
charges each of the Company's subsidiaries for programming on a basis which
generally approximates the amount each such subsidiary would be charged if it
purchased directly from the supplier, subject to limitations imposed by debt
facilities for certain subsidiaries, and did not benefit from the purchasing
power of the Company's consolidated operations. Amounts charged to the Company
by Comcast for programming (the "Programming Charges") are included in operating
expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations. The
Company purchases certain other services, including insurance and employee
benefits, from Comcast under cost-sharing arrangements on terms that reflect
Comcast's actual cost. The Company reimburses Comcast for certain other expenses
(primarily salaries) under cost-reimbursement arrangements. Under all of these
arrangements, the Company incurred total expenses of $506.9 million, $367.4
million, $163.6 million and $123.4 million, including $424.0 million, $303.6
million, $137.6 million and $101.6 million of Programming Charges, during the
nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The
Programming Charges include $33.6 million, $19.1 million, $13.8 million and $6.2
million during the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996,
respectively, relating to programming purchased by the Company, through Comcast,
from suppliers in which Comcast holds an equity interest. It is anticipated that
the Company's cost of cable programming will increase in the future as cable
programming rates increase and additional sources of cable programming become
available.
The respective $173.4 million and $59.2 million increases in depreciation and
amortization expense for the nine and three month periods from 1996 to 1997 are
primarily attributable to the effects of the Scripps Contribution and the
effects of capital expenditures. Depreciation and amortization expense for the
nine months ended September 30, 1997 includes the effects of the final purchase
price allocation relating to the Scripps Contribution.
The respective $6.1 million increase and $3.0 million decrease in interest
expense for the nine and three month periods from 1996 to 1997 are attributable
to fluctuations in the levels of debt and changes in the Company's weighted
average interest rate. The Company anticipates that, for the foreseeable future,
interest expense will be a significant cost to the Company and will have a
significant adverse effect on the Company's ability to realize net earnings. The
Company believes it will continue to be able to meet its obligations through its
ability both to generate operating income before depreciation and amortization
and to obtain external financing.
The $20.2 million increase in income tax benefit for the nine month period from
1996 to 1997 is primarily attributable to the increase in the Company's loss
before income tax benefit, minority interest and extraordinary items.
In connection with the Refinancing, the redemption of the 10% Debentures, and
the optional repayment of certain indebtedness, the Company expensed unamortized
debt acquisition costs and incurred debt extinguishment costs of $27.1 million
and $3.2 million, resulting in extraordinary losses, net of tax, of $17.6
million and $2.1 million during the nine and three months ended September 30,
1997, respectively.
For the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company's
earnings before extraordinary items, income tax benefit and fixed charges
(interest expense and interest expense on notes payable to affiliates) were
$74.5 million, $165.9 million, $31.5 million and $57.5 million, respectively.
Such earnings were not adequate to cover the Company's fixed charges of $199.0
million, $194.0 million, $66.7 million and $67.7 million for the nine and three
months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The Company's fixed
charges include non-cash interest expense of $2.5 million, $6.7 million, $0.2
million and $2.5 million for the nine and three months ended September 30, 1997
and 1996, respectively. The inadequacy of these earnings to cover fixed charges
is primarily due to the substantial non-cash charges for depreciation and
amortization expense.
The Company believes that its losses and inadequacy of earnings to cover fixed
charges will not significantly affect the performance of its normal business
activities because of its existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term
investments and cash held by an affiliate, its ability to generate operating
income before depreciation and amortization and its ability to obtain external
financing.
18
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
The Company believes that its operations are not materially affected by
inflation.
Regulatory Developments
The Company has settled the majority of outstanding proceedings challenging its
rates charged for regulated cable services. In December 1995, the Federal
Communications Commission ("FCC") adopted an order approving a negotiated
settlement of rate complaints pending against the Company for cable programming
service tiers ("CPSTs") which provided $6.6 million in refunds, plus interest,
given in the form of bill credits during 1996, to 1.3 million of the Company's
cable subscribers. As part of the negotiated settlement, the Company agreed to
forego certain inflation and external cost adjustments for systems covered by
its cost-of-service filings for CPSTs. The FCC recently approved a social
contract with the Company in which the Company committed to complete certain
system upgrades and improvements by March 1999 in return for which it was
authorized to move a limited number of currently regulated programming services
in certain cable systems to a single migrated product tier on each system that
may become an unregulated new product tier after December 1997. In addition, the
Company will also provide free cable service connections, modems and modem
service to certain public and private schools and to 250 public libraries in its
franchise areas. In October 1997, the State of Connecticut issued draft amended
decisions recalculating the maximum permitted basic service rate and
installation and equipment charges since 1994 for certain of the Company's cable
systems in the State. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of these
proceedings, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these pending
regulatory matters will not have a material adverse impact on the Company's
financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
19
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is not party to litigation which, in the opinion of the
Company's management, will have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K:
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K - none.
20
<PAGE>
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
-------------------------------------------
/S/ LAWRENCE S. SMITH
-------------------------------------------
Lawrence S. Smith
Executive Vice President
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: November 14, 1997
21
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001040573
<NAME> COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
<CASH> 71
<SECURITIES> 1
<RECEIVABLES> 81
<ALLOWANCES> (16)
<INVENTORY> 30
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 186
<PP&E> 2,593
<DEPRECIATION> (995)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,044
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 539
<BONDS> 2,575
0
0
<COMMON> 0
<OTHER-SE> 280
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 6,044
<SALES> 1,537
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,537
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> (1,482)
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> (199)
<INCOME-PRETAX> (140)<F1>
<INCOME-TAX> 27
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (98)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> (18)
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (116)
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0
<EPS-DILUTED> 0
<FN>
<F1> Loss before income tax benefit and other items excludes the effect of
minority interests, net of tax, of $15.
</FN>
</TABLE>
