RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.4
This
RESTRUCTURING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made
and entered into as of February 11, 2009 by and between the following
parties:
(a) Xxxx X.
Xxxxx (the “Undersigned
Holder”);
(b) Charter
Investment, Inc. (“CII”);
and
(c) Charter
Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CCI” or the “Company” and the
Undersigned Holder, CII and the Company, each, a “Party”, and
collectively, the “Parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company has
determined that a restructuring of certain of its obligations is in the best
interests of its stakeholders;
WHEREAS, other holders of certain claims under
that certain 11% Senior Notes Indenture dated as of September 28, 2005
(each, a “Consenting
11% Old Senior Note Holder”), by and between CCH I, LLC and CCH I Capital
Corp., as issuers, Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as parent guarantor,
and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “11% Indenture”),
each of whom are unaffiliated parties, are party to other restructuring
agreements with the Company;
WHEREAS, other holders of
certain claims under that certain 11% Senior Notes Indenture dated as of
September 14, 2006 (each, a “Consenting 11% New Senior
Note Holder”), by and between CCH I, LLC and CCH I Capital Corp., as
issuers, Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as parent guarantor, and The Bank
of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “11% Supplemental
Indenture”), each of whom are unaffiliated parties, are party to other
restructuring agreements with the Company;
WHEREAS, other holders of
certain claims under that certain 10.25% Senior Notes Indenture dated as of
September 14, 2006 (each, a “Consenting 10.25% Old Senior
Note Holder”), by and between CCH II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp., as
issuers, Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as parent guarantor, and The Bank
of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “10.25% Indenture”),
each of whom are unaffiliated parties, are party to other restructuring
agreements with the Company;
WHEREAS,
other holders of certain claims under that certain 10.25% Senior Notes
Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 2, 2008 (each, a “Consenting
10.25% New Senior Note Holder” and together with the Undersigned Holder,
the Consenting 11% Old Senior Note Holders, the Consenting 11% New Senior Note
Holders and the Consenting 10.25% Old Senior Note Holders, the “Consenting
Holders”), between CCH II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp., as
issuers,
Charter Communications Holdings, LLC, as parent guarantor, and The Bank of New
York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Supplemental 10.25%
Indenture” and together with the 11% Indenture, the 11% Supplemental
Indenture and the 10.25% Indenture, the “Indentures”),
each of whom are unaffiliated parties, are party to other restructuring
agreements with the Company;
WHEREAS, each Consenting
Holder is the holder of a claim, as defined in section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy
Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532 (the “Bankruptcy Code”)
arising out of, or related to the 11% Indenture and/or the 11% Supplemental
Indenture (each, a “11% Senior Note
Claim”) and/or the 10.25% Indenture and/or the 10.25% Supplemental
Indenture (each, a “10.25% Senior Note
Claim” and together with the 11% Senior Note Claims, the “Charter Claims”);
WHEREAS, the Parties now
desire to implement a financial restructuring (the “Restructuring”) of
the Company and the Debtors (as defined in the Term Sheet (as defined below)) on
the terms and conditions set forth in the term sheet (including all exhibits and
financing commitments referenced therein, the “Term Sheet”) attached
hereto as Exhibit
1;1
WHEREAS, the Parties intend to
implement the Restructuring through a confirmed joint plan of reorganization,
consistent in all material respects with the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement, the Term Sheet and the joint plan of reorganization contemplated
thereby (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, the “Plan”), for the
Debtors in voluntary cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) to
be commenced by the Debtors by jointly filing petitions (the “Petitions”) under
chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the date of that event being the “Petition Date”) in
the United States Bankruptcy Court (the “Bankruptcy
Court”);
WHEREAS, the Parties have
engaged in good faith negotiations with the objective of reaching an agreement
with regard to restructuring the outstanding claims of, and interests in, the
Company in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Term
Sheet;
WHEREAS, each Party has
reviewed, or has had the opportunity to review, this Agreement and the Term
Sheet with the assistance of professional legal advisors of its own
choosing;
WHEREAS, each Consenting
Holder desires to support and vote to accept the Plan and may enter into an
agreement with the Company substantially similar in form and substance to this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company desires
to obtain the commitment of the Consenting Holders to support and vote to accept
the Plan, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and
in the other restructuring agreements to which the other Consenting Holders are
party; and
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Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them
in the Term Sheet.
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WHEREAS, subject to the
execution of definitive documentation and appropriate approvals by the
Bankruptcy Court of the Plan and the associated disclosure statement (as the
same may be amended from time to time, the “Disclosure
Statement”), each of which, including as amended, shall be consistent
with the Term Sheet, the following sets forth the agreement between the Parties
concerning their respective obligations.
AGREEMENT
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as
follows:
1. Term
Sheet.
The Term
Sheet is incorporated by reference herein and is made part of this Agreement as
if fully set forth herein. The general terms and conditions of the
Restructuring are set forth in the Term Sheet; provided,
however,
that the Term Sheet is supplemented by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. In the event of any inconsistencies between the terms of
this Agreement and the Term Sheet, the Term Sheet shall govern.
2. Effectuating the
Restructuring.
To
implement the Term Sheet, the Parties have agreed, on the terms and conditions
set forth herein, that the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best
efforts to:
(a)
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solicit
the requisite acceptances of the Plan (i) in accordance with section
1125 of the Bankruptcy Code; and (ii) if solicited after the Chapter 11
Cases have commenced, the Bankruptcy Court has approved the
Disclosure Statement;
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(b)
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move
the Bankruptcy Court to confirm the Plan as expeditiously as practicable
under the Bankruptcy Code, including under section 1129(b) thereof, the
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and the Bankruptcy Court’s local
rules (the federal and local rules being the “Bankruptcy
Rules”); and
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(c)
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consummate
the Plan;
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provided,
however,
that the form and substance of the Plan (including any Plan Supplement filed in
connection therewith) and the Disclosure Statement shall be consistent in all
material respects with the Term Sheet.
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3. Commitments of the
Undersigned Holder Under this Agreement and the Term Sheet.
(a) Voting by
Undersigned Holder.
As long
as a Termination Event (as defined herein) has not occurred, or has occurred but
has been duly waived or cured in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Undersigned Holder agrees for itself that, so long as it is the legal owner,
beneficial owner and/or the investment advisor or manager of or with power
and/or authority to bind any Charter Claims and has been properly solicited
pursuant to sections 1125 and 1126 of the Bankruptcy Code, it shall timely vote
its Charter Claims (and not revoke or withdraw its vote) to accept the Plan,
subject to the proviso in Section 2 hereof.
(b) Support
of Plan.
As long
as a Termination Event has not occurred, or has occurred but has been duly
waived or cured in accordance with the terms hereof, the Undersigned Holder,
agrees for itself that, so long as it remains the legal owner, beneficial owner
and/or the investment advisor or manager of or with power and/or authority to
bind any Charter Claims, subject to the proviso in Section 2 hereof, by having
executed and become party to this Agreement, it will:
i.
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from
and after the date hereof not directly or indirectly seek, solicit,
support or vote in favor of any other plan, sale, proposal or offer of
dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, merger or
restructuring of the Company that could reasonably be expected to prevent,
delay or impede the Restructuring of the Company as contemplated by the
Term Sheet, the Plan or any other document filed with the Bankruptcy Court
in furtherance of confirming the
Plan;
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ii.
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agree
to permit disclosure in the Disclosure Statement and any filings by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the contents of
this Agreement; provided
that the amount of the Charter Claims held by the Undersigned Holder shall
be disclosed only to the Company and shall not be disclosed by the Company
to any other person or entity;
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iii.
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cooperate
with the Company to secure consents, approvals or waivers required to be
obtained from governmental authorities in connection with the Plan with
respect to the transfer or change in control of Franchises (as defined in
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 151 et seq.),
licenses and permits; provided
that the Company shall reimburse the Undersigned Holder for all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this Section 3(b)(iii);
and
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iv.
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forbear
from exercising, directly or indirectly, any right to accelerate or
commence any action to collect indebtedness outstanding under any
indenture to which the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries (each, a
“Company
Indenture”) is a party or to file or join in an involuntary
petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code against the Company based
upon the failure to pay any such
indebtedness.
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As long
as a Termination Event has not occurred, or has occurred but has been duly
waived or cured in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company and the
Undersigned Holder, so long as it is the legal owner, beneficial owner and/or
the investment advisor or manager of or with power and/or authority to bind any
Charter Claim, further agree that they shall not:
i.
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object
to or otherwise commence any proceeding opposing any of the terms of this
Agreement, the Term Sheet, the Disclosure Statement or the Plan; or
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ii.
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take
any action that is inconsistent with, or that would delay approval of the
Disclosure Statement or Confirmation of the
Plan.
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(c) Transfer
of Claims, Interests and Securities.
The
Undersigned Holder hereby agrees, for so long as this Agreement shall remain in
effect (such period, the “Restricted Period”),
not to sell, assign, transfer, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly (each such transfer, a “Transfer”), all or
any of its Charter Claims (or any right related thereto and including any voting
rights associated with such Charter Claims), unless the transferee thereof
(a) agrees in an enforceable writing to assume and be bound by this Agreement
and the Term Sheet, and to assume the rights and obligations of the Undersigned
Holder under this Agreement and (b) promptly delivers such writing to the
Company (each such transferee becoming, upon the Transfer, an Undersigned Holder
hereunder). The Company shall promptly acknowledge any such Transfer
in writing and provide a copy of that acknowledgement to the
transferor. By its acknowledgement of the relevant Transfer, the
Company shall be deemed to have acknowledged that its obligations to the
Undersigned Holder hereunder shall be deemed to constitute obligations in favor
of the relevant transferee as an Undersigned Holder hereunder. Any
sale, transfer or assignment of any Relevant Claim (as defined below) that does
not comply with the procedure set forth in the first sentence of this Subsection
3(c) shall be deemed void ab
initio. To extent permitted by law, the Undersigned Holder
shall be permitted to Transfer Class A Common Stock of the Company so long as an
ownership change under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code would not occur
as a result of the Transfer. Notwithstanding any order establishing
certain notice periods with respect to monitoring transfers of Class A Common
Stock, upon request of the Undersigned Holder the Company shall promptly (to the
fullest extent permitted by any such order) evaluate and notify the Undersigned
Holder of whether it will consent to or waive certain restrictions with respect
to the proposed Transfer, which consent and/or waiver shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
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(d) Further
Acquisition of Charter Claims.
This
Agreement shall in no way be construed to preclude the Undersigned Holder or any
of its respective subsidiaries from acquiring additional Charter Claims; provided
that any such additional Charter Claims acquired by the Undersigned Holder or
any subsidiary thereof shall automatically be deemed to be subject to the terms
of this Agreement. Upon the request of the Company, the Undersigned
Holder shall, in writing and within five (5) business days, provide an accurate
and current list of all Charter Claims that it and any subsidiary holds at that
time, subject to any applicable confidentiality restrictions and applicable
law.
(e) Representation
of the Undersigned Holder’s holdings.
The
Undersigned Holder represents that, as of the date hereof:
i.
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CII
is the legal owner, beneficial owner and/or the investment advisor or
manager for the legal or beneficial owner of such Charter Claims set forth
on its respective signature page (collectively, the “Relevant
Claims”);
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ii.
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there
are no Charter Claims of which CII is the legal owner, beneficial owner
and/or investment advisor or manager for such legal or beneficial owner
that are not part of CII’s Relevant Claims unless CII does not possess the
full power to vote and dispose of such claims;
and
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iii.
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CII
has full power to vote, dispose of and compromise the aggregate principal
amount of the Relevant Claims, subject to applicable securities
laws.
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(f) Representation
of Capacity
The
Undersigned Holder is executing this Agreement solely in his capacity as the
beneficial owner of claims against the Debtors and of equity interests in the
Debtors. No covenant, agreement or understanding made by the
Undersigned Holder in this Agreement is made in his capacity as a chairperson or
director of CCI or shall prevent or in any way limit the Undersigned Holder from
taking any action or refraining from taking any action in his capacity as a
chairperson or director of CCI.
4. The Company’s
Responsibilities.
Bondholder
Support Agreements.
(a) The
Company represents and warrants that it has entered into (or concurrently
herewith is entering into) binding restructuring, plan support or lock-up
agreements consistent in all material respects with the terms and provisions of
this Agreement and the Plan (“Bondholder Support
Agreements”) with:
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i.
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more
than two thirds in amount of holders of claims arising out of, or related
to, the 11% Senior Notes Indenture dated as of September 14, 2006 and
the 11% Senior Notes of CCH I, LLC and CCH I Capital Corporation due 2015
other than the Undersigned Holder or CII (the “CCH I Claims”,
each holder of such a claim other than the Undersigned Holder or CII, a
“CCH I
Bondholder”), and
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ii.
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more
than two thirds in principal amount of holders of claims held by the
Committee (as defined in the Term Sheet) arising out of or related to the
10.25% Senior Notes of CCH II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp. due 2010
and the 10.25% Senior Notes of CCH II, LLC and CCH II Capital Corp. due
2013 (the “CCH
II Claims,” together with the CCH I Claims, the “Charter
Claims”, and each holder of CCH II Claim a “CCH II
Bondholder” and each CCH I Bondholder and each CCH II Bondholder, a
“Charter
Bondholder”),
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pursuant
to which, except as previously disclosed to the Undersigned Holder in writing,
each Charter Bondholder has agreed to be bound to a Bondholder Support Agreement
substantially similar to this Agreement, including without limitation, to be
bound by the substantially similar provisions set forth in Section 3(a), (b),
(c) (excluding the last sentence thereof), (d) and (e) above and Section 8
below.
The
Company shall maintain in full force and effect and enforce each Bondholder
Support Agreement to the fullest extent possible and as long as this Agreement
remains in effect.
The
Company shall give prompt written notice and description to the Undersigned
Holder of, in each case of which the Company has knowledge, (i) any termination
of a Bondholder Support Agreement, (ii) any breach by a Charter Bondholder of a
material provision of its Bondholder Support Agreement or the Term Sheet and of
any waiver or cure of such breach and (iv) if at any time Bondholder Support
Agreements are no longer in full force and effect with at least two thirds in
amount of holders of CCH I Claims or more than two thirds in principal amount of
holders of CCH II claims held by the Committee.
Implementation
of Plan.
(b) The
Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to:
i.
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effectuate
and consummate the Restructuring on the terms described in the Term Sheet
and the Plan;
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ii.
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commence
the Chapter 11 Cases on or before April 1,
2009;
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iii.
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file
the Plan and Disclosure Statement, consistent with the terms of the Term
Sheet and reasonably acceptable to the Undersigned Holder, and implement
all steps necessary and desirable to obtain
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from
the Bankruptcy Court an order confirming the Disclosure Statement (the
“Disclosure
Statement Order”), which Disclosure Statement Order shall be
entered by the Bankruptcy Court no later than on or before the 50th day
following the Petition Date;
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iv.
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implement
all steps necessary and desirable to obtain from the Bankruptcy Court an
order confirming the Plan, which order shall be in form and substance
consistent with the Term
Sheet and reasonably acceptable to the Undersigned Holder (the
“Confirmation Order”),
which Confirmation Order shall be entered by the Bankruptcy Court no later
than on or before the 130th day following the Petition Date;
and
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v.
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cause
the Effective Date of the Plan to occur no later than on or before the
150th day following the Petition Date but notwithstanding the following
proviso in no event shall the Confirmation Date occur in December; provided,
that if consents, approvals or waivers required to be obtained from
governmental authorities in connection with the Plan with respect to
Franchises (as defined in the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47
U.S.C. Sections 151 et seq.),
licenses and permits covering areas serving at least 80% of the basic
subscribers have not been obtained on or before the 150th day following
the Petition Date, then cause the Effective Date of the Plan to occur no
later than on or before December 15,
2009.
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The Company shall take no actions
inconsistent with this Agreement, the Term Sheet and the Plan or the expeditious
Confirmation and Consummation of the Plan.
5. Mutual
Representations, Warranties, and Covenants.
Each
Party makes the following representations, warranties and covenants to each of
the other Parties, each of which are continuing representations, warranties and
covenants:
(a) Enforceability.
Subject
to the provisions of sections 1125 and 1126 of the Bankruptcy Code, this
Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Party, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by
applicable laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by
equitable principles relating to enforceability.
(b) No
Consent or Approval.
Except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, no consent or approval is required by any
other entity in order for it to carry out the provisions of this
Agreement.
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(c) Power and
Authority.
It has
all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out
the transactions contemplated by, and perform its respective obligations under,
this Agreement, the Term Sheet and the Plan.
(d) Authorization.
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations
hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on its
part.
(e) No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not and shall
not: (a) violate any provision of law, rule or regulations
applicable to it or any of its subsidiaries; (b) violate its certificate of
incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents or those of any of its
subsidiaries; or (c) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with
due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any material contractual
obligation to which it or any of its subsidiaries is a party.
6. No
Waiver of Participation and Preservation of Rights.
This
Agreement and the Plan are part of a proposed settlement of disputes among the
Parties. Without limiting the foregoing sentence in any way, if the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise set forth in the Plan
are not consummated as provided herein, if a Termination Event occurs, or if
this Agreement is otherwise terminated for any reason, the Parties each fully
reserve any and all of their respective rights, remedies, claims and
interests.
7. Acknowledgement.
This
Agreement and the Term Sheet and the transactions contemplated herein and
therein are the product of negotiations between the Parties and their respective
representatives. This Agreement is not and shall not be deemed to be
a solicitation of votes for the acceptance of a plan of reorganization for the
purposes of sections 1125 and 1126 of the Bankruptcy Code or
otherwise. The Company will not solicit acceptances of the Plan from
the Undersigned Holder in any manner inconsistent with the Bankruptcy Code or
applicable nonbankruptcy law.
8. Termination.
(a) Termination
Events.
The term
“Termination
Event,” wherever used in this Agreement, means any of the following
events (whatever the reason for such Termination Event and whether it is
voluntary or involuntary):
i.
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the
commitments set forth in that certain commitment letter, dated February
11, 2009 (the “Commitment
Letter”), expire or terminate
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pursuant
to Section 9 of the Commitment Letter or are otherwise no longer in
effect;
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ii.
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the
Company’s board of directors is advised in writing by its outside counsel
that continued pursuit of the Plan is inconsistent with its fiduciary
duties because, and the board of directors determines in good faith that,
(A) a proposal or offer from a third party is reasonably likely to be more
favorable to the Company than is proposed under the Term Sheet, taking
into account, among other factors, the identity of the third party, the
likelihood that any such proposal or offer will be negotiated to finality
within a reasonable time, and the potential loss to the company if the
proposal or offer were not accepted and consummated, or (B) the Plan is no
longer confirmable or feasible;
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iii.
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the
Plan or any subsequent plan filed by the Debtors with the Bankruptcy Court
(or a plan supported or endorsed by the Company) is not in a form and
substance that is reasonably consistent in all material respects with the
Term Sheet;
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iv.
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the
Debtors shall not have filed for chapter 11 relief with the Bankruptcy
Court on or before April 1, 2009;
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v.
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a
Disclosure Statement Order reasonably acceptable to the Company and the
Undersigned Holder is not entered by the Bankruptcy Court on or before the
50th day following the Petition
Date;
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vi.
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a
Confirmation Order reasonably acceptable to the Company and the
Undersigned Holder is not entered by the Bankruptcy Court on or before the
130th day following the Petition
Date;
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vii.
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either
(a) the Effective Date shall not have occurred on or before the 150th
day following the Petition Date or (b) if consents, approvals or
waivers required to be obtained from governmental authorities in
connection with the Plan with respect to Franchises, licenses and permits
covering areas serving at least 80% of the basic subscribers have not been
obtained on or before the 150th day following the Petition Date, and all
other conditions precedent to the Effective Date shall have been satisfied
before the 150th day following the Petition Date or waived by the
Undersigned Holder (other than those conditions that by their nature are
to be satisfied on the Effective Date), then the Effective Date shall not
have occurred on or before December 15,
2009;
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viii.
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any
of the Chapter 11 Cases of the Company is converted to cases under chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code and such event causes the Plan not to be
confirmable;
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ix.
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the
Bankruptcy Court shall enter an order in any of the Chapter 11 Cases
appointing (i) a trustee under chapter 7 or chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code, (ii) a responsible officer or (iii) an examiner, in each case
with enlarged powers relating to the operation of the business (powers
beyond those set forth in subclauses (3) and (4) of section 1106(a)) under
section 1106(b) of the Bankruptcy
Code;
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x.
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any
of the Chapter 11 Cases of the Company is dismissed and such event causes
the Plan not to be confirmable;
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xi.
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the
Confirmation Order is reversed on appeal or
vacated;
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xii.
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any
Party has breached any material provision of this Agreement or the Term
Sheet and any such breach has not been duly waived or cured in accordance
with the terms hereof after a period of five (5)
days;
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xiii.
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the
Company shall withdraw the Plan or publicly announce its intention not to
support the Plan;
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xiv.
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the
Effective Date shall have occurred;
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xv.
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any
Bondholder Support Agreement has terminated, any Charter Bondholder has
breached any material provision of its Bondholder Support Agreement or the
Term Sheet and any such breach has not been duly waived or cured in
accordance with the terms of the Bondholder Support Agreement after a
period of five (5) days, or if at any time Bondholder Support Agreements
are no longer in full force and effect with at least two thirds in amount
of holders of CCH I Claims or more than two thirds in principal amount of
holders of CCH II claims held by the Committee;
or
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xvi.
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the
Company shall not have reached agreement with senior management on a
compensation program reasonably acceptable to the Company and the
Requisite Holders by March 12,
2009.
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The
foregoing Termination Events are intended solely for the benefit of the Company
and the Undersigned Holder; provided
that no Party may seek to terminate this Agreement and the Term Sheet based upon
a material breach or a failure of a condition (if any) in this Agreement arising
out of its own actions or omissions; provided,
further,
that such actions or omissions may entitle the other Parties to the remedies
described in Section 9(e) hereof.
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(b) Termination
Event Procedures.
i.
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Upon
the occurrence of a Termination Event contemplated by clause (ii) of
Section 8(a) hereof or clause (xii) of Section 8(a) hereof due to a
material breach of this Agreement by the Undersigned Holder, in each case
subject to the last sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, the Company shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement and the Term Sheet by giving
written notice thereof to the other
Parties.
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ii.
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Upon
the occurrence of a Termination Event contemplated by clause (viii), (xi),
(xiv) or (xvi) of Section 8(a) hereof, in each case subject to the last
sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, this Agreement and the Term Sheet shall
automatically terminate without further
action.
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iii.
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Except
as set forth in Section 8(b)(i) and 8(b)(ii) hereof, upon the occurrence
of a Termination Event (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a
Termination Event contemplated by clause (i) or (ii) of Section 8(a)
hereof), subject to the last sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, the
Undersigned Holder shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and
the Term Sheet by giving written notice to the other Parties unless no
later than five (5) business days after the occurrence of any such
Termination Event, the occurrence of such Termination Event is waived in
writing by the Undersigned Holder. The Parties hereby waive any
requirement under section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code to lift the
automatic stay thereunder (the “Automatic
Stay”) in connection with giving any such notice (and agree not to
object to any non-breaching Party seeking to lift the Automatic Stay in
connection with giving any such notice, if necessary). Any such
termination (or partial termination) of the Agreement shall not restrict
the Parties’ rights and remedies for any breach of the Agreement by any
Party, including, but not limited to, the reservation of rights set forth
in Section 6 hereof.
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(c) Consent
to Termination.
In
addition to the Termination Events set forth in Section 8(a) hereof, this
Agreement shall be terminable immediately upon written notice to all of the
Parties of the written agreement(s) of the Company and the Requisite Holders to
terminate all of their restructuring agreements and the written agreement of the
Company and the Undersigned Holder to terminate their restructuring
agreement.
9. Miscellaneous
Terms.
(a) Binding
Obligation; Assignment.
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Binding
Obligation. Subject to the provisions of sections 1125 and
1126 of the Bankruptcy Code, this Agreement is a legally valid and binding
obligation of the Parties, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and shall
inure to the benefit of the Parties and their
representatives. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, shall
give to any entity, other than the Parties and their respective members,
officers, directors, agents, financial advisors, attorneys, employees, partners,
Affiliates, successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and
representatives, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under this Agreement.
Assignment. No
rights or obligations of any Party under this Agreement may be assigned or
transferred to any other entity except as provided in Section 3(c)
hereof.
(b) Further
Assurances.
The
Parties agree to execute and deliver such other instruments and perform such
acts, in addition to the matters herein specified, as may be reasonably
appropriate or necessary, from time to time, to effectuate the agreements and
understandings of the Parties, whether the same occurs before or after the date
of this Agreement.
(c) Headings.
The
headings of all sections of this Agreement are inserted solely for the
convenience of reference and are not a part of and are not intended to govern,
limit or aid in the construction or interpretation of any term or provision
hereof.
(d) Governing
Law.
THIS
AGREEMENT IS TO BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH
STATE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CHOICE OF LAWS PRINCIPLES
THEREOF. By its execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the
Parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees for itself that any
legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to any matter under or arising out
of or in connection with this Agreement or for recognition or enforcement of any
judgment rendered in any such action, suit or proceeding, shall be brought
exclusively in either a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the
State of New York and County of New York. By execution and delivery
of this Agreement, each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably accepts and
submits itself to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court, generally and
unconditionally, with respect to any such action, suit or
proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing consent to jurisdiction in
either a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New
York and County of New York, upon the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases, each
of the Parties hereto hereby agrees that, if the Petitions have been filed and
any of the Chapter 11 Cases are pending, the Bankruptcy Court shall have
exclusive jurisdiction of all matters arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement.
13
(e) Specific
Performance
The
Parties hereby acknowledge that the rights of the Parties under this Agreement
are unique and that remedies at law for breach or threatened breach of any
provision of this Agreement would be inadequate and, in recognition of this
fact, agree that, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of the
provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any remedies at law, the Parties
(with the consent of the Undersigned Holder, in the case of the Undersigned
Holder) shall, without posting any bond, be entitled to obtain equitable relief
in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary
or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be
available and the Parties hereby waive any objection to the imposition of such
relief.
(f) Complete
Agreement, Interpretation and Modification.
i.
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Complete
Agreement. This Agreement, the Term Sheet and the other
agreements, exhibits and other documents referenced herein and therein
constitute the complete agreement between the Parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, oral or written,
between or among the Parties with respect
thereto.
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ii.
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Interpretation. This
Agreement is the product of negotiation by and among the
Parties. Any Party enforcing or interpreting this Agreement
shall interpret it in a neutral manner. There shall be no
presumption concerning whether to interpret this Agreement for or against
any Party by reason of that Party having drafted this Agreement, or any
portion thereof, or caused it or any portion thereof to be
drafted.
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iii.
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Modification of this Agreement
and the Term Sheet. Except as set forth in Section 8(b)
hereof, as it applies to Termination Events, this Agreement and the Term
Sheet may only be modified, altered, amended or supplemented by an
agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Undersigned
Holder.
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(g) Execution
of this Agreement.
This
Agreement may be executed and delivered (by facsimile or otherwise) in any
number of counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be
deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same
agreement. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, each
individual executing this Agreement on behalf of a Party has been duly
authorized and empowered to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of said
Party.
14
(h) Settlement
Discussions.
This
Agreement and the Restructuring are part of a proposed settlement of a dispute
among the Parties. Nothing herein shall be deemed an admission of any
kind. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 408 and any applicable
state rules of evidence, this Agreement and all negotiations relating thereto
shall not be admissible into evidence in any proceeding other than a proceeding
to enforce the terms of this Agreement.
(i) Consideration.
The
Company and the Undersigned Holder hereby acknowledge that no consideration,
other than that specifically described herein and in the Term Sheet, shall be
due or paid to the Undersigned Holder for its agreement to vote to accept the
Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, other than
the Company’s representations, warranties and agreement to use its commercially
reasonable best efforts to obtain approval of the Disclosure Statement and to
seek to confirm and consummate the Plan in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Term Sheet.
(j) Notices.
All
notices hereunder shall be deemed given if in writing and delivered, if sent by
facsimile, courier or by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested)
to the following addresses and facsimile numbers (or at such other addresses or
facsimile numbers as shall be specified by like notice):
i.
|
If
to the Company, to:
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Charter
Communications, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General
Counsel
with
copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxx
& Xxxxx LLP
Citigroup
Center
000 Xxxx
00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxx;
15
ii.
|
If
to the Undersigned Holder, to:
|
Charter
Investments, Inc.
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx XxXxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
email:
xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx;
with
copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
email:
xxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
- and –
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
0 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
email:
xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Any
notice given by delivery, mail or courier shall be effective when
received. Any notice given by facsimile shall be effective upon oral
or machine confirmation of transmission.
(k) No
Obligations following Effective Date.
Upon the
occurrence of a Termination Event pursuant to Section 8(a)(xiv) hereof and
termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8(b)(ii) hereof, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void, there shall be no liability under this
Agreement on the part of any Party and the Undersigned Holder shall have the
sole and exclusive power to vote, or to direct the voting of, and to dispose, or
to direct the disposition of, any securities received by the Undersigned Holder
pursuant to the Plan.
(l) Savings
Clause.
Prior to
commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases, if and to the extent the Company’s
execution, agreement, performance, undertaking, or similar arrangement herein or
in the Term Sheet (each, a “Undertaking”) would
cause a default or event of default under the CCO Credit Facility or the CCOH
Credit Facility (and for the avoidance of doubt, in each case, including all
notes issued thereunder), such Undertaking shall be deemed unenforceable solely
to
16
the
extent necessary to avoid a default or event of default and such action shall be
void ab initio to the extent necessary to avoid a default or event of
default. To the extent that any Undertaking is unenforceable or void
in accordance with the foregoing, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable
best efforts to restore equivalent consideration to any affected
Party.
(m) Time of
the Essence.
The
Parties agree that time is of the essence with respect to each and every term
and provision of this Agreement.
17
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have entered into this Agreement on the day and
year first above written.
Dated: February
11, 2009
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC
By:
____________________________
Name: __________________________
Its: ____________________________
____________________________
XXXX X. XXXXX
CHARTER INVESTMENT,
INC.
By: ____________________________
Name: __________________________
Its: ____________________________
EXHIBIT
1
TERM
SHEET