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JPMorgan Pushing for Charter-Altice Merger to Bring Ruthless Cost-Cutting to Spectrum

Phillip Dampier April 4, 2019 Altice USA, Charter Spectrum, Competition, Consumer News, Public Policy & Gov't 5 Comments

JPMorgan “still believes in the potential of an eventual merger of Charter Communications with Altice USA, despite a cool-down in tie-up talk,” according to a short piece in Seeking Alpha.

The Wall Street bank favored a Charter merger with Altice, which owns Cablevision and Suddenlink, because Altice has proven its ability to ruthlessly cut costs out of the cable business, potentially bringing $2.7 billion in synergy savings from layoffs, outsourcing, and killing off employee perks.

JPMorgan analyst Philip Cusack believes the biggest merger prize would be a combination of Cablevision’s footprint in downstate New York, Connecticut and New Jersey with Charter-Spectrum, which serves almost all of New York State and already has a presence in Manhattan and other boroughs in New York City. Cusack also argues Cablevision’s Optimum business would be well served by a familiar executive. Rutledge was Cablevision’s chief operating officer before moving to Charter.

Two years ago, Altice considered acquiring Time Warner Cable, before investors forced Altice to pull back on further acquisitions that would result in even more debt for the European telecom company.

Among the likely challenges would be antitrust and regulatory roadblocks, particularly if Charter is the lead company. Charter is still in hot water with New York’s Public Service Commission and its own merger with Time Warner Cable was decertified by the regulator last summer. It could be a long leap from antagonizing New York’s telecom regulator and the attorney general to winning a green light for yet another cable merger.

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Dylan
Dylan
4 years ago

I’m glad they did not. Altice has even more debt that Charter and has not even really delivered either the fiber (they promised), or let alone Docsis 3.1 which Charter’s network whole network basically uses now. So upstate legacy TWC areas that would be acquired by Altice would of been behind the times if we were acquired. Price would also be higher as well.

Jim
Jim
4 years ago

Switch to FIOS. Both of those companies are garbage

Jack
Jack
4 years ago

Altice is in the process of having fiber rite to the box not like Fios white only has it to the outside pole and a Fios is also In heavy financial trouble because of all the money they kept from the government that they never did and kept the money so not only did the steal but guess who his to foot the you the customer so if you have any questions or issue you need help with feel free to reach out To me to help as I’m a Territory Manager For Optimum /Altice Reach me this @. #… Read more »

capt yoda
capt yoda
4 years ago

Evil Men plot to take benefits away from families. shame on you all

TONY
TONY
4 years ago

I’m having a problem buying Fox Nation

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