meg20140331_10q.htm

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC. 20549

Form 10-Q

 

[X]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

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:               1-6383

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Commonwealth of Virginia

54-0850433

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer 

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

 

 

333 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA

23219

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

           

(804) 887-5000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,

if changed since last report.)

 

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 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes          X          No               

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes          X          No               

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Larger accelerated filer                              

Accelerated filer                                          X      

Non-accelerated filer                                     

Smaller reporting company                                 

      

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes                     No          X     

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of April 30, 2014.

Voting Common shares (no par value): 

87,922,422

Non-Voting Common shares (no par value):    

828,885

                  

 
 

 

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q REPORT

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

Page

Part I.

 Financial Information  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets – March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013     

 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income – Three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013

 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows – Three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013        

 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

 5

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 16

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

23

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 23

 

 

 

 

Part II.

 Other Information

 

       
  Item 6. Exhibits 24
       
    (a)     Exhibits  
       
Signatures 25

 

 
 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares)

 

ASSETS

               
   

March 31,

2014

   

December 31,

2013

 

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 14,255     $ 71,618  

Trade accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts 2014 - $2,683; 2013 - $2,772)

    108,151       110,283  

Current deferred tax asset

    9,391       7,506  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    14,076       13,889  

Total current assets

    145,873       203,296  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    278,632       285,467  

Deferred tax asset, long-term

    37,270       42,711  

Other assets, net

    35,833       35,477  

Definite lived intangible assets, net

    233,310       239,642  

Broadcast licenses

    573,300       573,300  

Goodwill

    541,475       541,475  

Total assets (a)

  $ 1,845,693     $ 1,921,368  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

(a) Consolidated assets as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $38.9 million and $41.1 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. See Note 1.

 

 
1

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares)

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

               
   

March 31,

2014

   

December 31,

2013

 

Current liabilities:

               

Trade accounts payable

  $ 18,685     $ 11,783  

Accrued salaries and wages

    8,787       14,183  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    50,141       42,656  

Current installments of long-term debt

    2,400       11,217  

Current installments of obligation under capital leases

    147       153  

Total current liabilities

    80,160       79,992  
                 

Long-term debt

    879,000       905,783  

Obligations under capital leases, excluding current installments

    1,117       1,156  

Retirement and postretirement plans

    107,713       155,309  

Other liabilities

    36,068       43,891  

Total liabilities (b)

    1,104,058       1,186,131  
                 

Commitments and contingencies

               
                 

Stockholders' equity:

               

Preferred stock (no par value):

               

authorized 50,000,000 shares; none outstanding

    -       -  

Common stock (no par value):

               

Voting common stock, authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued 87,749,273 and 87,695,495

    558,713       557,754  

Non-voting common stock, authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued 828,885

    12,483       12,483  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    5,668       5,668  

Retained earnings

    166,461       161,076  

Total stockholders' equity attributable to Media General

    743,325       736,981  

Noncontrolling interests

    (1,690 )     (1,744 )

Total stockholders' equity

    741,635       735,237  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 1,845,693     $ 1,921,368  

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

(b) Consolidated liabilities as of March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, include total liabilities of VIEs of $8.8 million and $10.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the Company. See Note 1.

 

 
2

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

2014

   

March 31,

2013

 
                 

Net operating revenue

  $ 143,918     $ 50,045  

Operating costs:

               

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation expense

    50,615       19,212  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    42,332       14,464  

Amortization of program license rights

    4,963       2,455  

Corporate and other expenses

    6,578       2,361  

Depreciation and amortization

    16,195       4,491  

Gain related to property and equipment, net

    (771 )     -  

Merger-related expenses

    4,752       -  

Total operating costs

    124,664       42,983  

Operating income

    19,254       7,062  

Other expense:

               

Interest expense

    (9,990 )     (2,140 )

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    (98 )     -  

Other, net

    (85 )     (101 )

Total other expense

    (10,173 )     (2,241 )
                 

Income before income taxes

    9,081       4,821  

Income tax expense

    (3,642 )     (1,802 )

Net income

    5,439       3,019  
                 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (included above)

    54       (95 )

Net income attributable to Media General

  $ 5,385     $ 3,114  
                 

Other comprehensive income

    -       -  

Total comprehensive income

    5,439       3,019  
                 

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    -       -  

Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General

  $ 5,385     $ 3,114  
                 

Earnings per common share (basic and diluted):

               

Net earnings per common share (basic)

  $ 0.06     $ 0.07  

Net earnings per common share (assuming dilution)

  $ 0.06     $ 0.05  

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 
3

 

 

 Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

2014

   

March 31,

2013

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net income

  $ 5,439     $ 3,019  

Adjustments to reconcile net income:

               

Deferred income tax expense

    3,556       1,617  

Depreciation and amortization

    16,195       4,491  

Provision for doubtful accounts

    416       138  

Amortization of program license rights

    4,963       2,455  

Non-cash interest expense

    124       267  

Gain related to property and equipment, net

    (771 )     -  

Stock-based compensation

    (642 )     -  

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    98       -  

Change in assets and liabilities:

               

Program license rights, net of liabilities

    (5,106 )     (2,530 )

Trade accounts receivable

    1,716       (886 )

Company owned life insurance (cash surrender value less policy loans including repayments)

    (1,821 )     -  

Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

    4,485       (5,245 )

Contributions to retirement plans

    (46,422 )     (162 )

Other, net

    (3,766 )     3,088  

Net cash (used) provided by operating activities

    (21,536 )     6,252  

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Capital expenditures

    (2,510 )     (3,031 )

Payment for acquisition of station assets

    -       (14,323 )

Collateral refunds related to letters of credit

    980       -  

Proceeds related to property and equipment, net

    973       2  

Net cash used by investing activities

    (557 )     (17,352 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Repayment of borrowings under Media General Credit Agreement

    (35,000 )     -  

Repayment of borrowings under Shield Media Credit Agreement

    (600 )     -  

Principal borrowings under WLAJ-TV LLC Term Loan

    -       10,000  

Repayment of borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

    -       (4,300 )

Debt issuance costs

    -       (289 )

Other, net

    330       (84 )

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

    (35,270 )     5,327  

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (57,363 )     (5,773 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    71,618       24,244  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 14,255     $ 18,471  
                 

Cash paid for interest

  $ 11,422     $ 1,700  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 
4

 

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Note 1:   Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and with applicable quarterly reporting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of interim financial information have been included.

 

On November 12, 2013, Media General, Inc. (“Legacy Media General”), and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) were combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger transaction. The combined company (“Media General” or the “Company”) retained the Media General name and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The merger was accounted for as a reverse acquisition in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations. For financial reporting purposes, Young was the acquirer and the continuing reporting entity. Consequently, the consolidated financial statements of Media General, the legal acquirer and a continuing public corporation in the transaction, have been prepared with Young as the surviving entity. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations and cash flows for only Young for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and certain variable interest entities (“VIE”) for which the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, the Company considers whether it has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether it has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE.  Assets of consolidated VIE’s can only be used to settle the obligations of that VIE.  As discussed in Note 3, the Company consolidates the results of WXXA-TV LLC (“WXXA”) and WLAJ-TV LLC (“WLAJ”) pursuant to the VIE accounting guidance. All the liabilities are non-recourse to the Company, except for the debt of WXXA and WLAJ which the Company guarantees. The Company is also the primary beneficiary of the VIE that holds the Supplemental 401(k) Plan’s investments and consolidates the plan accordingly.

 

Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in the current fiscal year.

 

On November 12, 2013, each outstanding share of Young common stock and each issued and outstanding warrant to purchase Young common stock was converted into the right to receive 730.6171 shares of no par value voting common stock. Shares of common stock (and the associated price-per-share) for periods prior to November 12, 2013, have been restated to reflect the applicable number of shares of no par value voting common stock. Warrants for prior periods have been restated to reflect the right to receive the applicable number of shares of no par value voting common stock. Earnings per share and share information presented in the consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2013, include Young’s common shares and share equivalents multiplied by the exchange ratio: 730.6171 shares of Media General for each share and share equivalent of Young. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, common shares and share equivalents are presented for the combined company.

 

 
5

 

 

Note 2:   Merger Transactions

 

Pending Merger with LIN Media LLC

 

In March of 2014, the Company and LIN Media LLC (“LIN”) announced an agreement to combine the two companies under a newly formed holding company to be named Media General and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Under the merger agreement, LIN shareholders are to receive aggregate consideration of cash (maximum of $763 million) and shares of voting common stock (maximum of 50.5 million shares). In addition, each outstanding share of voting common stock and non-voting common stock of the existing Media General will be converted into one share of voting common stock or non-voting common stock of the combined company. It is estimated that LIN shareholders will own approximately 36% of the combined company and existing Media General shareholders will retain approximately 64% ownership on a fully diluted basis. Together, the Company and LIN own and operate or service 74 stations across 46 markets. The companies anticipate that station divestures in certain markets will be required in order to address regulatory considerations. The transaction has been unanimously approved by both the Media General Board of Directors and the LIN Board of Directors. As set forth in the merger agreement, the closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions including, but not limited to, the approval of various matters relating to the transaction by Media General and LIN shareholders, the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust act and certain third party consents. Media General and LIN will convene special shareholder meetings to vote on the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in early 2015. The Company incurred $3.5 million of investment banking, legal and accounting fees and expenses in the first quarter of 2014 related to the pending merger with LIN.

 

Legacy Media General Merger

 

As described in Note 1, Legacy Media General and Young were combined in an all-stock merger transaction on November 12, 2013. The merger was accounted for as a reverse acquisition with Young as the acquirer solely for financial accounting purposes. Accordingly, Young’s cost to acquire Legacy Media General has been allocated to the acquired assets, liabilities and commitments based upon their estimated fair values. The pre-merger operations of Legacy Media General consisted of 18 network-affiliated broadcast television stations (and associated websites) primarily located in the southeastern United States. The purchase price of Legacy Media General was calculated based on the number of unrestricted Class A and B common shares outstanding (27,985,795 in aggregate) immediately prior to the merger multiplied by the closing price on November 11, 2013 of $15.06. In addition, the purchase price included the portion of performance accelerated restricted stock and stock options earned prior to the merger ($12.7 million in aggregate). The initial allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities is summarized as follows:

 

(In thousands)

       

Current assets acquired

  $ 89,425  

Property and equipment

    183,362  

Other assets acquired

    24,563  

FCC broadcast licenses

    359,400  

Definite lived intangible assets

    214,080  

Goodwill

    487,223  

Deferred income tax assets recorded in conjunction with the acquisition

    49,725  

Current liabilities assumed

    (66,372 )

Long-term debt assumed

    (701,408 )

Pension and postretirement liabilities assumed

    (165,904 )

Other liabilities assumed

    (39,908 )

Total

  $ 434,186  

 

 
6

 

 

Current assets acquired included cash and cash equivalents of $17.3 million and trade accounts receivable of $64.4 million.

 

The amount allocated to definite-lived intangible assets represents the estimated fair values of network affiliations of $154.7 million, advertiser relationships of $58 million and favorable lease assets of $1.4 million. These intangible assets will be amortized over their weighted-average estimated remaining useful lives of 15 years for network affiliations, 7 years for the advertiser relationships and 10 years for favorable lease assets. Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated remaining useful lives.

 

The initial allocation presented above is based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates and estimated discount rates. Network affiliations and advertiser relationships were primarily valued using an excess earnings income approach. The broadcast licenses represent the estimated fair value of the FCC license using a “Greenfield” income approach. Under this approach, the broadcast license is valued by analyzing the estimated after-tax discounted future cash flows of an average market participant. Property and equipment was primarily valued using a cost approach. Acquired program license rights will be amortized to operating expense over the estimated broadcast period in an amount equal to the relative benefit that is expected to be derived from the airing of the program, or on a straight line basis over the life of the program where the expected useful life is one year or less.

 

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assembled and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and non-contractual relationships, as well as expected future synergies. Approximately $164 million of the goodwill recognized is expected to be tax deductible.

 

The initial purchase price allocation is based upon all information available to the Company at the present time and is subject to change, and such changes could be material.

 

The Company incurred $1.3 million of legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2014, related to the merger with Young.

 

Net operating revenues and operating income of Legacy Media General included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, were $89 million and $8.4 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013, assuming that the merger, the consolidation of the Shield Media entities described in Note 3 and the refinancing described in Note 4, occurred as of January 1, 2012:

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

       

Net operating revenue

  $ 124,339  

Net loss

    (1,895 )

Net loss attributable to Media General

    (2,006 )
         

Loss per share - basic and assuming dilution

    (0.02 )

 

The pro forma financial information presented above is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for the allocation of the purchase price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company’s results would have been had the transactions occurred as of January 1, 2012. The pro forma amounts include adjustments to depreciation and amortization expense due to the increased value assigned to property and equipment and intangible assets, adjustments to stock-based compensation expense due to the revaluation of stock options and performance accelerated restricted stock and the issuance of deferred stock units to certain executive officers, adjustments to interest expense to reflect the refinancing of the Company’s debt and the related tax effects of the adjustments.

 

 
7

 

 

Note 3:   Variable Interest Entities

 

Shield Media LLC and Shield Media Lansing LLC, through their respective subsidiaries, WXXA and WLAJ, have Joint Sales Agreements (“JSA”) and Shared Service Agreements (“SSA”) in place with the Company. Under these agreements the Company provides a variety of operational services for WXXA-TV and WLAJ-TV (the “Shield Stations”) as is described in more detail below.

 

The Company has options to acquire the Shield Stations at any time, subject to FCC consent, until the expiration of the applicable JSA. The FCC requires that the station licensee maintain independent control over the programming and operations of the station until an assignment of the station license has been approved by the FCC and consummated. In addition, the Company has entered into agreements with the Shield Stations to provide a variety of services, including: the sale of advertising time, marketing and promotion, news production, assistance with monitoring, maintenance, repair and replacement of the licensee’s technical equipment and facilities, providing traffic, accounting, bookkeeping and related administrative functions, access to the Company’s local towers, equipment, and facilities and the maintenance and operation of websites for the Shield Stations. Although the licensee retains exclusive management and control over the stations’ programming, personnel and finances, including the total responsibility for all programming to be broadcast over the station, the Company believes that the services provided pursuant to the sales and shared service agreements provide the Company with the power to direct those activities of WXXA and WLAJ that most significantly impact the economic performance of each entity. In both the Albany and Lansing markets, the Company owns and operates another station. The agreements provide the Company’s local stations, along with WXXA and WLAJ, the ability to achieve operational efficiencies and economies of scale which improve cash flow.

 

An order that the FCC adopted in March of 2014, may require changes to the Company’s arrangements with the Shield Stations. In that order, the FCC concluded that JSAs should be “attributable” for purposes of the media ownership rules if they permit a television licensee to sell more than 15% of the commercial inventory of a television station owned by a third party in the same market. Stations with JSAs that would put them in violation of the new rules will have two years from the date on which the rules become effective to amend or terminate those arrangements or to obtain a waiver of the rule. Accordingly, absent further developments or the grant of a waiver, the Company may be required to modify or terminate its existing JSAs within such two-year period.

 

Based on accounting guidance related to consolidation of VIEs, the Company is the primary beneficiary of these agreements and therefore consolidates the Shield Stations. Under the terms of the agreements, the Company sells the stations’ inventory, collects all cash receipts and also incurs operating costs associated with the operations of the Shield Stations. In return, the Company is paid a 30% JSA fee from the ad sales collected and is also paid an SSA fee for providing the operation services. In addition, in a given period, if expenses incurred by WXXA and WLAJ exceed their revenue share and the Shield Stations are not in a position to pay the Company the JSA and/or SSA fees, the Company would be at a loss for their services. Finally, if at any time either WXXA or WLAJ is in default of its loan, the Company, as the guarantor of the Shield Station loans, would be the responsible party.

 

In March of 2013, WLAJ, a wholly owned subsidiary of an unrelated party, Shield Media Lansing LLC, entered into an asset purchase agreement to purchase the assets (including the FCC license) of the WLAJ-TV television station in Lansing, MI, from Sinclair Broadcast Group (“SBG”). Concurrent with this agreement, the Company entered into the JSA and SSA with WLAJ referred to above to provide sales, operational and administrative services to WLAJ. The initial terms of the JSA and SSA are eight years, and the agreements can be automatically renewed for successive two year renewal terms. WLAJ paid $14.3 million in cash to purchase the station assets which was partially financed through a $10 million term loan which was jointly guaranteed by the Company and Shield Media Lansing LLC. The acquisition was also funded from the proceeds from an asset purchase agreement in which the Company purchased certain non-license assets of WLAJ-TV from an advance of $5.4 million. The balance of the proceeds from the term loan and the asset purchase agreement between WLAJ and the Company, after SBG was paid, went toward transaction fees and working capital.

 

 
8

 

 

The financial results of WLAJ since March 1, 2013, have been consolidated by the Company in accordance with the VIE accounting guidance, and the purchase price of $14.3 million was allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on estimated fair values upon the effective date of the transaction. The allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities was determined using techniques similar to those described in Note 2 and is summarized as follows:

 

 

(In thousands)

       

Property and equipment

  $ 2,468  

Broadcast licenses

    7,700  

Definite-lived intangible assets

    2,100  

Goodwill

    2,366  

Other liabilities

    (310 )

Total

  $ 14,324  

 

 

The amount allocated to definite-lived intangible assets represents the estimated fair values of network affiliations of $1.7 million and advertiser relationships of $0.4 million.

 

The results of operations for the three months of 2013 include the results of WLAJ since March 1, 2013. Net operating revenues and operating income of WLAJ included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, were $1.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and were $0.3 million and $33 thousand, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

As indicated above, the Company also provides certain sales, operational and administrative services to WXXA under the JSA and SSA which have remaining terms of seven years, and may be automatically renewed for successive two year renewal terms. Net operating revenues and operating income of WXXA included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, were $3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and were $2.6 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

 
9

 

 

The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the Shield Stations which have been included in the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

 

(In thousands)

 

March 31,

2014

   

December 31,

2013

 

Assets

               

Current assets

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 1,891     $ 4,110  

Trade accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts 2014 - $99; 2013 - $105)

    3,666       3,831  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    759       671  

Total current assets

    6,316       8,612  

Property and equipment, net

    2,883       2,996  

Other assets, net

    867       697  

Definite lived intangible assets, net

    3,323       3,400  

Broadcast licenses

    22,400       22,400  

Goodwill

    2,730       2,730  

Total assets

  $ 38,519     $ 40,835  

Liabilities

               

Current liabilities

               

Trade accounts payable

  $ 11     $ -  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    2,530       2,180  

Current installments of long-term debt

    2,400       2,400  

Total current liabilities

    4,941       4,580  

Long-term debt

    29,000       29,600  

Other liabilities

    6,268       8,399  

Total liabilities

  $ 40,209     $ 42,579  

 

 

Note 4: Debt and Other Financial Instruments

 

Long-term debt at March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, was as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Media General Credit Agreement

  $ 850,000     $ 885,000  

Shield Media Credit Agreement

    31,400       32,000  

Total debt

    881,400       917,000  
                 

Less: scheduled current maturities

    (2,400 )     (11,217 )
                 

Long-term debt excluding current maturities

  $ 879,000     $ 905,783  

 

Media General Credit Agreement

 

In July of 2013, Legacy Media General entered into a credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders which provided the Company with an $885 million term loan and a $60 million revolving credit facility. Following consummation of the merger transaction, the Company fully borrowed the term loan and repaid the existing debt of Legacy Media General and Young. The term loan matures in seven years and bears interest at LIBOR (with a LIBOR floor of 1%) plus a margin of 3.25%. The margin could decrease to 3% based on the Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement. The revolving credit facility has a term of five years and bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% and is subject to a 0.5% commitment fee. The credit agreement is guaranteed by the Company and its subsidiaries and is secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company. The credit agreement contains a leverage ratio covenant, which involves debt levels and a rolling eight-quarter calculation of EBITDA, as defined in the agreement. Additionally, the agreement contains restrictions on certain transactions including the incurrence of additional debt, capital leases, investments, additional acquisitions, asset sales and restricted payments (including dividends and share repurchases) as defined in the agreement.

 

 
10

 

 

In March of 2014, the Company repaid $35 million of principal on the term loan. The Company was only required to make a payment of $2.2 million during the first quarter. The early repayment of debt resulted in debt modification and extinguishment costs of $0.1 million due to the accelerated recognition of deferred debt-related items.

 

In April of 2014, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit agreement. The terms of the amendment become effective upon successful completion of the merger with LIN. The amendment permits the Company to obtain additional financing consistent with a commitment letter from Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) amended and restated in April 2014. The commitment letter provides for an aggregate $1.6 billion senior secured credit facility, consisting of an incremental $90 million revolving credit facility and incremental term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the cash consideration in the LIN merger, fees and expenses in connection with the merger and to refinance certain existing indebtedness of LIN. In addition to permitting the incremental financing, the amendment to the credit agreement modifies the leverage ratio covenant requirements as well certain other covenants and transaction restrictions, as defined in the agreement. The Company paid a $1.3 million non-refundable amendment fee to the participating lenders in April of 2014.

 

 

Shield Media Credit Agreement

 

Shield Media LLC (and its subsidiary WXXA) and Shield Media Lansing LLC (and its subsidiary WLAJ) (collectively, “Shield Media”), companies that control subsidiaries with which the Company has joint sales and shared services arrangements for two stations as described in Note 3, entered into a new credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders, dated July 31, 2013. On November 12, 2013, Shield Media fully borrowed $32 million of term loans and repaid the existing term loans of WXXA and WLAJ. The new Shield Media term loans mature in five years and bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.25%. The term loans are payable in quarterly installments which start at 1.875% of the initial principal balance with the remainder due upon maturity. The Shield Media term loans are guaranteed by the Company and are secured by liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company, on a pari passu basis with the Media General credit agreement.

 

The Shield Media loans have a fixed charge coverage ratio (a ratio of fixed charges (interest, debt payments, capital expenditures and taxes) to EBITDA, calculated on a rolling eight-quarter basis, as defined in the agreement). The agreement also has restrictions on transactions similar in nature to those in the new Media General credit agreement, but scaled to Shield Media’s smaller size.  Additionally, the agreement has more specific covenants regarding the operation of the Shield Media business and requires that each Shield Media holding company that controls a Shield Media station limit its activities to performance of its obligations under the Shield Media credit documents, and activities incidental thereto, including owning a Shield Media station and the performance of its obligations under and activities related to the shared services agreement. Both the Media General and Shield Media credit agreements contain cross-default provisions.

 

 
11

 

 

Fair Value

 

The following table includes information about the carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013:

 

 

   

March 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 

(In thousands)

 

Carrying

Amount

   

Fair

Value

   

Carrying

Amount

   

Fair

Value

 

Assets:

                               

Investments

                               

Trading

  $ 334     $ 334     $ 281     $ 281  

Liabilities:

                               

Long-term debt:

                               

Media General Credit Agreement

    850,000       857,438       885,000       894,956  

Shield Media Credit Agreement

    31,400       31,400       32,000       32,000  
                                 

 

Trading securities held by the Supplemental 401(k) Plan are carried at fair value and are determined by reference to quoted market prices. The fair value of the Media General Credit Agreement was determined by reference to the most recent trading price and the fair value of the Shield Media Credit Agreement was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis and an estimate of the current borrowing rate. Under the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s trading securities fall under Level 1 (quoted prices in active markets), the Media General Credit Agreement falls under Level 2 (other observable inputs) and the Shield Media Credit Agreement falls under Level 3 (unobservable inputs).

 

 

Note 5: Taxes on Income

 

The effective tax rate was 40.1% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 37.4% in the same quarter of 2013.  The increase was due primarily to merger-related expenses recorded in the first quarter of 2014, a portion of which will not be deductible for tax purposes.  The tax expense in both years was largely non-cash due to the Company’s significant net operating loss carryover for tax purposes.  Current tax expense was approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively, and was attributable to state income taxes.

  

 
12

 

 

Note 6: Earnings Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013.

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2014

   

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2013

 

(In thousands, except

per share amounts)

 

Income

(Numerator)

   

Shares

(Denominator)

   

Per Share

Amount

   

Income

(Numerator)

   

Shares

(Denominator)

   

Per Share

Amount

 
                                                 

Net income attributable to Media General

  $ 5,385                     $ 3,114                  
                                                 

Undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities

    (41 )                     -                  
                                                 

Basic EPS

                                               

Income available to common stockholders

  $ 5,344       88,324     $ 0.06     $ 3,114       47,803     $ 0.07  
                                                 
                                                 

Effect of dilutive securities: stock options and warrants

            407                       12,390          
                                                 

Diluted EPS

                                               

Income available to common stockholders

  $ 5,344       88,731     $ 0.06     $ 3,114       60,193     $ 0.05  

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2013, there were 60,193,351 total outstanding securities consisting of 47,802,816 shares of common stock and 12,390,535 warrants. The warrants were exercisable on a one-for-one basis for shares of common stock, at any point through December 24, 2024. In November of 2013, these warrants were converted to shares of no par value voting common stock in connection with the merger.

 

 

Note 7: Retirement and Postretirement Plans

 

Prior to the merger, the Company only had the KRON/IBEW Local 45 Pension Plan which covers the IBEW Local 45 employees of KRON-TV. The Company froze benefit accruals under this plan in 2005. All employees who earned seven full years of vested service as of October 2005 are 100% vested in the pension benefits earned. If an employee had not yet earned seven full years of vested service, he or she is considered partially vested and, provided employment with the Company continues, can continue to earn credit for years of service.

 

In conjunction with the merger, the Company assumed Legacy Media General’s retirement and postretirement plans as of November 12, 2013. Legacy Media General has a funded, qualified non-contributory defined benefit retirement plan which covers substantially all Legacy Media General employees hired before 2007 and non-contributory unfunded supplemental executive retirement and ERISA excess plans which supplement the coverage available to certain executives. These retirement plans are frozen. Legacy Media General also has a retiree medical savings account plan which reimburses eligible employees who retire for certain medical expenses. In addition, Legacy Media General has an unfunded plan that provides certain health and life insurance benefits to retired employees who were hired prior to 1992. The Company made a $45 million contribution to the Legacy Media General retirement plan in January 2014 (following a $5 million contribution in December 2013).

 

 
13

 

 

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost (income) for the Company’s benefit plans for the first three months of 2014 and 2013:

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

(In thousands)

 

March 31,

2014

   

March 31,

2013

   

March 31,

2014

 

Service cost

  $ 42     $ 42     $ 22  

Interest cost

    5,506       143       261  

Expected return on plan assets

    (6,671 )     (156 )     -  

Amortization of net loss

    -       9       -  

Net periodic benefit cost (income)

  $ (1,123 )   $ 38     $ 283  

 

 

Note 8: Stockholders’ Equity

 

The following table shows the components of the Company’s stockholders’ equity as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2014:

 

  

                   

Accumulated

Other

           

Non-

   

Total

 
   

Common Stock

   

Comprehensive

   

Retained

   

Controlling

   

Stockholders'

 

(In thousands)

 

Voting

   

Non-Voting

   

Income

   

Earnings

   

Interest

   

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2013

  $ 557,754     $ 12,483     $ 5,668     $ 161,076     $ (1,744 )   $ 735,237  

Net income

    -       -       -       5,385       54       5,439  

Exercise of stock options

    394       -       -       -       -       394  

Stock-based compensation

    584       -       -       -       -       584  

Other

    (19 )     -       -       -       -       (19 )

Balance at March 31, 2014

  $ 558,713     $ 12,483     $ 5,668     $ 166,461     $ (1,690 )   $ 741,635  

 

 

 

The following table shows the components of the Company’s stockholders’ equity as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2013:

 

 

 

                   

Accumulated

Other

           

Non-

   

Total

 
   

Common Stock

   

Comprehensive

   

Retained

   

Controlling

   

Stockholders'

 

(In thousands)

 

Voting

   

Non-Voting

   

Loss

   

Earnings

   

Interest

   

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

  $ 133,000     $ -     $ (987 )   $ 154,936     $ 42     $ 286,991  

Net income (loss)

    -       -       -       3,114       (95 )     3,019  

Balance at March 31, 2013

  $ 133,000     $ -     $ (987 )   $ 158,050     $ (53 )   $ 290,010  

 

 
14

 

 

Note 9: Other

 

In March 2014, the Company received just under $1 million of insurance proceeds as settlement for a damaged antenna used by the Company’s television station in Richmond, Virginia. In the first quarter of 2014, the Company wrote down the value of certain held-for-sale real property in Florence, South Carolina, to its estimated fair value less costs to sell of $0.2 million; the Company recorded a loss of $0.2 million. The net gain of $0.8 million resulting from these items is reflected in the gain related to property and equipment, net line on the statements of comprehensive income.

 

 

Note 10: Subsequent Events

 

In May of 2014, the Company closed on the sale of its KRON-TV studio and office building in San Francisco, California to a third party for $26.4 million of gross cash proceeds and anticipates recording a gain in the range of $10 million. The Company has entered into a sublease for studio and office space at KGO-TV in San Francisco and expects to physically move its television operations to the new location in the fourth quarter of 2014. The terms of the sale allow KRON to remain in its current facility through the end of the year. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the sale to voluntarily repay debt.

 

In April of 2014, the Company adopted a plan to restructure certain corporate and shared service operations intended to save $10 million in operating costs annually. The Company expects to record severance and other restructuring costs in the range of $5.5 million to $6.5 million over the remainder of the year to implement the plan.

 

 
15

 

 

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

OVERVIEW

 

Media General, Inc. is a leading local television broadcasting and digital media company, providing top-rated news, information and entertainment in strong markets across the U.S. The Company owns or operates 31 network-affiliated broadcast television stations (twelve with CBS, nine with NBC, seven with ABC, one with FOX, one with CW and one with MyNetworkTV) and their associated digital media and mobile platforms, in 28 markets. These stations reach approximately 16.5 million, or approximately 14%, of U.S. TV households. Sixteen of the 31 stations are located in the top 75 designated market areas. Media General first entered the local television business in 1955 when it launched WFLA in Tampa, Florida as an NBC affiliate. The Company subsequently expanded its station portfolio through acquisition. In November of 2013, Media General, Inc. (“Legacy Media General”) and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) merged, combining Legacy Media General’s 18 stations and Young’s 13 stations. 

 

Although Legacy Media General was the legal acquirer, the transaction was accounted for as a reverse merger whereby Young acquired Legacy Media General for accounting purposes only. As a result, the financial statements reflect only Young’s historical results for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

In March of 2014, the Company entered into a merger agreement with LIN Media LLC (“LIN”). Upon consummation of the merger, the combined company will own or operate 74 stations across 46 markets, reaching approximately 26.5 million, or approximately 23%, of U.S. TV households. The Company expects certain of these stations to be swapped or otherwise divested in order to address regulatory considerations. The combined company will be well diversified across broadcast networks and geographic footprint and will have strong news and digital operations. Its increased size will create significant operating synergies including opportunities to obtain incremental revenues and more favorable syndicated programming arrangements. Moreover, the new entity will have a strong balance sheet and significant free cash flow. As discussed further in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below, the Company has secured a commitment for long-term financing which is expected to reduce the effective interest rate for the combined company, based on current interest rates. As set forth in the merger agreement, the closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions including, but not limited to, the approval of various matters relating to the transaction by Media General and LIN shareholders, the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust act and certain third party consents. Media General and LIN will convene special shareholder meetings to vote on the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in early 2015.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The Company recorded net income attributable to Media General of $5.4 million ($0.06 per diluted share) in the first three months of 2014, compared to net income attributable to Media General of $3.1 million ($0.05 per diluted share) in the first three months of 2013. Net income attributable to Media General for the first quarter of 2014, included $4.8 million of investment banking, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses related to the pending merger with LIN and the merger with Young, a significant portion of which are not deductible for tax purposes. In addition, the Company recorded a net gain of $0.8 million consisting of a $1 million insurance recovery offset by a $0.2 million write-down of held-for-sale real estate.

 

As discussed earlier, results of operations for the first quarter of 2013 include only the results of Young while the results of operations for the first quarter of 2014 are reflective of the combined company. Legacy Media General provided $89 million of revenue and $8.4 million of operating income for the first quarter of 2014.

 

 
16

 

 

REVENUES

 

The following chart provides a comparison of the Company’s major revenue categories, as reported on the statement of comprehensive income (combined company for 2014 and Young only for 2013), for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013.

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

         

(In thousands)

 

March 31,

2014

   

March 31,

2013

   

Percent Change

 

Local (gross)

  $ 76,378     $ 30,513       150 %

National (gross)

    34,115       12,914       164 %

Political (gross)

    4,435       372       1,092 %

Retransmission (gross)

    33,961       9,338       264 %

Digital (gross)

    5,402       1,641       229 %

Barter and other revenue (gross)

    7,698       2,506       207 %
                         

Agency commissions

    (18,071 )     (7,239 )     150 %
                         

Net operating revenue

  $ 143,918     $ 50,045       188 %

 

The above chart compares the revenue generated by the combined company’s 31 stations during the three months ended March 31, 2014, to revenue generated by Young’s 13 stations during the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

Non-GAAP Revenue Comparison

 

To allow investors to compare the revenue generated by the combined company’s 31 stations during the three months ended March 31, 2014, to revenue generated by those stations in the aggregate during the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company has also provided a non-GAAP comparison of the adjusted net operating revenue for the combined company for the three months ended March 31, 2013, along with the quarter-to-quarter percentage change. These combined company numbers presented for the three months ended March 31, 2013, were derived by adding Legacy Media General’s revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2013, to the revenues reported above for the same period without further adjustment. The Company provides these non-GAAP financial results for the combined company because the Company believes these metrics will better allow investors, financial analysts and others to evaluate year-over-year changes in the financial results of the Company’s existing stations. Legacy Media General contributes more than half of the television stations and revenues of the combined company.

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

         

(In thousands)

 

March 31,

2014

   

March 31,

2013

   

Percent Change

 

Local (gross)

  $ 76,378     $ 72,127       5.9 %

National (gross)

    34,115       33,523       1.8 %

Political (gross)

    4,435       879       404.6 %

Retransmission (gross)

    33,961       22,840       48.7 %

Digital (gross)

    5,402       4,063       33.0 %

Barter and other revenue (gross)

    7,698       7,684       0.2 %
                         

Agency commissions

    (18,071 )     (17,132 )     5.5 %
                         

Net operating revenue, as adjusted

  $ 143,918     $ 123,984       16.1 %

  

 
17 

 

 

Core local and national advertising revenue for the combined company was up 4.6% as the Company’s nine NBC stations benefitted from the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The combined company’s aggregate Winter Olympics revenue was $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2014 (a nearly 50% increase in combined company Winter Olympics revenue from 2010). Political revenue for the combined company was $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2014, and was bolstered by a competitive race in Florida’s 13th congressional district, near Tampa along with gubernatorial races in several states. Retransmission and digital revenue continued their strong growth trends, increasing by 49% and 33%, respectively.

 

OPERATING COSTS

 

Operating costs as reported on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income increased from $43 million for the first three months of 2013 to $125 million for the first three months of 2014 due overwhelmingly to the addition of Legacy Media General’s operating costs and merger-related expenses, as previously described. On a combined company basis, operating costs increased from $111 million to $125 million due in large part to merger-related expenses and increased depreciation and amortization. Combined company station expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, also increased by $7.2 million. As a result of higher retransmission revenues, there were additional fees for reverse compensation paid to networks. Station expenses were also higher due to merit increases and audience research costs.

 

Corporate and other expenses as reported on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income increased by $4.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014, due to the addition of Legacy Media General’s corporate infrastructure. The increase was mitigated by the absence of certain Young corporate expenses, $0.8 million of net periodic income relating to Legacy Media General’s retirement and postretirement plans and a $0.6 million reduction in stock-based compensation reflecting a decrease in the Company’s stock price.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense as reported on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income was $16.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to $4.5 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. The increase reflects the presence of the Legacy Media General assets including $214 million of definite-lived intangible assets and $183 million of property and equipment recorded at fair value in purchase accounting.

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

Interest expense in the first quarter of 2014 was nearly five times interest expense in the corresponding period of 2013 due to the assumption of Legacy Media General’s debt. However, the Company’s effective interest rate decreased from 5.4% (based on $160 million of average outstanding debt) to 4.4% (based on $917 million of average outstanding debt) due to the November 2013 refinancing described in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below.

 

In March of 2014, the Company repaid $35 million of principal on the Media General term loan (and $0.6 million on the Shield loans). The Company was only required to make aggregate principal payments of $2.8 million during the first quarter.

 

 

INCOME TAXES

 

The effective tax rate was 40.1% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 37.4% in the same quarter of 2013.  The increase was due primarily to merger-related expenses recorded in the first quarter of 2014, a portion of which will not be deductible for tax purposes.  The tax expense in both years was largely non-cash due to the Company’s significant net operating loss carryover for tax purposes.  Current tax expense was approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively, and is attributable to state income taxes.

 

 
18

 

 

OTHER

 

The Company has certain plans in place, primarily the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan, the Supplemental 401(k) Plan, and certain executive retention arrangements, which are designed to align the interests of the participants with those of the shareholders. The Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan was amended in April 2014 so that future awards will only be payable in shares of common stock. Additionally, existing directors waived their right to receive cash for past awards. This effectively eliminates variable accounting for awards under the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan. Under the Supplemental 401(k) Plan and certain executive retention arrangements, future fluctuations in the Company’s stock price could have a significant effect on the amount of expense recognized. Each $1 change in the Company’s stock price as of March 31, 2014, would have affected the Company’s corporate and other expenses by approximately $0.1 million.

 

The Company also maintains a Deferred Compensation Plan for certain employees. Unlike a 401(k) plan, this obligation resides with the Company, and earnings are credited to each participant’s account based on the performance of participant-directed hypothetical equity and bond funds rather than actual investment activity. Historically, the Company directed investments associated with its company-owned life insurance policies to mirror investments used to determine the liability under the Deferred Compensation Plan. However, when amounts are borrowed under the company-owned life insurance policies, the Company is exposed to the market volatility related to its Deferred Compensation Plan liability. A 10% change in the value of the investments used to determine the Deferred Compensation Plan liability as of quarter-end would have raised or lowered the liability and corporate and other expenses by approximately $0.5 million.

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company’s primary source of liquidity is its cash flow from operations, but it also has access to a $60 million revolving credit facility and cash on its balance sheet. The Company had a $60 million revolving credit agreement (with no outstanding balance) and $14 million of cash on its balance sheet as of March 31, 2014. The merger transaction has enhanced the Company’s ability to generate cash, particularly in even-numbered years when Political and Olympic revenues are most prominent.

 

The Company used $22 million of cash from operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2014, because it made $46 million of contributions to its retirement plans. This compared to $6.3 million of net cash provided by operating activities in the year-ago period. While retirement plan contributions and changes in balance sheet accounts such as trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (including payment of accrued interest) and accounts receivable can and did have an impact on the cash flows from operating activities, as shown on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the key component is the Company’s underlying operating performance of its stations.

 

The Company internally, and analysts in the Broadcast industry, use Broadcast Cash Flow (BCF) as a key performance measure for the Company’s stations. BCF is defined as operating income plus corporate and other expenses, depreciation and amortization, net gains related to property and equipment, program license rights amortization less payments for program license rights and merger-related expenses. As shown below, and reflecting Legacy Media General stations in the current year, BCF increased from $13.9 million to $46 million in the first quarter of 2014.

 

 
19

 

 

   

Three Months Ending

 

(in thousands)

 

March 31,

2014

   

March 31,

2013

 
                 

Operating income

  $ 19,254     $ 7,062  

Add:

               

Corporate and other expenses

    6,578       2,361  

Depreciation and amortization

    16,195       4,491  

Gain related to property and equipment, net

    (771 )     ---  

Program license rights, net

    (143 )     ---  

Merger-related expenses

    4,752       ---  

Broadcast cash flow

  $ 45,865     $ 13,914  
                 

Net operating revenue

  $ 143,918     $ 50,045  
                 

Broadcast cash flow margin

    32 %     28 %

 

 

The Company used cash for its investing activities of $0.6 million during the first three months of 2014 as capital expenditures were offset by the refund of a collateral deposit related to letters of credit and the receipt of insurance proceeds related to a damaged antenna. The Company used cash of $14.3 million to acquire the assets of WLAJ and spent $3 million on capital projects in the first quarter of 2013.

 

 

The $35 million of cash used by financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2014, primarily resulted from principal payments of $35 million on the Media General term loan and $0.6 million on the Shield Media term loans. In the year ago period, the Company borrowed $10 million to finance the WLAJ acquisition (and spent $0.3 million on debt issuance costs associated with the financing) and repaid $4.3 million on its senior credit facility. These transactions combined to yield net cash flow from financing activities of $5.3 million.

 

 

Debt Agreements

 

At March 31, 2014, the Company had the following debt facilities (presented with maturity dates). All of this debt arose as part of a refinancing consummated immediately following the merger on November 12, 2013.

 

Media General Term Loan (7/31/2020)   

$850 million    

LIBOR + 3.25% with a 1% LIBOR floor

 

 

 

Media General Revolver (7/31/2018)         

$60 million available     

LIBOR + 2.75%; 0.5% commitment fee

 

None drawn

 

 

 

 

Shield Media Term Loans (7/31/2018)

$31.4 million

LIBOR + 3.25%

 

 
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The loans described above were used to repay all debt outstanding for both Legacy Media General and Young at the time of the merger. Additionally, the Company used the funds to pay accrued interest on the loans, fees related to the debt being issued, fees related to the transaction and for pension plan contributions in December 2013 and January 2014. As the loans that were repaid were at much higher interest rates, the Company’s annual cash interest commitment was reduced by approximately $36 million based on rates in effect at the time of the transactions.

 

 

Because the Company repaid $35 million of principal on the Media General term loan in the first quarter of 2014 ($32.8 million of which can be applied to future required amortization), the current portion of long-term debt represents principal payments of $2.4 million on the Shield Media term loans that are due in the coming year. The Media General loans are guaranteed by its subsidiaries, and the Company has pledged substantially all of its assets as collateral for the loans. The Shield Media loans are guaranteed by the Company, and the Company has pledged substantially all of its assets as collateral for the loans, on a pari passu basis with the Media General credit agreement.

 

 

The Media General loans contain a leverage ratio covenant, which involves debt levels and a rolling eight-quarter calculation of EBITDA, as defined in the agreement. Additionally, the agreement has restrictions on certain transactions including the incurrence of additional debt, capital leases, investments, additional acquisitions, asset sales and restricted payments (including dividends and share repurchases) as defined in the agreement. The Shield Media loans have a fixed charge coverage ratio (a ratio of fixed charges (interest, debt payments, capital expenditures and taxes) to EBITDA, calculated on a rolling eight-quarter basis, as defined in the agreement). The agreement also has restrictions on transactions similar in nature to those in the new Media General credit agreement, but scaled to Shield Media’s smaller size. Additionally, the agreement has more specific covenants regarding the operation of the Shield Media business and requires that each Shield Media holding company that controls a Shield Media station limit its activities to the performance of its obligations under the Shield Media credit documents, and activities incidental thereto, including owning a Shield Media station and the performance of its obligations under and activities related to the shared services agreement. Both the Media General and Shield Media credit agreements contain cross-default provisions.

 

 

In April of 2014, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit agreement. The terms of the amendment become effective upon successful completion of the merger with LIN. The amendment permits the Company to obtain additional financing consistent with a commitment letter from RBC amended and restated in April 2014. The commitment letter provides for an aggregate $1.6 billion senior secured credit facility, consisting of an incremental $90 million revolving credit facility and incremental term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the cash consideration in the LIN merger, fees and expenses in connection with the merger and to refinance certain existing indebtedness of LIN. In addition to permitting the incremental financing, the amendment to the credit agreement modifies the leverage ratio covenant requirements as well certain other covenants and transaction restrictions, as defined in the agreement. The Company paid a $1.3 million non-refundable amendment fee to the participating lenders in April of 2014.

 

 

OUTLOOK

 

As demonstrated by the Company’s strong operating performance in the first quarter of 2014, the combination of Legacy Media General and Young is well on its way to delivering the benefits that were anticipated when the merger was announced. Financing synergies and increased cash flow generation enabled the Company to pay down debt ahead of schedule and contribute $50 million to Legacy Media General’s retirement plan (including $5 million contributed in the fourth quarter of 2013). The Company’s leverage is now among the lowest in the industry. The Company has already capitalized on the Winter Olympics on its NBC stations and March Madness on its CBS stations and looks forward to strong spending in political races across the country. The Company operates in the battleground states of Iowa, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. The Company expects to benefit from contested Senate races in eight states, from contested gubernatorial races in seven states and from a number of contested races for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

 
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The 2013 merger with Young has also allowed Media General to become an acquirer in the ongoing consolidation of the broadcast television industry. The announced combination of Media General and LIN will more than double the size of the Company and create the second largest pure-play local television company in the United States based on 2012/2013 average Adjusted EBITDA. The combined company will have a strong balance sheet and the ability to generate stronger cash flows than either company could achieve on their own. The Company has a financing commitment in place which it anticipates will lower the effective interest rate for the combined company. The merger with LIN Media is expected to be completed in early 2015, subject to regulatory approvals, the approval of both company’s shareholders and other customary closing conditions.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Metrics

 

As described previously on pages 17-18, the Company has presented net operating revenues, as adjusted, for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial metrics to net operating revenue as reported on the consolidated statements of operations is provided below. The purpose of the adjustments column is to include Legacy Media General revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

 

(In thousands)

 

As Reported

   

Adjustments

   

As Adjusted

 

Local (gross)

  $ 30,513     $ 41,614     $ 72,127  

National (gross)

    12,914       20,609       33,523  

Political (gross)

    372       507       879  

Retransmission (gross)

    9,338       13,502       22,840  

Digital (gross)

    1,641       2,422       4,063  

Barter and other revenue (gross)

    2,506       5,178       7,684  
                         

Agency commissions

    (7,239 )     (9,893 )     (17,132 )
                         

Net operating revenue, as adjusted

  $ 50,045     $ 73,939     $ 123,984  

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Certain statements in this quarterly report that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined by the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements related to accounting estimates and assumptions, expectations regarding the pending merger, regulatory approvals and approval by shareholders, interest rates, the impact of technological advances including consumer acceptance of mobile television and expectations regarding the effects of retransmission fees, network affiliate fees, pension and postretirement plans, capital spending, general advertising levels and political advertising levels, the effects of changes to FCC regulations and FCC approval of license applications. Forward-looking statements, including those which use words such as the Company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “plans,” “may” and similar words, including “outlook”, are made as of the date of this filing and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The reader should understand that it is not possible to foresee or identify all risk factors. Consequently, any such list should not be considered a complete statement of all potential risks or uncertainties.

 

Various important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s forward looking statements, estimates or projections including, without limitation:  failure to complete the merger transaction, the economic climate for debt refinancing, regulatory approvals, changes in advertising demand, changes to pending accounting standards, changes in consumer preferences for programming and delivery method, changes in relationships with broadcast networks, changes in relationships with cable and satellite providers, the performance of pension plan assets, health care cost trends, regulatory rulings including those related to ERISA and income tax law, natural disasters, the effects of retransmission agreements and integration efforts on the Company’s results of operations and its financial condition. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements for a number of reasons including those described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

 
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Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.

 

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, provides disclosures about market risk. As of March 31, 2014, there have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk from December 31, 2013.

 

 

Item 4.          Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2014. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2014.

 

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The merger of Legacy Media General and Young was completed on November 12, 2013, and represented a change in internal control over financial reporting. The Company is in the process of evaluating and adapting its existing controls and procedures as part of its ongoing integration activities following the merger transaction. The Company began reporting from one accounting system in the first quarter of 2014.

  

 
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PART II.     OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 6.          Exhibits

 

 

(a) Exhibits
     
     
 

31.1

Section 302 Chief Executive Officer Certification

     
 

31.2

Section 302 Chief Financial Officer Certification

     

 

32

Section 906 Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certification

     
     
 

101

The following financial information from the Media General, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL includes: (i) Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, (ii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, (iii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 
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SIGNATURES

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATE:  May 12, 2014

/s/ George L. Mahoney

 

 

George L. Mahoney

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATE:  May 12, 2014

/s/ James F. Woodward  

 

 

James F. Woodward

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

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