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Time Warner Cable CEO Nets $91 Million if Charter Deal Approved

According to recent SEC filings, Time Warner Cable CEO Rob Marcus stands to personally collect as much as $91 million if his company's acquisition by Charter Communications is approved. The CEO stands to nab $21.8 million in cash, $67.1 million in equity, $396,156 in benefits and $2.6 million in additional performance awards tied to the company's first quarter 30,000 gain in TV subscribers.

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Of course Marcus isn't the only person who stands to profit handsomely from the deal. The various banks involved in the transaction should manage to eke out a living as well.

According to the 700 page filing, Goldman Sachs is poised to make $42.5 million from Charter when the deal is complete, and another $15 million when the Bright House acquisition closes. LionTree Advisors is also due $32.5 million when the acquisition closes, plus $15 million for the Bright House deal. Time Warner Cable also has payouts scheduled to Morgan Stanley ($40 million), Citigroup ($32.5 million), and Allen & Co ($27.5 million).

Charter CEO Tom Rutledge should also land on his feet should he be replaced after the deal closes, since he's scheduled to personally make $74.6 million from the deals to buy Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. Whether consumers make out as well has yet to be determined, though Charter's promising to avoid usage caps, adhere to net neutrality, and offer cheaper 60 Mbps service to all areas if the deal is approved.
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jacko15
Premium Member
join:2014-07-31
Erie, PA

1 recommendation

jacko15

Premium Member

Who pays?

And where does all this cash come from? I hear a giant sucking sound heading towards my wallet. Improved service? Not very likely. Again, it's all about the insiders having a huge payday at our expense.

TechyDad
Premium Member
join:2001-07-13
USA

4 recommendations

TechyDad

Premium Member

Re: Who pays?

The service will improve dramatically. The Wallet Vacuum will get a big upgrade to suck more money from... Oh, wait. You meant broadband Internet service improving?

Hmm
@rr.com

Hmm

Anon

Re: Who pays?

Proof that it wouldn't improve? BHN isn't fully upgrading their network; instead they're busy raising rates across the board. TWC doesn't care about upgrading and are behind in upgrading as well- but yet they'll be one of the first to charge more. Charter has improved and overall customers are happy with them. They may only offer two packages nationally but at least they don't price gouge like TWC/BHN and raise RR/HSI prices every quarter.

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

bobjohnson

Premium Member

Re: Who pays?

Deleted. Replied to the wrong thread
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72 to jacko15

Member

to jacko15
Typically a lot of this comes out of stock dilution, and then they buyback the shares at a later time. In any case this is par for the course. There is a reason why the IB are rich, they plunder and the bosses are the willing participants. BTW this is no different than when the first currency was traded 4,000 years ago, we all seem to be shocked.

Yes the rich get richer, move on.
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
Premium Member
join:2009-06-17

2 recommendations

MaynardKrebs to jacko15

Premium Member

to jacko15
said by jacko15:

And where does all this cash come from? I hear a giant sucking sound heading towards my wallet. Improved service? Not very likely. Again, it's all about the insiders having a huge payday at our expense.

TWC will probably layoff just over 3,000 employees to fund this.
Why?
Because clearly 1 CEO can do the work of 3,000 drones employees.

Don't think of it as layoffs - think of it as upsourcing*.

*upsourcing is a registered trademark of Maynard G. Krebs Enterprises (Panama) Limited. All Rights Reserved.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

1 recommendation

ham3843

Member

Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

I hope that the two agencies will continue to act in the interest of
an HONEST free market, and protect the consumers from ILLEGAL
monopolies.

Not to mention that it seems such deals hurt the health of companies
only so a elite few top executives get a HUGE payout for failing to uphold their
fiduciary duties which is malfeasance on their part.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

1 recommendation

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

said by ham3843:

I hope that the two agencies will continue to act in the interest of
an HONEST free market, and protect the consumers from ILLEGAL
monopolies.

Not to mention that it seems such deals hurt the health of companies
only so a elite few top executives get a HUGE payout for failing to uphold their
fiduciary duties which is malfeasance on their part.

Their is no way for the FCC and DOJ to block this merger. The combined companies would have fewer customers than Comcast and Directv. Charter has not engaged in any anti competitive behavior and has a better track record than Comcast. Not to mention it has met its burden to prove how it would benefit the subscribers
of the companies involved. It would be near impossible for the FCC to legally block this merger.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

1 recommendation

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

Oh, it is very possible. The DoJ will make it happen. No $91 MILLION DOLLAR pay out for that greedy SOB CEO Robber Marcus, at TWC. Awww lets call the whaaaammbulance.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

Their is no legal framework for them to block this deal so far. Direct TV AT&T merger would have more risks and potential harms due to AT&T already engaging in anti competitive behavior. So far Charter Communications has not used their market power anti competitively like AT&T or Comcast. Not to mention they have offered to pass along their pricing system which is cheaper than Bright House and Time Warner Cable. Which demonstrates a public benefit. So far they have no legal grounds in their framework to deny this merger so far.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

1 recommendation

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

The legal framework is based on decreasing the number of companies in general that provide the services which is bad for ALL consumers.
This deal is going to be DENIED! Oh, and that 91 MILLION DOLLAR pay out
looks mighty suspicious. That sum is OUTRAGEOUS, and it makes it likely that the
CEO doesn't have the best interest of the company in mind only his own
pocketbook.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

If they competed where you lived at that legal framework would apply due to you losing a competitor but so far cable companies do not compete. Not to mention their are only two satellite tv providers in the United States. When this merger is approved their will be more than two cable tv companies. Not to mention markets have a choice of satellite tv or a fiber based service.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

The fact is that these companies are creating a danger to any competitive marketplace as they consolidate nationwide, while it isn't that apparent in the short term in the long term it WILL BE damaging to the overall
competitive marketplace and we all know how short sighted businesses are today, and that fatal flaw must be checked by government oversight.
Maybe if Robber Marcus wasn't in for a 91 MILLION DOLLAR payout when the deal closed it wouldn't look so suspicious. I'll tell you what, if TWC CEO Robber Marcus is legally prevented from receiving ANY compensation for this deal now, or in the future, then it could be able to pass.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

The problem is weather this merger happens or not is not going to change the status quo. That is why that framework would not stop the merger from being approved. Not to mention if this merger goes through you still have more than two cable.companies. Not to mention they are starting to face competiton with local phone companies running fiber. Some markets they face competition from Google Fiber.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

said by techguru306:

The problem is weather this merger happens or not is not going to change the status quo. That is why that framework would not stop the merger from being approved. Not to mention if this merger goes through you still have more than two cable.companies. Not to mention they are starting to face competiton with local phone companies running fiber. Some markets they face competition from Google Fiber.

Doesn't matter in the least if it changes the status quo, the point is that it is
made "painful" to those companies and their arrogant and greedy executives, and shareholders when they attempt such deals.
Also the fed should make sure that when these deals are denied, that these companies are legally prevented from adding "recovery fees" for the expenses incurred to customers. I'd make sure to audit them extensively to find out if they do and then throw humongous fines at their operating executives that would come directly out of their pay and benefits checks.

I'm for ZERO TOLERANCE of CEOs and other executives that show signs of
dereliction of fiduciary duty to the health of the company and malfeasance.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

Their is a couple of problems with your argument. You said in your previous post that if Rob Marcus was prevented from receiving 91 million dollar payout you would be okay for the merger. Why would you be okay with that condition if you think this merger would make problems worse? Not to mention If this goes through no more Rob Marcus calling the shots if you do not want Rob Marcus you should be for this deal. It sounds like you have a problems with how much they were compensated. That is not part of the review process and who are you to determine how much they are compensated and what is fair.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

I was kidding, you did see the icon wink? I don't think the deal should be permitted under ANY circumstances. Period. As if Tom Rutledge is any better than Robber Marcus? Both are cut from the same cloth, only concerned with enriching themselves at the expense of the long term health of the companies, and their customers.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

But if this merger is denied which I doubt will happen, it does not change the fact that Time Warner Cable wants to sell and not invest in their network. Their next option would be to look for a foreign company to buy them out. I do not like the idea of Time Warner Cable being owned by a foreign entity.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

said by techguru306:

But if this merger is denied which I doubt will happen, it does not change the fact that Time Warner Cable wants to sell and not invest in their network. Their next option would be to look for a foreign company to buy them out. I do not like the idea of Time Warner Cable being owned by a foreign entity.

I'm sure that a group of US investors could be easily found. Personally I think that Robber Marcus should be relieved of his duties for thinking he deserves 91 MILLION DOLLARS for this deal alone, if I was the BoD I would "poop can" him right NOW as he is VERY BAD PR for the company.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

He is doing what he was hired for. Look for a company or investor to buy us out. The 91 million is his fee for finding Time Warner Cable a buyer when the sale is finalized.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

said by techguru306:

He is doing what he was hired for. Look for a company or investor to buy us out. The 91 million is his fee for finding Time Warner Cable a buyer when the sale is finalized.

Finding a buyer for a reasonably profitable business does NOT require all the efforts of a CEO, other executives and departments could accomplish that. For that matter you could contract that job of selling out and it would be a LOT cheaper for the company than 91 MILLION DOLLARS. This is clearly about an old boy getting a huge pay off because he has connections.
techguru306
join:2015-02-11
Cincinnati, OH
ZyXEL VMG4381

techguru306

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

That is what the board of directors want. They want to sell. They are using Rob Marcus to broker the deal. The 91 million dollars is the fee he gets on completion of the sale. You may not agree with how he is handling thing but the board of directors apparently approve.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

They can "want" it but that also implicates them in a breech of fiduciary duty and endangering the health of their own company. That "91 million dollar fee" for a sale is simply OUTRAGEOUS and indicates malfeasance is at work, since it only benefits ONE person at the expense of the company itself, the customers, and the employees, heck it could even endanger the shareholders interests as well. If I was the DoJ I would be investigating and auditing all TWC executives, the BoD as well. I'm almost certain they will find serious anomalies with their financial operations.

Hmm
@rr.com

1 recommendation

Hmm to ham3843

Anon

to ham3843
You are not decreasing any number of providers. Can you now choose between TWC, Charter and BHN at the same address at your house or any address? NOPE! therefore you are not decreasing anything.

And his best interest is to sell TWC- that is what he was hired to do.
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

said by Hmm :

You are not decreasing any number of providers. Can you now choose between TWC, Charter and BHN at the same address at your house or any address? NOPE! therefore you are not decreasing anything.

No....it means ONE LESS provider around as an independent entity.
Can't spin that fact at all. Don't even try.

tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium Member
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA

tim_k to Hmm

Premium Member

to Hmm
said by Hmm :

And his best interest is to sell TWC- that is what he was hired to do.

He was hired to do what's in his best interest? I thought he was hired to do what's in the company or shareholder's best interest?
ham3843
join:2015-01-15
USA

ham3843

Member

Re: Again DOJ and FTC need to DENY this acquisition!

said by tim_k:

said by Hmm :

And his best interest is to sell TWC- that is what he was hired to do.

He was hired to do what's in his best interest? I thought he was hired to do what's in the company or shareholder's best interest?

You caught the PR guy in a "FATAL ERROR". Nice work tim_k!
mikesco8
join:2006-02-17
Southwick, MA

mikesco8

Member

It will go through.

I do not see them blocking this one. Charter does not have the conflict of interest as far as owning a network that Comcast did, I also believe that they have offered a compelling carrot to show it will benefit Time Warner customers. I believe they will get better pricing through Charter at 60mbps, they will likely lose their lower tier options though.
smk11
join:2014-11-12

1 recommendation

smk11

Member

Bankers or cable company?

I can't decide who I hate more.

~$150M USD buys how much fiber?
notonto
join:2015-06-26

notonto

Member

Re: Bankers or cable company?

agreed, our community has coax already underground and charter won't hook us up!
Liberty
Premium Member
join:2005-06-12
Arizona

Liberty to smk11

Premium Member

to smk11
I struggle with how to justify CEO compensation.

If I average $50,000/year pay over a 40 year working career I would have made $2,000,000.
I would need 45+ LIFETIMES of working to almost equal what this CEO would make in one year.

Is he (anyone) really worth that much - really????
(how much would I have paid in taxes over those 45 lifetimes compared to the one time 91 million dude?)
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: Bankers or cable company?

Nope not at all worth that level of compensation. But sadly it's how the system works, the CEO will get those millions for doing less work than most Americans.

Evergreener
Sent By Grocery Clerks
join:2001-02-20
Evergreen, CO

Evergreener to smk11

Member

to smk11
4-5k miles sans optics... probably less in densely populated areas.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Meanwhile Employees and Customers will get screwed

I am sure a new fee will happen to make up for all this money being wasted paying people bonuses they do not deserve.

And as with all mergers a shitload of employees will get pinkslips. Honestly if I worked in a non executive position in a company working on a merger id be updating my resume just in case.

But still all these bonuses should be instead in a fund for the people who will likely lose their jobs as a result of the merger.

spewak
R.I.P Dadkins
Premium Member
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA

spewak

Premium Member

Who pays...

Colossal waste of money!
atigerman
join:2002-01-19
Tigerton, WI

atigerman

Member

And not a single penny into the backbone

And he's going to stick all that money back into the company's network infrastructure right? LoL

why60loss
Premium Member
join:2012-09-20

why60loss

Premium Member

So rob gets $91 million the TWC shareholders get over $50 billion and...

We get government cable after this whole thing falls apart because clearly the CEO of charter doesn't care what happens after he gets his own golden ticket.

I want charter to disclose it's payment plan for the debt in full detail or else this should be blocked on the grounds of not allowing a sinking ship to burry it's peer in high debt and take it all down.

To get most of the money for this deal they are steeling it from TWC it's self to pay off the shareholders in the way of taking huge amounts of debt against it to pay over $30 billion in cash.

I say Charter disclose in full detail how it plans to repay the debt with out going bankrupt or they should be told to go home by the FCC/government.

Hmm
@rr.com

Hmm

Anon

Re: So rob gets $91 million the TWC shareholders get over $50 billion and...

No worse than a gov't car that was never paid off by the auto-industry.

maartena
Elmo
Premium Member
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA

maartena

Premium Member

I need internet....

....And TWC (Soon Charter) is my best option right now with 300 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up. But I will be damned if I give them another dime for television, the price of television service across the board has pretty much doubled over the last 10 years, and many people have hardly gotten a raise in those 10 years. The money they charge for equipment rental and/or DVR service is outrageous, and sports costs are rising to insane levels.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

battleop

Member

Is that cash or cash and stock?

So someone is going to write him a check for $91 Million or is it a deal where he gets X amount of Cash and the rest in Stock? Compensation WORTH $91 Million is not the same as getting a check for $91 Million.

•••
RustyDonut
join:2013-05-28
Boston, MA

RustyDonut

Member

Two big companies get slapped together making an even bigger company.

Is this anything more than a trick to get more money to executives and shareholders?
This wont do anything good to infrastructure or subscribers.

••••
Trimox
join:2012-09-24
Anywhere

Trimox

Member

Not that much

The way I figure it not including the BH deal or the possibility Rutledge gets replace and paid his bonus. So we stand at 157.5 million dollars. That is less than .3% of a 56B dollar deal.

If I want to sell my house today and go through a realtor they get 3%. That is 3% for the selling realtor and 3% for the buying realtor. That is 6% sometimes but not always to 1 realtor, ie they find a buyer for my house that doesn't have a realtor. I would be willing to bet that the % drops some when you hit the 1 million and up homes, but not to much.

So we have .3% (split between 2 CEOs, 3 investment groups and 3 banks) of a 56 billion dollar deal or 3-6% (split between 1-2 realtors, Oh yeah the bank still makes their % of mortgage) on a 200k house.

So compared to other sales and transactions this is really not that much.

••••

ev
@rr.com

1 recommendation

ev

Anon

Time Warner Cable Sportschannel

Always thought it was interesting that TWC had enough money to start a brand new new teevee channel ($$$) but can't rub two pennies together to put Columbus on the MAXX list ($) at launch.