Fitch puts Charter on rating watch over debt woes

Associated Press, 12.18.08, 03:07 PM EST
pic

Fitch Ratings said Thursday it has placed Charter Communications Inc.'s "CCC" issuer default rating on negative rating watch, after the cable operator said it will begin discussions with its bondholders about financial options to improve its balance sheet.

Fitch said the rating watch reflects its concern that the start of those discussions increases the likelihood that the company will engage in a broad-based distressed debt exchange or file for bankruptcy.

About $21.1 billion of the company's outstanding debt as of Sept. 30 is affected.

A "CCC" rating is non-investment grade, also known as "junk."

Charter, a St. Louis-based cable TV operator controlled by Microsoft Corp. (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) co-founder Paul Allen, reported interest costs of $478 million for the third quarter compared with operating income of $208 million. Allen no longer works for Microsoft.

Charter's shares were trading at 13 cents apiece Thursday afternoon.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed





'Business' 카테고리의 다른 글

Markets Teeter-Totter At Midday  (0) 2008.12.19
There Are Too Many Car Companies Anyway  (0) 2008.12.19
Big video game fans prove crucial to the industry  (0) 2008.12.19
Stormy BlackBerry Sales?  (0) 2008.12.19
Why Apple Won't Wow At Macworld  (0) 2008.12.18
Posted by CEOinIRVINE
l