meg20150227_10k.htm

 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

[X]

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


For the fiscal year ended December
31, 2014
 

OR 

[  ]

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

 

For the transition period            to           

 

Commission File No. 1-6383

 

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Commonwealth of Virginia 

46-5188184

 

 

(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 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Voting Common Stock

New York Stock Exchange

 

 

(Title of class)

(Name of exchange on

 

 

 

which registered)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:     None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes         X          No                               

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes                    No          X         

 

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 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this form 10-K. [X]

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer      X                  Accelerated filer                           Non-accelerated filer           

 

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

 

Yes                    No              X         

 

The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, as of June 30, 2014, was $1,822,091,042.

 

The number of shares of Voting Common Stock (no par value) outstanding on February 27, 2015, was 130,161,950.

 

Part III incorporates information by reference from the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 23, 2015. 

 

 
 

 

  

Index to Media General, Inc.

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2014 

 

Item No. Page

Part I

     

1.

Business

3

1A.

Risk Factors

14

1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

30

2.

Properties

30

3.

Legal Proceedings 

31

4.

Mine Safety Disclosures 

31

 

Executive Officers of Registrant

31
     

Part II

     

5.

Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

32

6.

Selected Financial Data

33

7.

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

35

7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

48

8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

49

9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

106

9A.

Controls and Procedures

106

9B.

Other Information

106
     

Part III

     

10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

106

11.

Executive Compensation

106

12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

107

13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

107

14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

107
 

Part IV

     

15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

107

 

Index to Exhibits

107

 

Signatures

113

 

 

 
2

 

 

Part I

Item 1. Business

General

 

On December 19, 2014 (the "Closing Date"), Media General, Inc., now known as MGOC, Inc. (“Old Media General”), and LIN Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LIN Media” or “LIN”) were combined in a business combination transaction (the “LIN Merger”). As a result of this merger, Media General, Inc. formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc. (“New Media General” or the “Company”) became the parent public-reporting company of the combined company; LIN Television Corporation (“LIN Television”) became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New Media General and Old Media General became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of LIN Television and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of New Media General. The Company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

 

Also on the Closing Date, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, completed the sale of the following television stations: (i) WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, (ii) WLUK-TV and WCWF-TV in Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin, (iii) certain assets of WTGS-TV in Savannah, Georgia, (iv) WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, (v) WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia, and (vi) WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama. It also completed the purchase of the following television stations: (i) KXRM-TV and KXTU-LD in Colorado Springs, Colorado and (ii) WTTA-TV in Tampa, Florida.

 

References to Media General or the Company in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that include any period at and before the effectiveness of the LIN Merger shall be deemed to refer to Old Media General as the predecessor registrant to New Media General. References to Legacy Media General refer to Old Media General prior to the merger with New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) as further described below.

 

On November 12, 2013, Legacy Media General and Young were combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger transaction (the “Young Merger”). In the Merger, Media General issued to Young’s equity holders 60.2 million shares of Media General voting common stock. The merger with Young was accounted for as a reverse acquisition in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). For financial reporting purposes, Young was the acquirer and the continuing reporting entity. Accordingly, financial information presented for the Company in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflects the historical activity of Young.

 

As a result of the mergers described above, the Company owns, operates or services 71 network-affiliated stations and their associated digital media and mobile platforms (22 with CBS, 14 with NBC, 12 with ABC, eight with FOX, seven with MyNetworkTV, seven with CW, and one with Telemundo), operating in 48 markets.

 

Legacy Media General was incorporated in Virginia and became a public company in 1969. It grew through acquisition, mostly by purchasing high-quality, privately owned local media entities in the Southeast. Legacy Media General sold all of its newspapers in 2012. Young was incorporated in 2009 for purposes of acquiring the business of Young Broadcasting Inc. in connection with Young Broadcasting Inc.’s bankruptcy filing under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In June of 2010, Young Broadcasting Inc. emerged from bankruptcy as a wholly owned subsidiary of Young pursuant to Young Broadcasting Inc.’s confirmed Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. Various LIN entities have owned and operated television stations since 1966. LIN Television was incorporated in 1990 and LIN TV Corp. (“LIN TV”), LIN Television’s former parent, was incorporated in 1998. On July 30, 2013, LIN TV merged with and into LIN Media LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of LIN TV, with LIN Media LLC continuing as the surviving entity. LIN TV became a public company in 2002.

 

 

 
3

 

 

Broadcast Stations and Markets

 

The Company’s operations as of December 31, 2014, include television stations (which cover 23% of the U.S.), websites and digital operations as shown on the following map:                            

 

 

 
4

 

 

The following table sets forth general information for the Company’s television stations as of December 31, 2014:

 

Market

DMA Rank (1)

Station

Network

Affiliation

Status (2)

Station Rank

(3)

Audience

Share % (3)

Expiration Date

 of Primary

Network

Agreement

Expiration

of FCC

License

                 

San Francisco, CA

6

KRON

MyTV

 

5

2

9/28/2016

    12/1/2014 (5)

Tampa - St. Petersburg - Sarasota, FL

14

WFLA

NBC

 

2

6

12/31/2015

      2/1/2021       

Tampa - St. Petersburg - Sarasota, FL

14

WTTA

MyNet

 

7

1

9/28/2016

     2/1/2013 (5)

Portland, OR

22

KOIN

CBS

 

3

8

12/31/2021

2/1/2023

Raleigh - Durham, NC

24

WNCN

NBC

 

3

4

12/31/2015

12/1/2020

Indianapolis, IN

26

WISH

CW

 

2

8

9/1/2021

8/1/2021

Indianapolis, IN

26

WNDY

MyNet

 

6

1

9/28/2016

8/1/2021

Nashville, TN

29

WKRN

ABC

 

3

9

8/31/2015

8/1/2021

Hartford-New Haven, CT

30

WTNH

ABC

 

3

8

8/31/2017

4/1/2015

Hartford-New Haven, CT

30

WCTX

MyNet

 

6

1

9/28/2016

4/1/2015

Columbus, OH

32

WCMH

NBC

 

2

9

12/31/2015

10/1/2021

Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, Asheville, NC

37

WSPA

CBS

 

2

10

8/31/2019

12/1/2020

Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, Asheville, NC

37

WYCW

CW

 

6

2

9/1/2021

12/1/2020

Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI

39

WOOD

NBC

 

1

15

1/1/2017

10/1/2021

Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI

39

WOTV

ABC

 

5

2

8/31/2017

10/1/2021

Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI

39

WXSP

MyNet

 

8

1

9/28/2016

10/1/2021

Austin, TX

40

KXAN

NBC

 

1

8

1/1/2017

8/1/2022

Austin, TX

40

KNVA+

CW

LMA

5

2

9/1/2021

8/1/2022

Austin, TX

40

KBVO

MyNet

 

6

1

9/28/2016

8/1/2022

Birmingham, AL

44

WIAT

CBS

 

3

6

8/31/2019

4/1/2021

Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA

45

WAVY

NBC

 

1

10

1/1/2017

10/1/2020

Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA

45

WVBT

FOX

 

5

3

12/31/2017

10/1/2020

Harrisburg, PA

45

WHTM

ABC

 

2

10

12/31/2017

8/1/2015

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM

47

KRQE+

CBS

 

2

9

8/31/2019

10/1/2022

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM

47

KASA

FOX

 

4

3

12/31/2017

10/1/2022

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM

47

KWBQ+

CW

SSA

5

2

9/1/2021

10/1/2022

Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM

47

KASY

MyNet

SSA

6

2

9/28/2016

10/1/2022

Buffalo, NY

52

WIVB

CBS

 

2

11

8/31/2019

6/1/2015

Buffalo, NY

52

WNLO

CW

 

5

2

9/1/2021

6/1/2015

Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA

53

WPRI

CBS

 

2

8

8/31/2019

4/1/2015

Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA

53

WNAC

FOX

LMA

3

4

12/31/2017

4/1/2007

Richmond, VA

57

WRIC

ABC

 

2

9

8/31/2015

10/1/2020

Albany, NY

58

WTEN+

ABC

 

3

12

8/31/2015

6/1/2015

Albany, NY

58

WXXA

FOX

SSA/JSA

4

5

12/31/2017

6/1/2015

Mobile, AL - Pensacola, FL

59

WKRG

CBS

 

1

13

8/31/2019

     4/1/2021     

Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL

59

WFNA

CW

 

7

1

9/1/2021

      4/1/2021      

Knoxville, TN

61

WATE

ABC

 

3

6

8/31/2015

8/1/2021

Dayton, OH

64

WDTN

NBC

 

2

8

1/1/2017

10/1/2021

Dayton, OH

64

WBDT

CW

SSA/JSA

5

3

9/1/2021

10/1/2021

Roanoke - Lynchburg, VA

66

WSLS

NBC

 

3

9

12/31/2015

10/1/2020

Wichita-Hutchinson, KS

67

KSNW+

NBC

 

2

13

1/1/2017

6/1/2022

Honolulu, HI

69

KHON+

FOX

 

2

11

12/31/2017

2/1/2015

Green Bay, WI

70

WBAY

ABC

 

1

16

8/31/2015

12/1/2021

Colorado Springs-Pueblo, CO

89

KXRM

FOX

 

4

5

12/31/2017

     4/1/2014 (5)

Colorado Springs-Pueblo, CO

89

KXTU

CW

 

5

1

9/1/2021

      4/1/2014 (5)

Savannah, GA

92

WSAV

NBC

 

2

11

12/31/2015

4/1/2021

Jackson, MS

94

WJTV

CBS

 

2

13

8/31/2019

6/1/2021

Charleston, SC

95

WCBD

NBC

 

2

10

12/31/2015

12/1/2020

Tri-Cities, TN/VA

97

WJHL

CBS

 

2

13

8/31/2019

8/1/2021

Greenville - New Bern, NC

99

WNCT

CBS

 

3

11

8/31/2019

12/1/2020

Davenport, IA

100

KWQC

NBC

 

1

21

12/31/2015

2/1/2022

Myrtle Beach - Florence, SC

102

WBTW

CBS

 

1

18

8/31/2019

12/1/2020

Fort Wayne, IN

109

WANE

CBS

 

1

21

8/31/2019

8/1/2021

Sioux Falls, SD

111

KELO+

CBS

 

1

25

8/31/2019

4/1/2022

  

 
5

 

 

Market

DMA Rank (1)

Station

Network

Affiliation

Status (2)

Station Rank

(3)

Audience

Share % (3)

Expiration Date

of Primary

Network

Agreement

Expiration

of FCC

License

Augusta, GA - Aiken, SC

112

WJBF (4)

ABC

 

2

15

12/31/2018

4/1/2021

Youngstown, OH

113

WKBN

CBS

 

2

15

12/31/2021

10/1/2021

Youngstown, OH

113

WYTV

ABC

SSA/JSA

3

7

8/31/2017

10/1/2021

Youngstown, OH

113

WYFX+

FOX

 

4

4

12/31/2017

10/1/2021

Springfield-Holyoke, MA

114

WWLP

NBC

 

1

21

1/1/2017

4/1/2015

Lansing, MI

115

WLNS

CBS

 

2

16

12/31/2021

      10/1/2013 (5)

Lansing, MI

115

WLAJ

ABC

SSA/JSA

3

5

12/31/2015

10/1/2021

Lafayette, LA

122

KLFY

CBS

 

1

19

12/31/2021

6/1/2021

Columbus, GA

126

WRBL

CBS

 

1

12

8/31/2019

4/1/2021

Topeka, KS

134

KSNT

NBC

 

2

14

1/1/2017

6/1/2022

Topeka, KS

134

KTKA

ABC

SSA/JSA

3

6

12/31/2018

6/1/2022

Topeka, KS

134

KTMJ

FOX

 

4

4

12/31/2017

6/1/2022

Mason City, IA

153

KIMT

CBS

 

2

15

8/31/2019

2/1/2022

Terre Haute, IN

155

WTHI

CBS

 

1

21

8/31/2019

81/2021

Hattiesburg - Laurel, MS

167

WHLT

CBS

 

2

7

8/31/2019

6/1/2021

Rapid City, SD

173

KCLO

CBS

 

3

8

8/31/2019

4/1/2022

Lafayette, IN

189

WLFI

CBS

 

1

21

12/31/2021

8/1/2021

 

(1) Designated Market Area or "DMA" estimates and rankings are taken from Nielsen Local Universe Estimates for the 2014-2015 Broadcast Season, effective September 27, 2014. There are 210 DMAs in the United States. All Nielsen data included in this report represents Nielsen estimates, and Nielsen has neither reviewed nor approved the data included in this report.

 

(2) We own or operate all of our stations and digital channels except for those (i) noted as "LMA" which indicates stations to which we provide services under a local marketing agreement, (ii) noted as "SSA" which indicates stations to which we provide technical, engineering, promotional, administrative and other operational support services under a shared services agreement, and (iii) noted as "JSA" which indicates stations to which we provide advertising sales services under a joint sales agreement.

 

(3) Station Rank and Audience Share % are based on an average of February 2014, May 2014, July 2014 and November 2014 Nielsen data, Sign-On to Sign-Off (M-SU 6A-2A) TV household share.

 

(4) The station is also party to joint sales and shared service agreements for WAGT, a NBC affiliate, which is licensed to an independent third party.

 

(5) Broadcast licenses are granted by the FCC for maximum terms of eight years and are subject to renewal upon application to the FCC. The licenses remain in effect until action on the renewal applications has been completed. The Company has filed all of its applications for renewal in a timely manner prior to the applicable expiration dates and expects its applications will be approved when the FCC works though its backlog, as is routine in the industry.

 

 

Revenues, Cyclicality and Seasonality

 

The Company’s primary source of revenue is the sale of advertising time on its television stations. Advertising revenue is recognized when advertisements are aired. Agency commissions related to advertising are recorded as a reduction of revenue.  Advertising rates are influenced by a variety of factors including demand, the size of a station’s market, the station’s overall rating, economic conditions and the popularity of the station’s local, network and syndicated programming. Broadcast advertising revenue represented approximately 73%, 77% and 84% of gross operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 

 

Broadcast advertising revenue is generally higher in even-numbered years due to political election spending and advertising revenue generated from the Olympic Games on the Company’s fourteen NBC stations. Increased consumer advertising in the spring and for the holiday season generally generates higher advertising revenue in the second and fourth quarters of each year.

 

The Company receives consideration from certain satellite and cable providers in return for the Company’s consent to the retransmission of the signals of its television stations. Retransmission consent revenue is recognized on a per subscriber basis in accordance with terms of each contract. Retransmission consent revenue represented approximately 19%, 16% and 10% of gross operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 

 

As part of the merger with LIN Media in 2014, the Company has an innovative digital media portfolio that helps agencies and brands effectively and efficiently reach their target audiences. The digital media businesses use the latest in conversational marketing, video, display, mobile, social intelligence and monetization, as well as reporting across all screens. The industry-leading digital portfolio is comprised of six digital offerings: LIN Digital, LIN Mobile, Federated Media, Dedicated Media, HYFN, and BiteSize TV. LIN Digital provides premium display and premium video advertising on LIN Digital’s advertising network. LIN Mobile provides premium mobile advertising, including proprietary software to optimize audience reach. Federated Media provides premium display and video advertising on a network of influential website publishers, including popular lifestyle bloggers. Dedicated Media provides performance-based marketing, data targeting and analytics and helps clients optimize digital marketing campaigns. HYFN is a full service digital agency that develops and implements mobile, social and web experiences for some of the world’s largest brands. The newest investment, BiteSize TV, is a video content creator. Together with the Company’s television station websites, the digital businesses described above provide an ecosystem that drives scale, synergies and opportunities to further expand the Company’s national, regional and local sales channels. Digital advertising revenue is recognized when the advertisement is displayed on our websites and mobile applications, or the websites and mobile applications of the publishers and partners in our advertising network.

 

 

 
6

 

  

The Company generates revenue from other sources, which include commercial production and tower space rental income. The Company, in the ordinary course of business, also provides advertising airtime to certain customers in exchange for products or services.

 

Industry

 

All television stations in the country are grouped by Nielsen, a national audience measuring service, into approximately 210 Designated Market Areas (“DMA”) that are ranked in size according to various formulae based upon actual or potential audience. Each DMA is determined as an exclusive geographic area consisting of all counties in which the home-market commercial stations receive the greatest percentage of total viewing hours. Nielsen periodically publishes data on estimated audiences for the television stations in the various television markets throughout the country. The estimates are expressed in terms of the percentage of the total potential audience in the market viewing a station, which is referred to as the station’s “rating,” and of the percentage of the audience actually watching television, which is referred to as the station’s “share.” Nielsen provides such data on the basis of total television households and selected demographic groupings in the market using three methods of determining a station’s ability to attract viewers (diary markets, meter-diary adjusted markets and local people meter markets). Ratings in large DMAs are determined by meters connected directly to select television sets. In mid-sized DMAs, ratings are determined by a combination of meters connected directly to television sets and weekly diaries of television viewing, while in smaller markets only weekly diaries are used to determine viewing.

 

Whether a station is affiliated with one of the four major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX) has a significant impact on the composition of the station’s revenue, expenses and operations. A typical network affiliate receives a significant percentage of its programming each day from the network. This programming is provided to the affiliate by the network in exchange for a substantial majority of the advertising time during network programs. The network then sells this advertising time and retains the revenue. The affiliate retains the revenue from time sold during breaks in and between network programs and programs the affiliate produces or purchases from syndicators. In addition, stations generally pay a network program fee for the right to broadcast network programs. Traditional network programming typically achieves higher audience levels than syndicated programs aired by independent stations.

 

In acquiring syndicated programming to supplement network programming, network affiliates compete with the other stations in their markets. Local cable systems generally do not compete with local stations for programming, but various national cable and satellite networks from time to time have acquired programs that would have otherwise been offered to local television stations.

 

Competition

 

Competition in the television industry takes place on several levels: competition for audience, competition for programming (including news) and competition for advertisers. Additional factors that are material to a television station’s competitive position include signal coverage and assigned frequency.

 

Audience. Stations compete for audience on the basis of program popularity, which has a direct effect on advertising rates. A significant percentage of the daily programming on the Company’s stations is supplied by the network with which each station is affiliated. In those periods, the stations are totally dependent upon the performance of the network programs in attracting viewers. There can be no assurance that such programming will achieve or maintain satisfactory viewership levels in the future. Non-network time periods are programmed by the station with a combination of self-produced news, public affairs and other entertainment programming, including news and syndicated programs purchased for cash, cash and barter or barter only.

 

 

 
7

 

 

Although the commercial television broadcast industry historically has been dominated by the four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX), stations affiliated with other national networks (e.g., The CW, MyNetworkTV and ION Television), independent stations, and other video programming delivery methods, such as cable and satellite systems, are significant competitors for the television audience. In addition, certain cable operators have elected to compete for a share of the market revenue and audience with local cable news channels and regional sports networks.

 

Other sources of competition include home entertainment systems (including DVDs and video game devices), video-on-demand and pay-per-view, portable digital devices and the Internet. In particular, programmers, including networks and other program providers may now distribute programming directly to consumers via the Internet and portable digital devices including smartphones.

 

Further advances in technology may increase competition for household audiences and advertisers. Video compression techniques, applicable to all video delivery systems, reduce the bandwidth required for television signal transmission and have the potential to provide vastly expanded programming to highly targeted audiences. This ability to reach very narrowly defined audiences is expected to alter the competitive dynamics for advertising expenditures. The same compression technology, however, enables local television broadcast stations to broadcast multiple digital channels of local television programming. This technology expands the capacity of local television broadcast stations to provide more programming and potentially develop new sources of revenue. The Company is unable to predict the effect that any of these or other technological changes in which programming may be delivered will have on the broadcast television industry or the future results of the Company’s operations.

 

Programming. Competition for programming involves negotiating with national program distributors or syndicators, which sell first-run and rerun packages of programming. The stations compete against in-market broadcast station competitors for exclusive local access to off-network reruns and first-run products in their respective markets. As noted, cable and satellite systems compete with local stations for programming to a lesser extent, and various national cable and satellite networks from time to time have acquired exclusive rights for programs that would have otherwise been offered to local television stations.

 

Advertising. Advertising rates are based upon the size of the market in which the station operates, the program’s popularity among the viewers that an advertiser wishes to attract, the number of advertisers competing for the available time, the demographic makeup of the market served by the station, the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area, aggressive and knowledgeable sales forces and development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming. Advertising revenue comprises the primary source of revenue for commercial television stations. The Company’s stations compete for such advertising revenue with other television stations in their respective markets, as well as with other advertising media, such as the Internet, cable and satellite systems, newspapers, radio stations, magazines, outdoor advertising, transit advertising, and direct mail serving the same market. Competition for advertising dollars in the broadcasting industry occurs primarily within individual markets. Generally, a television station in the market does not compete with stations in other market areas.

 

 

 
8

 

 

Broadcast Regulation

 

The ownership, operation and sale of television stations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”), which acts under the authority granted by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”). Among other things, the FCC assigns frequency bands for broadcasting; determines the particular frequencies, locations and operating power of stations; issues, renews, revokes and modifies station licenses; regulates equipment used by stations; adopts and implements regulations and policies that directly or indirectly affect the ownership, operation and employment practices of stations; and has the power to impose penalties for violations of the Communications Act and its related rules and regulations.

 

The following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Communications Act and specific FCC regulations and policies. Reference should be made to the Communications Act, FCC rules and the public notices and rulings of the FCC for further information concerning the nature and extent of federal regulation of broadcast stations.

 

License Renewals

 

Continuation of operations requires that the Company retain and, from time to time, renew a variety of governmental approvals. FCC licenses to operate broadcast television stations generally have a term of eight years. Historically, the FCC has renewed the vast majority of broadcast licenses, but there can be no assurance that the Company’s licenses will be renewed at their expiration dates or, if renewed, that the renewal terms will be for the maximum permitted period. The non-renewal or revocation of one or more of the Company’s primary FCC licenses could have a material, adverse effect on its operations.

 

Ownership Matters

 

The Communications Act prohibits the assignment or transfer of control of a broadcast license without the prior approval of the FCC. In determining whether to permit the assignment or transfer of control of, or the grant or renewal of, a broadcast license, the FCC considers a number of factors pertaining to the licensee, including compliance with various rules limiting common ownership of media properties, the “character” of the licensee and its principals and compliance with the Communications Act’s limitations on ownership by non-U.S. citizens, non-U.S. entities or representatives of foreign persons or foreign governments (collectively, “aliens”). In general, aliens may not own or vote an aggregate interest of greater than 25% in an entity that controls a broadcast licensee.

 

FCC rules impose limits on the ownership and cross-ownership of interests in television broadcast stations and certain other media, including:

 

 

the ownership of multiple television stations in the same market;

     
 

the cross-ownership of television stations and radio broadcast stations in the same market;

     
 

the ownership of television stations and daily newspapers of general circulation in the same market; and

     
 

the national ownership of television stations, which precludes a single entity from owning television stations reaching more than 39% of the entire population of the United States.

     

In applying its media ownership limits, the FCC treats persons or entities holding “attributable” interests as station “owners.” Subject to some exceptions, attributable media interests include the following:

 

 

the direct or indirect right to vote 5% or more of the stock of a corporation (or 20% or more of such stock in the case of insurance companies, investment companies and bank trust departments that are passive investors);

 

 

 
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a position as an officer or director;

     
 

a general partnership interest;

     
 

a limited partnership interest that is not “insulated” in accordance with FCC rules;

     
 

a time brokerage agreement for more than 15% of the airtime of another television station in the market;

     
 

a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) for more than 15% of the weekly advertising time of another television station in the market; and

     
 

any combination of debt and equity amounting to more than 33% of the total asset value (debt plus equity) of a media outlet if the holder either is a major program supplier (providing more than 15% of weekly programming) or holds another attributable media interest in the same market.

 

The Communications Act requires the FCC to review its ownership rules every four years to determine whether those rules are necessary in the public interest. On April 15, 2014, the FCC released an order and a notice of proposed rulemaking to close its 2010 Quadrennial Review of its ownership rules and open its 2014 Quadrennial Review. The FCC determined to treat a JSA between two same-market television stations as attributable for purposes of its multiple ownership rules if the agreement applies to more than 15% of the weekly advertising time of the brokered station. The FCC gave broadcasters a two-year grace period to bring existing agreements into compliance with the new rule, a period that Congress subsequently extended so that existing JSAs may continue in effect until December 19, 2016. This rule change affects the Company’s present agreements to sell advertising inventory for independently owned stations in Augusta, GA; Albany, NY; Lansing, MI; Springfield, OH; Youngstown, OH; Dayton, OH and Topeka, KS. In its 2014 Quadrennial Review, the FCC will continue to consider changes to the FCC’s rules regarding broadcast-newspaper cross ownership restrictions and the possible elimination of rules restricting the ownership of radio and TV stations in the same market. The FCC also is considering, among other things, whether to update the definitions of television service contours to take account of digital operations, require television broadcasters to disclose agreements with other broadcasters for shared services and to impose restrictions on these agreements, and regulate network affiliation swaps under the television duopoly rule.

 

In addition to the FCC, the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission also may review matters related to the concentration of media ownership within markets.

 

Carriage of Television Broadcast Signals over Cable and Direct Broadcast Satellite Systems

 

Pursuant to FCC rules, local television stations may elect every three years to either (1) require cable and/or direct broadcast satellite operators to carry the stations’ signals or (2) enter into retransmission consent agreements for carriage. The Company has elected to enter into retransmission agreements with the cable and direct satellite broadcast companies serving its markets. There is no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to agree on acceptable terms for retransmission agreements when existing agreements expire.

 

Effective June 18, 2014, the FCC changed its rules implementing the statutory duty to negotiate retransmission consent agreements in good faith. With this change, a television broadcast station ranked among the top-four stations (as measured by audience share) in its Nielsen DMA is prohibited from negotiating retransmission consent jointly with another top-four station in the same market if the stations are not commonly owned. Under the rule changes, top-four stations may not delegate authority to negotiate or approve a retransmission consent agreement to another non-commonly owned top-four station located in the same DMA or to a third party that negotiates on behalf of another top-four television station in the same DMA; neither may top-four stations facilitate or agree to facilitate coordinated negotiation of retransmission consent terms among multiple top-four stations in the same DMA, including through the sharing of information. Retransmission consent agreements jointly negotiated prior to the effective date of the new rules remain enforceable until expiration of their terms, but contractual provisions related to separately owned top-four stations consulting or jointly negotiating retransmission agreements are no longer enforceable. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any, the new rules may have on future negotiations for retransmission consent agreements.

 

 

 
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The FCC’s syndicated exclusivity rules allow local broadcast television stations to demand that cable operators black out syndicated non-network programming carried on “distant signals” (i.e. signals of broadcast stations, including so-called “superstations,” which serve areas substantially removed from the cable system’s local community). The FCC’s network non-duplication rules allow local network-affiliated broadcast stations to require that cable operators black out duplicate network programming carried on distant signals. In a number of markets in which the Company owns stations affiliated with a network, however, a station that is affiliated with the same network in a nearby market is carried on cable systems in the Company’s markets. The carriage of two network stations on the same cable system could result in a decline of viewership, adversely affecting the revenues of the Company’s stations.

 

By a notice of proposed rulemaking released on December 19, 2014, the FCC has sought comment on a proposed change to its rules to broaden the term “multichannel video programming distributor” (“MVPD”) so that it would include within its scope—and thus within the scope of FCC rules pertaining to MVPDs—certain online video distributors. The FCC has proposed to include those services that make multiple linear streams of video programming available for purchase by subscribers at a prescheduled time, regardless of the technology of the distribution platform (“Linear Programming Interpretation”). The FCC also asked for comment on an alternate interpretation of the MVPD definition that would add to the FCC’s classification entities that make available the transmission paths to the programmer (“Transmission Path Interpretation”). In addition, the FCC has proposed that its retransmission consent rules would apply to online MVPDs. We cannot predict what changes the FCC may adopt in this proceeding or the effect that any such changes may have on the business and operations of the Company.

 

Restrictions on Broadcast Programming

 

As a broadcast licensee, the Company also must comply with a variety of FCC rules regulating its operations such as political broadcasting rules, children’s television rules and limitations on indecent or obscene programming. Violation of these and other FCC rules could subject the Company to significant fines or other sanctions.

 

Advertising of cigarettes and certain other tobacco products on broadcast stations has been banned for many years. Various states also restrict the advertising of alcoholic beverages and, from time to time, certain members of Congress have contemplated legislation to place restrictions on the advertisement of such alcoholic beverages. FCC rules also restrict the amount and type of advertising that can appear in a program broadcast primarily for an audience of children 12 years of age and younger.

 

Under the Communications Act and FCC rules, stations must provide “reasonable access” for the purchase of time by legally qualified candidates for federal office and “equal opportunities” for the purchase of equivalent amounts of comparable broadcast time by opposing candidates for the same elective office and must make favorable rates available to legally qualified candidates during the 45 days preceding a primary or primary run-off election and during the 60 days preceding a general or special election.

 

It is a violation of federal law and FCC regulations to broadcast indecent programming outside of “safe harbor” periods or to broadcast obscene programming at any time. FCC licensees are, in general, responsible for the content of their broadcast programming, including that supplied by television networks. Accordingly, there is a risk of being fined because of the Company’s broadcast programming, including network programming. The maximum forfeiture amount for the broadcast of indecent material is $325,000 for each violation, with a cap of $3 million for any single act.

 

 

 
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Programming and Operations

 

The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the “public interest.” The FCC has relaxed or eliminated many of the more formalized procedures it had developed in the past to promote the broadcast of certain types of programming responsive to the needs of a station’s community of license. FCC licensees continue to be required, however, to present programming responsive to the needs and interests of their communities and to maintain certain records demonstrating that responsiveness. Stations also must pay regulatory and application fees and follow various rules promulgated under the Communications Act that regulate, among other things, political advertising, sponsorship identification, obscene and indecent broadcasts and technical operations, including limits on radio frequency radiation. In addition, television licensees have obligations to create and follow employment outreach programs, provide a minimum amount of programming for children, maintain an online public inspection file and abide by regulations specifying requirements to provide closed captions for its programming.

 

Pending Matters

 

Congress has passed legislation providing the FCC with authority to conduct a so-called “incentive auction” to begin the process of auctioning and repurposing broadcast television spectrum for mobile broadband use. Incentive auction authority allows the FCC to share the proceeds of spectrum auction with incumbent television station licensees that give up their licenses, share spectrum, or, in some cases, move to a different channel to facilitate an auction of their previous channel. The legislation contemplates that the FCC will encourage broadcasters to tender their licenses for auction. The FCC would then “repack” non-tendering UHF broadcasters into the lower portions of the UHF band and auction new “flexible use” wireless licenses in the upper portion of the UHF band. By statute, television stations’ participation in the “incentive auction” is voluntary. On June 2, 2014, the FCC released an order adopting rules to implement the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction, and a number of parties, including the Company, have sought reconsideration of different aspects of the order. Five of the Company’s stations—WFLA-TV, WJTV(TV), WJHL-TV, WNCT-TV, and WBTW(TV)—have pending petitions for rulemaking to change their channels from the VHF to the UHF band. The FCC’s report and order on incentive auction released on June 2, 2014, directed the FCC’s Media Bureau to dismiss pending VHF-to-UHF rule making petitions for which issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking would not be appropriate, to hold in abeyance any remaining petitions, and to process them once the Media Bureau lifts the filing freezes now in place. The Company’s petition for reconsideration of the decision remains pending. The FCC has not yet set a date for the auction, but it is anticipated that auction applications will be due at the earliest in late 2015, with the auction to be scheduled for 2016. There is no assurance, however, that the FCC will meet that schedule.

 

The FCC is considering in its ongoing 2014 Quadrennial Review of its ownership rules whether to require public disclosure of or otherwise restrict shared services, news sharing and other cooperative agreements among television stations. The Company has shared services agreements in the Albuquerque, NM market and in those markets where its stations sell advertising pursuant to joint sales agreements for independently owned stations (Augusta, GA; Albany, NY; Lansing, MI; Springfield, OH; Youngstown, OH; Dayton, OH and Topeka, KS).

 

Congress and the FCC currently have under consideration, and may in the future adopt new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that, directly or indirectly, could affect the operation, ownership and profitability of the Company’s broadcast stations.

 

 

 
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Environmental Regulation

 

The Company’s operations are subject to laws and regulations governing the environment and the health and safety of its workers.  Under certain of these laws and regulations, an owner or operator of a facility can be liable for contamination even if the contamination is the result of activities of third parties.  As a result, it is possible that the Company could have environmental liability with respect to the properties it owns or operates as a result of contamination caused by prior owners or operators or operations at neighboring properties. Although the Company believes it is in compliance with applicable environmental requirements, and it has not incurred significant costs or liabilities in the past, there can be no assurance that its environmental compliance costs or liabilities will not increase in the future or that it will not become subject to new governmental regulations, including those pertaining to climate change, that may impose additional restrictions or costs on the Company.  The Company presently believes that none of its properties has any condition that is likely to have a material, adverse effect on its consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of comprehensive income or consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2014, we employed approximately 5,300 full time employees, approximately 420 of which were represented by labor unions. We believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory.

 

Available Information

 

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Exchange Act. The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including our filings, which we file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We make available free-of-charge through our Internet website (at http://www.mediageneral.com) copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC.

 

We also make available on our website our Principles of Corporate Governance, the charters for our audit committee, compensation committee, and nominating and corporate governance committee and our code of business conduct and ethics. This information is available on our website to any stockholder who is interested in reviewing this information. In addition, we intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of business conduct and ethics that are required to be publicly disclosed pursuant to rules of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

 

 

 
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Item 1A.     Risk Factors

 

 

Risks Related to the Company’s Business

 

The integration of Legacy Media General and Young and of Media General and LIN Media present significant challenges that may reduce the anticipated potential benefits of these mergers.

 

The integration of Legacy Media General and Young and the integration of Media General and LIN present significant challenges that may reduce the anticipated potential benefits of these mergers. The integration of Legacy Media General and Young and the integration of Media General and LIN is complex and time-consuming due to the size and complexity of each organization. The Company faces significant challenges in consolidating functions and integrating organizations, procedures and operations in a timely and efficient manner, as well as retaining key personnel. The principal challenges include the following: 

 

 

integrating information systems and internal controls over accounting and financial reporting;

 

 

integrating Legacy Media General and Young’s and Media General and LIN’s existing businesses;

 

 

preserving significant business relationships;

 

 

consolidating corporate and administrative functions;

 

 

conforming standards, controls, procedures and policies, business cultures and compensation structures between Legacy Media General and Young and Media General and LIN; and

 

 

retaining key employees.

 

The Company’s management is dedicating substantial effort to integrating the businesses of Legacy Media General and Young and Media General and LIN. These efforts could divert management’s focus and resources from the Company’s business, corporate initiatives or strategic opportunities. If the Company is unable to integrate Legacy Media General’s and Young’s and Media General’s and LIN’s organizations, procedures and operations in a timely and efficient manner, the anticipated benefits and cost savings of these mergers may not be realized fully, or may take longer to realize than expected. An inability to realize the full extent of the anticipated benefits of these mergers, as well as any delays encountered in the integration process, could also have an adverse effect upon the Company’s revenues, expenses and operating results.

 

The Company’s future success depends, in part, upon its ability to manage this expanded business, which will pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity. There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits currently anticipated.

 

The Company’s advertising revenue can vary substantially from period to period based on many factors beyond the Company’s control. This volatility may have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

The Company relies on sales of advertising time for most of its revenues and, as a result, its operating results depend on the amount of advertising revenue that it generates. In 2014, approximately 73% of the Company’s gross operating revenues were derived from broadcast advertising. If the Company generates less advertising revenue, it may be more difficult for it to repay its indebtedness and meet its working capital requirements, and the value of the Company’s business may decline. The Company’s ability to sell advertising depends on:

 

 

the levels of automobile advertising, which historically have represented approximately 26% of its gross advertising revenue;

 

 

the health of the economy in the areas where the Company’s television stations are located and in the nation as a whole;

 

 

 
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the popularity of the Company’s programming and that of its competition;

 

 

the activities of the Company’s competitors, including competitors that offer other forms of advertising-based mediums, such as other broadcast television stations, radio stations, MVPDs, Internet and broadband content providers, transit advertising, direct mail, local cable systems and other print and media outlets serving in the same markets;

 

 

the levels of political advertising, which are affected by campaign finance laws, and the ability of political candidates and political action committees to raise and spend funds, and are subject to seasonal fluctuations;

 

 

the levels of advertising from the Olympic Games;

 

 

changes in the makeup of the population in the areas where the Company’s stations are located; and

 

 

other factors that may be beyond the Company’s control.

 

In addition, a high percentage of the Company’s operating expenses are fixed, and a small decrease in advertising revenue could significantly impact its financial results. There can be no assurance that the Company’s advertising revenue will not be volatile in the future, and such volatility may have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

The Companys substantial indebtedness could impair its financial condition and its ability to fulfill its debt obligations.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had total long-term debt of approximately $2.4 billion, with $146.6 million of unused commitments under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility after giving effect to $3.4 million of outstanding (but undrawn) letters of credit. This indebtedness could:

 

 

make it more difficult for the Company to satisfy its debt obligations which could in turn result in an event of default on its indebtedness;

 

 

impair the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

 

require a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flows to be dedicated to make debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

 

expose the Company to the risk of increased rates as certain of its borrowings, including borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, are at variable rates of interest;

 

 

diminish the Company’s ability to withstand a downturn in its business, the industry in which it operates or the economy generally;

 

 

limit flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the Company’s business and the industry in which it operates; and

 

 

place the Company at a competitive disadvantage compared to certain competitors that may have lower leverage.

 

 

 
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In addition, the Indentures governing LIN Television’s 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) and LIN Television’s 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) and the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain restrictive covenants that limit the ability of the Company (in the case of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities) and LIN Television and its subsidiaries to engage in activities that may be in the Company’s long-term best interest. Failure to comply with those covenants could result in the acceleration of all of the Company’s debt.

 

Despite the Company’s level of indebtedness, the Company may still be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, which could increase the risks described above.

 

The Company may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indentures governing the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes limit, but do not prohibit, the Company or LIN Television and its subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness. In addition, as of December 31, 2014, the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility provided for unused commitments of $146.6 million (after giving effect to $3.4 million of outstanding (but undrawn) letters of credit). If the Company incurs additional indebtedness, the risks described in this report relating to having substantial debt could intensify.

 

The Company will require a significant amount of cash to service its indebtedness. This cash may not be readily available to the Company.

 

The Company’s ability to make payments on, or repay or refinance, its indebtedness and fund its ongoing operations and planned capital expenditures will depend largely upon the Company’s financial condition and operating performance. The Company’s and its subsidiaries’ future performance, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond its control. The Company cannot be certain that sufficient cash flow from operations will be generated or that future sources of capital will be available in amounts sufficient to enable the Company to pay the principal, premium, if any, interest on, and fees related to its indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs.

 

If the Company’s cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund its debt service obligations, the Company could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance its indebtedness. The Company may not be able to effect any such alternative measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, those alternative actions may not be sufficient to allow the Company to meet its scheduled debt service obligations. The Company’s ability to restructure or refinance its indebtedness will depend on the condition of the capital markets and the Company’s financial condition at that time. Any refinancing of the Company’s indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require the Company to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict its business operations. The credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indentures governing the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes restrict the ability of the Company (in the case of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities) and LIN Television and its subsidiaries to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from those dispositions and may also restrict the ability of the Company and LIN Television and its subsidiaries to raise debt or equity capital to be used to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due. The Company may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due. The Company’s inability to generate sufficient cash flows to satisfy its debt obligations, or to refinance its indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would materially adversely affect its financial position and results of operations and may restrict the Company’s current and future operations.

 

If the Company cannot make scheduled payments on its debt, it will be in default and holders of the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable, the lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities could terminate their commitments to loan money and declare all outstanding principal, interest and other amounts owing to be due and payable, require that certain obligations be cash collateralized and foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings and the Company could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

 

 

 
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Covenants in the Company’s debt agreements restrict our business in many ways.

 

The Indentures governing the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes and the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on the Company (in the case of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities) and LIN Television and its subsidiaries and may limit the Company’s ability to engage in acts that may be in the Company’s long-term best interest, including restrictions on the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things:

 

 

incur or assume liens or additional debt or guarantee debt or other obligations;

 

 

issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities;

 

 

pay dividends or distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock;

 

 

prepay, redeem or repurchase debt;

 

 

make loans, investments and capital expenditures;

 

 

enter into agreements that restrict distributions from the Company’s subsidiaries;

 

 

sell assets and capital stock of the Company’s subsidiaries;

 

 

enter into certain transactions with affiliates; and

 

 

consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of the Company’s assets to, another person.

 

A breach of any of the covenants or restrictions under the Indentures governing the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes and the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities could result in a default under the applicable indebtedness and could cross default to other indebtedness. Such a default may allow the creditors to accelerate the related debt and may result in the acceleration of any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit under those facilities. If the Company were unable to repay the amounts due and payable under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the lenders thereunder could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. The Company has pledged a significant portion of its assets as collateral under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. If the lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities or note holders under indentures accelerate the repayment of the Company’s borrowings, the Company may not have sufficient liquidity to repay its indebtedness and could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.  

 

As a result of these restrictions, the Company may be:

 

 

limited in how it conducts its business;

 

 

unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to operate during general economic or business downturns; or

 

 

unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities.

 

 

 
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These restrictions may affect the Company’s ability to grow in accordance with its strategy. In addition, the Company’s financial results, substantial indebtedness and credit ratings could materially adversely affect the availability and terms of its financing.

 

Financial and economic conditions may have an adverse impact on the Company’s industry, business, financial condition and/or results of operations.

 

Financial and economic conditions could have an adverse effect on the fundamentals of the Company’s business, financial condition and/or results of operations. Poor economic and industry conditions could have a negative impact on the Company’s industry or the industry of those customers who advertise on the Company’s stations, including, among others, the automotive industry and service businesses, each of which is a significant source of its advertising revenue. Additionally, financial institutions, capital providers or other consumers may be adversely affected. Potential consequences of any financial and economic decline include:

 

 

the financial condition of those companies that advertise on the Company’s stations may be adversely affected, causing them to spend less on advertising, which could result in a significant decline in its advertising revenue;

 

 

the Company’s ability to pursue acquisitions or divestitures of certain television and non-television assets at attractive values may be limited;

 

 

the possibility that the Company’s business partners could be negatively impacted and the Company’s ability to maintain these business relationships could also be impaired;

 

 

the Company’s ability to refinance its existing debt on terms and at interest rates it finds attractive, if at all, may be impaired; and

 

 

the Company’s ability to make certain capital expenditures may be significantly impaired.

 

If the Company is unable to secure or maintain carriage of its television stations’ signals over cable, telecommunication video and/or direct broadcast satellite systems, the Company’s television stations may not be able to compete effectively.

 

Pursuant to FCC rules, local television stations may elect every three years to either: (1) require cable and/or direct broadcast satellite operators to carry the stations’ signals or (2) enter into retransmission consent agreements for carriage. Failure to reach timely retransmission consent agreements with the relevant operators may harm the Company’s business. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to agree on acceptable terms, which could lead to a reduction in its revenue from cable and satellite retransmission consent agreements. If the Company is unable to reach retransmission consent agreements with cable companies, satellite providers and telecommunication providers for the carriage of its stations’ signals, the Company could lose revenues and audience share. The Company renegotiates retransmission agreements with cable and satellite providers as current contracts expire, and the Company may not be able to negotiate future agreements on terms comparable to or more favorable than its current agreements. This may cause revenues and revenue growth from its retransmission consent agreements to decrease under the renegotiated terms.

 

 

 
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Effective June 18, 2014, the FCC changed its rules implementing the statutory duty to negotiate retransmission consent agreements in good faith. With this change, a television broadcast station ranked among the top-four stations (as measured by audience share) in its Nielsen DMA is prohibited from negotiating retransmission consent jointly with another top-four station in the same market if the stations are not commonly owned. Under the rule changes, top-four stations may not delegate authority to negotiate or approve a retransmission consent agreement to another non-commonly owned top-four station located in the same DMA or to a third party that negotiates on behalf of another top-four television station in the same DMA; neither may top-four stations facilitate or agree to facilitate coordinated negotiation of retransmission consent terms among multiple top-four stations in the same DMA, including through the sharing of information. Retransmission consent agreements jointly negotiated prior to the effective date of the new rules remain enforceable until expiration of their terms, but contractual provisions related to separately owned top-four stations consulting or jointly negotiating retransmission agreements are no longer enforceable. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any, the new rules may have on future negotiations for retransmission consent agreements.

 

As a television broadcaster, the Company is highly regulated, and continuation of its operations requires that it retain or renew a variety of government approvals and comply with changing federal regulations.

 

The FCC extensively regulates the ownership, operation and sale of broadcast television stations, including those licensed to the Company. The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the public interest. Among other things, the FCC assigns frequency bands; determines stations’ locations and operating parameters; issues, renews, revokes and modifies station licenses; regulates and limits changes in ownership or control of station licenses; regulates equipment used by stations; regulates station employment practices; regulates certain program content and commercial matters in children’s programming; has the authority to impose penalties for violations of its rules or the Communications Act; and imposes annual fees on stations. Reference should be made to the Communications Act, as well as to the FCC’s rules, public notices and rulings for further information concerning the nature and extent of federal regulation of broadcast television stations.

 

Congress and the FCC have under consideration, and in the future may adopt, new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could affect, directly or indirectly, the operation, ownership transferability and profitability of the Company’s television stations and affect the ability of the Company to acquire additional stations. In addition to the matters noted above, these may include, for example, spectrum use fees; reallocation of portions of the television broadcast spectrum to other uses or reductions in the amount of spectrum allotted to television stations; further restrictions on the ability of same-market television stations to engage in shared services, joint sales or other cooperative arrangements to reduce operating costs; political advertising rates; potential restrictions on the advertising of certain products (such as alcoholic beverages); program content; increased fines for rule violations; closed captioning requirements and ownership rule changes.

 

Under an order that the FCC released on April 15, 2014, a television broadcaster that agrees to sell more than 15% of the weekly advertising inventory on another television station in the same market will be deemed to have an attributable ownership interest in that station. The change effectively bans JSAs involving ad sales in excess of 15% of the weekly advertising inventory on another television station in the same market unless the brokering station could own the brokered station under the FCC’s duopoly limitations or obtains a waiver of the rule. Stations with JSAs that would put them in violation of the new rules have until December 19, 2016, to amend or terminate those arrangements or to obtain waivers. Although the FCC will consider waivers of the new JSA attribution rule, the FCC thus far has provided little guidance on what factors must be present for grant of a waiver. These proposed changes will affect Media General’s present agreements to sell advertising inventory for independently owned stations in Augusta, GA; Albany, NY; Lansing, MI; Springfield, OH; Youngstown, OH; and Topeka, KS. The FCC is considering in its ongoing quadrennial review of its ownership rules, and in a separate rulemaking proceeding, whether to require disclosure of or otherwise restrict shared services, news sharing and other cooperative agreements among stations. The Company has shared services agreements in the Albuquerque, NM market and in those markets where its stations sell advertising for independently owned stations (Augusta, GA; Albany, NY; Lansing, MI; Springfield, OH; Youngstown, OH; and Topeka, KS).

 

In addition, uncertainty about media ownership regulations and adverse economic conditions has dampened the acquisition market from time to time, and changes in the regulatory approval process may make it materially more expensive, or may materially delay, the Company’s ability to consummate further acquisitions.

 

The Company requires licenses from the FCC for its operations, and a rejection or reconsideration of license renewals by the FCC could have a material, adverse effect on the Company’s business. Typically, the FCC begins processing renewal applications over the last month of the renewal term; however, for broadcasters to obtain license renewals (a necessary prerequisite to FCC consent for certain transactions), the FCC has required licensees to enter into tolling agreements extending the time that the FCC may prosecute indecency and other alleged violations beyond the date of the license renewals. The Company has entered into tolling agreements with the FCC, including tolling agreements in connection with the Company’s obtaining FCC consent for the merger with Young, consummated in 2013. The Company filed all of its pending applications for renewal in a timely manner prior to the applicable expiration dates and expects applications that remain pending to be approved as the FCC works through its backlog. In these circumstances, the Communications Act provides that the Company may continue to operate under its broadcast licenses pending final action on any pending renewal applications. Historically, the FCC renews the vast majority of broadcast licenses, but there can be no assurance that the Company’s licenses will be renewed at their expiration dates or, if renewed, that the renewal terms will be for the maximum permitted period. The non-renewal or revocation of one or more of the Company’s primary licenses could have an adverse effect on its operations.

 

 

 
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The FCC is considering possible mechanisms for spectrum reallocation that could affect the spectrum for the Company’s stations and adversely impact the Company’s ability to compete.

 

The FCC is authorized to conduct a “reverse auction” at which television broadcast licensees could submit bids to receive compensation for relinquishing all or a portion of their rights in the television spectrum of their full-service and Class A stations. A licensee could bid to relinquish its channel entirely, relocate to a different channel band (UHF to VHF), or relinquish its channel and share a different channel with another broadcaster. Broadcasters choosing to share a channel would retain must-carry rights on cable systems. Under the law, the FCC may hold only one reverse auction. Concurrently with the reverse auction or after its completion, the FCC would conduct a forward auction of the newly freed spectrum. The FCC must complete both auction by 2022.

 

Even if a television licensee does not participate in the reverse auction, the FCC nevertheless may require that it relocate its station to another channel or make technical changes to facilitate repacking the band. The FCC will have a $1.75 billion fund to compensate broadcasters and cable systems for the reasonable costs of repacking. The legislation limits the ability of broadcasters to challenge FCC repacking decisions by denying a licensee the right to a hearing before the FCC modifies its license, a right that the Communications Act otherwise would provide. On June 2, 2014, the FCC released an order adopting rules to implement the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction to clear a portion of the television band for mobile broadband use. The FCC has not yet set a date for the auction, but it is anticipated that auction applications will be due at the earliest in late 2015, with the auction to be scheduled for 2016. There is no assurance however, that the FCC will meet this schedule. Changes in FCC and Administration policies and Congressional action could affect this schedule and the ultimate shape of the auction in ways that cannot now be predicted.

 

The Company further cannot predict the form of any final rules that the FCC may adopt for television spectrum reallocation or whether the rules ultimately adopted would have any adverse effect upon the Company’s ability to compete. Additionally, the Company cannot predict whether the FCC or the Congress might adopt even more stringent requirements or incentives to abandon current spectrum if the initiatives now being reviewed are adopted and implemented but do not have the desired result of freeing what the agency deems to be sufficient spectrum for wireless broadband use.

 

Changes in FCC ownership rules through FCC action, judicial review or federal legislation may limit the Company’s ability to continue providing services to stations under sharing arrangements (such as LMAs, JSAs, SSAs and other similar agreements), may require the Company to amend or terminate certain agreements and/or may preclude the Company from obtaining the full economic value of one or more of its station combinations in a DMA upon a sale, merger or other similar transaction transferring ownership of such station or stations.

 

FCC ownership rules currently impose significant limitations on the ability of a person or entity to have attributable interests in multiple media properties. Federal law prohibits any person or entity from having an attributable interest in broadcast television stations located in markets which collectively include more than 39% of national television households. The FCC is currently considering elimination of the 50% household discount given to owners of UHF stations in determining compliance with this national cap. While the Company has significant room for additional station acquisitions even if the UHF discount is eliminated, the proposed change, if adopted, could ultimately limit the company’s ability to acquire television stations in additional markets. While this rulemaking is pending, the FCC has indicated it will not grant applications that would put the applicant above the 39% cap without application of the UHF discount.

 

 

 
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Ownership restrictions under FCC rules also include a variety of local limits on media ownership. The restrictions include an ownership limit of one television station in most medium and smaller television markets and two stations in most larger markets, known as the television duopoly rule. The regulations also include limits on the common ownership of a newspaper and television station in the same market (newspaper-television cross-ownership), and limits on common ownership of radio and television stations in the same market (radio-television station ownership).

 

If the FCC should loosen its media ownership rules, attractive opportunities may arise for additional television station and other media acquisitions, but these changes also would create additional competition for the Company from other entities, such as national broadcast networks, other large station groups, and newspaper chains, which may be better positioned to take advantage of such changes and benefit from the resulting operating synergies both nationally and in specific markets.

 

On March 12, 2014, the FCC issued a public notice with respect to the processing of broadcast television applications proposing sharing arrangements and contingent interests. The public notice indicated that the FCC will closely scrutinize any application that proposes that two or more stations in the same market that are not commonly owned (i) enter into an agreement to share facilities, employees and/or services or to jointly acquire programming or sell advertising including through joint sales agreements, shared services agreements, or similar agreements, and (ii) enter into an option, right of first refusal, put/call arrangement or other similar contingent interest, or a loan guarantee. The Company cannot now predict what actions the FCC may require in connection with the processing of applications for FCC consent to acquire or divest stations. However, among other things, this may limit the Company’s ability to enter into contractual relationships with third-party licensees.

 

Under an FCC rule that became effective on June 19, 2014, a television licensee that agrees to sell more than 15% of the weekly advertising inventory of another television station in the same DMA will be deemed to have an attributable ownership interest in that station. The change will effectively ban joint sales agreements involving ad sales in excess of 15% between two stations in the same market unless the station selling the advertising time could own the other station under the FCC’s duopoly limitations or can obtain a waiver of the rule. Stations with joint sales agreements that would put them in violation of the FCC’s new ownership limits will have until December 19, 2016, to amend or terminate those arrangements or to obtain waivers of the new rule. Although the FCC will consider waivers of the new joint sales agreement attribution rule, the FCC thus far has provided little guidance on what factors must be present for a waiver to be granted. Absent further developments of the grant of waivers, these changes will affect the Company’s present agreements to sell advertising inventory for independently owned stations in Augusta, GA, Albany, NY, Lansing, MI, Dayton, OH, Youngstown, OH and Topeka, KS, and will restrict its ability to enter such agreements in the future.

 

Concurrent with its adoption of the rule on TV joint sales agreements, the FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in which it initiated its statutorily-required Quadrennial Review of its ownership rules. The rulemaking proposes, among other things, (i) eliminating the newspaper/radio cross ownership rule and the radio/television cross ownership rule, (ii) retaining the newspaper/television cross ownership rule but allowing for waivers on a case by case basis, (iii) retaining the local television rules, and (iv) prohibiting two television stations in the same market from swapping network affiliations if it would result in a single owner having two top-four network affiliations in a market where it could not otherwise own both affiliation-swapping stations. The proposed rulemaking also seeks comment on how to define a television shared services agreement and whether television stations should be required to disclose shared services agreements and how best to achieve disclosure. In addition, the FCC proposed to adopt the overlap of digital noise-limited service contours as the trigger for applying the local television ownership rules to commonly owned television stations in the same market and to grandfather existing ownership combinations that would exceed ownership limits under the revised approach.

 

 

 
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The Company’s operating results are dependent in part on the success of programming aired by the Company’s television stations, which depends in part upon factors beyond the Company’s control.

 

The Company’s advertising revenues depend in part on the success of the Company’s local, network and syndicated programming. The Company makes significant commitments to acquire rights to television programs under multi-year agreements. Whether these programs succeed depends upon unpredictable factors such as audience preferences, competing programming and the availability of other entertainment activities. If a particular program is not popular, it may not be possible to sell enough advertising to cover the program’s cost. In some instances, the Company may have to replace or cancel programs before fully amortizing their costs and, as a result, may have impairments that increase operating costs.

 

In addition, FCC rules affect the network-affiliate relationship. Among other things, these rules require network affiliation agreements to: (i) prohibit networks from requiring affiliates to clear time previously scheduled for other use, (ii) permit an affiliate to preempt network programs it believes are unsuitable for its audience and (iii) permit affiliates to substitute programs believed to be of greater local or national importance than network programming. In 2008, the FCC resolved a petition to review certain of these rules by clarifying its limitations on the extent to which the networks can exert control over the operations of their affiliates.

 

In recent years, the national broadcast networks have streamed their programming on the Internet and other distribution platforms in close proximity to network programming broadcast on local television stations, including those that the Company owns. These and other practices by the networks dilute the exclusivity and value of network programming originally broadcast by the local stations and could adversely affect the business, financial conditions, and results of operations of the Company’s stations.

 

The non-renewal or termination of a network affiliation agreement or a change in network affiliations could have a material, adverse effect on the Company. The Company periodically renegotiates its major network affiliation agreements. There can be no assurance as to whether the Company’s affiliation agreements will be renewed or as to what effect, if any, these renewals may have on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

If any of the Company’s stations cease to maintain affiliation agreements with networks for any reason, the Company would need to find alternative sources of programming, which may be less attractive and more expensive. A change in network affiliation in a given television market may have many short- and long-term consequences, depending upon the circumstances surrounding the change. Potential short-term consequences include: (a) increased marketing costs and increased internal operating costs, which can vary widely depending on the amount of marketing required to educate the audience regarding the change and to maintain the station’s viewing audience; (b) short-term loss of market share or slower market growth due to advertiser uncertainty about the switch; (c) costs of building a new or larger news operation; (d) other increases in station programming costs, if necessary; and (e) the cost of equipment needed to conform the station’s programming, equipment and logos to the new network affiliation. Long-term consequences are more difficult to assess, due to the cyclical nature of each of the major networks’ share of the audiences that changes from year-to-year with programs coming to the end of their production cycle, audience acceptance of new programs in the future, and the fact that national network audience ratings do not necessarily indicate how a network’s programming may fare in a particular market. The circumstances that may surround a network affiliation switch cause uncertainty as to the actual costs that will be incurred by the Company, and if these costs are significant, the switch could have a material, adverse impact on the income the Company derives from the affected station.

 

 

 
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In addition, syndication agreements are licenses to broadcast programs that are produced by production companies. Such programming can form a significant component of a station’s programming schedule. Syndication agreements are subject to cancellation, which may affect a station’s programming schedule, and the Company cannot be certain that it will continue to be able to acquire rights to syndicated programs once its current contracts for these programs end.

 

The consummation and integration of acquisitions pose various risks and uncertainties.

 

The Company has pursued and intends to selectively continue to pursue strategic acquisitions, subject to market conditions, the Company’s liquidity, and the availability of attractive acquisition candidates. The Company may not be successful in identifying attractive acquisition targets or have the financial capacity to complete future acquisitions. Acquisitions involve inherent risks, such as increasing leverage, debt service requirements, future performance-based purchase obligations and combining company cultures and facilities, and the Company may not be able to successfully integrate acquired entities, which could have a material adverse effect on its operating results, particularly during the period immediately following any acquisition. The Company may not be able to generate cost savings or increase revenues as a result of any acquisition. In addition, future acquisitions may result in the Company’s assumption of unexpected liabilities and may result in the diversion of management’s attention from the operation of the Company’s core business.

 

Certain acquisitions, such as acquisitions of television stations, are subject to the approval of the FCC and, potentially, other regulatory authorities. The need for FCC and other regulatory approvals could restrict the Company’s ability to consummate future transactions and potentially require us to divest some television stations.

 

The Company may not achieve all of the synergies and cost savings that it expects to obtain from its acquisitions.

 

In connection with the Young Merger, LIN Merger and other acquisitions, the Company has disclosed, and may from time to time disclose or announce, potential synergies and cost savings that may be obtained in the future as a result of the acquisitions, including measures of revenue and profitability that give effect to potential synergies. The Company’s determination of potential synergies and cost savings (and such measures of revenue and profitability) was based upon various assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions, some of which will change. The Company cannot guarantee that it will necessarily generate all of the anticipated synergies from acquisitions, and the actual amount of synergies and cost savings it successfully obtains could be significantly lower than the amounts expected. In addition, the Company’s ability to generate synergies will be subject to governmental actions and policies which are outside of its control. All disclosures regarding anticipated synergies and cost savings (and any related measures of revenue and profitability) are forward-looking statements which should be reviewed together with the “Risk Factors” included in this report.

 

The Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans are currently underfunded. A declining stock market and lower interest rates could affect the value of its retirement plan assets and increase the Company’s postretirement obligations.

 

The Company has qualified defined benefit retirement plans covering substantially all Legacy Media General employees hired before January 1, 2007 and the IBEW Local 45 employees of KRON-TV. The Company also acquired LIN Media’s defined benefit plans in the LIN Merger. As of December 31, 2014, these qualified retirement plans were underfunded by approximately $184.2 million after considering 2014 contributions. The qualified retirement plans had $437.6 million in total net assets available to pay benefits to participants enrolled in the Plans as of December 31, 2014. The Company made contributions of $45 million in January of 2014 to the Legacy Media General plan to reduce the funding gap. In the second half of 2014, the Company offered terminated vested participants of the Legacy Media General Retirement Plan an opportunity to receive a lump-sum payout in settlement of their retirement plan liability. Approximately half of the roughly 1,800 participants elected to do so, resulting in $70.6 million in payouts from plan assets to settle approximately $94 million in liability.

 

 

 
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The Company also has non-contributory unfunded supplemental executive retirement and ERISA excess plans, both of which were amended and restated effective January 1, 2008, and both of which supplement the coverage available to certain Legacy Media General executives. There is also an unfunded plan that provides certain health and life insurance benefits to retired Legacy Media General employees who were hired prior to 1992 and a retirement medical savings account established as of January 1, 2007. Although the Company has frozen participation and benefits under all plans discussed in this section in either 2005 or 2009, two significant elements in determining the Company’s pension expense are the expected return on plan assets and the discount rate used in projecting obligations. Large declines in the stock market (such as those seen in 2008) and lower discount rates (such as those seen in 2014) increase the Company’s expense and may necessitate higher cash contributions to the qualified retirement plans.

 

The Company’s ability to use the net operating loss carryforwards of Legacy Media General, Young and LIN Television to offset future taxable income currently is subject to limitation under Section 382 of the Code. Future transactions involving the Company and/or its shareholders could further limit the Company’s ability to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

In general, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (which we refer to as the “Internal Revenue Code”), a corporation that undergoes an ownership change is subject to limitation on its ability to utilize its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards (which we refer to as “NOL carryforwards”) to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, an ownership change occurs if the aggregate stock ownership of certain shareholders increases by more than 50 percentage points over such shareholders’ lowest percentage ownership during the testing period (generally three years). An ownership change can result from, among other things, an offering of stock, the purchase or sale of stock by certain shareholders, or the issuance or exercise of rights to acquire stock.

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, as of December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $635 million of NOL carryforwards attributable to Old Media General, Legacy Media General, Young and LIN Television. The Company’s ability to use the NOL carryforwards of Legacy Media General, Young and LIN Television to offset future taxable income currently is subject to limitation under Section 382 of the Code. Future transactions involving the Company and/or its shareholders could further limit the Company’s ability to use NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 382 limitations may impact the timing of when cash is used to pay the Company’s taxes and could cause some portion of the Company’s NOL carryforwards to expire unused, in each case, reducing or eliminating the benefit of such NOL carryforwards. Similar rules and limitations may apply for state income tax purposes.

 

The July 2013 restructuring of LIN TV into a limited liability company enabled LIN TV to significantly reduce its 2013 tax liability. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will not challenge the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the restructuring.

 

In July 2013, LIN TV restructured by converting its form of organization from a corporation into a limited liability company, enabling it to significantly reduce its 2013 tax liability by allowing it to offset a tax loss recognized as a result of the restructuring against tax gains recognized in 2013. The July 2013 restructuring was effected by a merger of LIN TV with and into LIN. Because LIN TV’s sole asset at the time of its merger with and into LIN was its 100% equity interest in LIN Television, LIN TV Corp. computed its gain or loss from the merger based on the trading price of the LIN TV class A common stock on the date of the merger. LIN TV’s tax basis in its shares of LIN Television exceeded the fair market value of such shares at the time of the merger.

 

 

 
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The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the July 2013 restructuring depended, in part, on LIN being treated as a partnership, and not as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. An entity that would otherwise be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes may nonetheless be taxable as a corporation if it is a “publicly traded partnership,” unless an exception applies. An entity that would otherwise be classified as a partnership is a publicly traded partnership if (1) interests in the partnership are traded on an established securities market or (2) interests in the partnership are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. An exception to taxation of a publicly traded partnership as a corporation, referred to as the “qualifying income exception,” is satisfied if at least 90% of the partnership’s gross income for every taxable year consists of “qualifying income” and the partnership is not required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940. LIN reported qualifying income sufficient to satisfy the qualifying income exception for all relevant periods.

 

No rulings were requested from the IRS with respect to the tax consequences of the July 2013 restructuring. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not assert, or that a court will not sustain, a position contrary to any of the intended tax consequences of the restructuring, including the amount of any tax loss recognized as a result of the restructuring. 

 

Impairment of the value of the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets is possible, depending on future operating results and the value of its stock.

 

The Company periodically evaluates its goodwill and other intangible assets (primarily broadcast licenses, network affiliations, digital media assets and advertiser relationships) to determine if their carrying values are recoverable. Factors which influence the evaluation include expected future operating results (including assumptions around revenue growth, compensation levels, capital expenditures and discount rates), the Company’s stock price and the market for buying/selling media assets. If the carrying value is no longer deemed to be recoverable, a charge to earnings may be necessary. Although those charges are non-cash in nature and do not affect the Company’s operations, they could affect future reported results of operations and reduce the Company’s shareholders’ equity.

 

Cybersecurity risks could affect the Company’s operating effectiveness.

 

The Company uses computers in substantially all aspects of its business operations. Its revenues are increasingly dependent on digital products. Such use exposes the Company to potential cyber incidents resulting from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. These incidents can include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. The results of these incidents could include, but are not limited to, business interruption, disclosure of nonpublic information, decreased advertising revenues, misstated financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection costs, litigation and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence. The Company has systems and processes in place to protect against risks associated with cyber incidents, and it maintains insurance coverage to mitigate cyber-related risks; however, depending on the nature of an incident, these protections may not be fully sufficient.

 

The Company may be unable to sufficiently reduce operating costs to offset potential revenue declines.

 

The Company previously has taken measures to manage its operating costs by reducing headcount, freezing or limiting certain employee benefits and implementing other cost-control measures across the Company. If further reductions in employee compensation and benefits are necessary, the Company may not be able to attract and retain key employees. Furthermore, significant portions of the Company’s expenses are fixed in nature and may not be reduced easily if revenue declines occur, which could adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

 

 

 
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The Company operates in a very competitive business environment.

 

The television industry is highly competitive, and this competition can draw viewers and advertisers from the Company’s stations. Cable providers, direct broadcast satellite companies and telecommunication companies are developing new technologies that allow them to transmit more channels on their existing equipment to highly targeted audiences, reducing the cost of creating channels and potentially leading to the division of the television industry into ever more specialized niche markets. Competitors who target programming to such sharply defined markets may gain an advantage in garnering television advertising revenues. In addition, technological advancements and the resulting increase in programming alternatives, such as pay-per-view, home video and entertainment systems, video-on-demand, mobile video and the Internet, have created new types of competition to television broadcast stations and will increase competition for household audiences and advertisers. Technologies that allow viewers to digitally record, store and play back television programming may decrease viewership of commercials as recorded by media measurement services and, as a result, may lower the Company’s advertising revenues. In addition, since digital television technology allows broadcasting of multiple channels within the additional allocated spectrum, this technology could expose the Company to additional competition from programming alternatives. The Company cannot provide any assurances that it will remain competitive in light of these developing technologies.

 

The Company faces competition from:

 

 

other local free over-the-air broadcast television and radio stations;

 

 

telecommunication companies;

 

 

cable and satellite system operators;

 

 

Internet search engines, Internet service providers and websites; and new technologies including mobile television; and

 

 

other sources of news, information and entertainment such as newspapers, movie theaters, live sporting events and home video products, including digital video disc players.

 

The Company’s ability to adapt to changes in technology in a timely manner may affect its business prospects and results of operations.

 

The Company’s television stations are located in highly competitive markets. Accordingly, the results of the Company’s operations will be dependent upon the ability of each station to compete successfully in its market, and there can be no assurance that any of the Company’s stations will be able to maintain or increase its current audience share or revenue share. To the extent that certain of the Company’s competitors have or may, in the future, obtain greater resources, the Company’s ability to compete successfully in its broadcasting markets may be impeded.

 

Furthermore, Internet programming services such as Aereo and FilmOnX sought to offer Internet-based program services in an attempt to retransmit existing broadcast stations without negotiating for carriage with the broadcaster or payment of any copyright or carriage fee. Despite a victory for broadcasters against Aereo before the U.S. Supreme Court, which has for now shut down Aereo’s service, Aereo and similar companies may continue to attempt to develop technologies that retransmit or otherwise distribute content in a way that bypasses copyright or carriage fees. Even if broadcasters continue to bring successful litigation against these companies, there is no guarantee that they will be prevented from circumventing copyright or carriage fees in the future or detracting from the Company’s viewership and advertising revenues. The Company’s ability to adapt to changes in technology in a timely manner may affect its business prospects and results of operations.

 

 

 
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The Company may experience disruptions in its business due to natural disasters, terrorism or similar events.

 

If natural disasters, acts of terrorism, political turmoil, or hostilities occur, one or more of the Company’s broadcast stations could experience a loss of technical facilities for an unknown period of time and would, in addition, lose advertising revenues during such time period. In addition, if natural disasters, acts of terrorism, political turmoil or hostilities occur, even if the Company does not experience a loss of technical facilities, the Company’s broadcast operations may switch to continual news coverage, which would cause the loss of advertising revenues due to the suspension of advertiser-supported commercial programming.

 

The Company could be adversely affected by labor disputes and legislation and other union activity.

 

The cost of producing and distributing entertainment programming has increased substantially in recent years due to, among other things, the increasing demands of creative talent and industry-wide collective bargaining agreements. The Company’s program suppliers engage the services of writers, directors, actors and on-air and other talent, trade employees and others, some of whom are subject to these collective bargaining agreements. Also, as of December 31, 2014, approximately 420 of our employees are represented by labor unions under collective localized bargaining agreements with 3 different unions: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians.

 

Failure to renew these agreements, higher costs in connection with these agreements or a significant labor dispute, including strikes or work stoppages, could adversely affect the Company’s business by causing, among other things, delays in production that lead to declining viewership, a significant disruption of operations and reductions in the profit margins of the Company’s programming and the amounts the Company can charge advertisers for time. The Company’s stations also broadcast certain professional sporting events, including NBA basketball games, MLB baseball games, NFL football games and other sporting events, and the Company’s viewership may be adversely affected by player strikes or lockouts, which could adversely affect the Company’s advertising revenues and results of operations. Any changes in the existing labor laws may increase these risks.

 

The Company has made significant investments in digital business.

 

As a result of the LIN merger, the Company has an increased investment in emerging digital businesses that will have a greater impact on future operating results. Due to the intense competition, limited operating history, and rapidly evolving nature of these digital businesses, the actual future operating results of the digital businesses could be volatile and negatively impact the year-to-year operating trends of the Company.

 

 

Risks Related to the Ownership of Media General Common Stock

 

Certain institutional investors own a significant percentage of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding common stock. This may allow such investors, individually or as a group, to exercise influence over the Company.

 

Standard General controls approximately 20.6%, and investors affiliated with the Hicks Muse Fund may be deemed to control approximately 8.9%, of the voting power of all of the Company’s outstanding common stock. This percentage may be increased to the extent any stockholders convert their voting common stock to non-voting common stock in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. In addition, a representative of each of Standard General and the Hicks Muse Fund is a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. As a result, such investors, individually or in the aggregate, may have influence over the management of the Company. In addition, such substantial share ownership may delay or prevent a change in control of the Company. Their interest of institutional investors may not be consistent with the interests of the Company’s other shareholders.

 

 

 
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Provisions of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-laws and applicable state corporation laws could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest difficult and could deprive stockholders of the opportunity to obtain a takeover premium for shares of the common stock owned by them.

 

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-laws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in the management of the Company without the consent of the Board of Directors, which could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest difficult. These provisions include: (i) the ability of the Board of Directors to determine whether to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used, to the extent consistent with its legal duties, to issue a series of stock to persons friendly to management in order to attempt to block an acquisition action by a hostile acquirer or to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer, (ii) the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or the president, which may delay the ability of stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action and (iii) advance notice procedures with which stockholders must comply in order to nominate candidates to the Board of Directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect such acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company. Under the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (“VSCA”) and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, stockholders will be prohibited from taking action by written consent unless the consent is unanimous, which makes action by written consent difficult to obtain and forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting. These provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of the Company or changes in its management.

 

Further, the “affiliated transaction” provisions of Virginia law prohibit, subject to certain exceptions, any person who becomes the beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of a corporation's voting securities, without the prior consent of that corporation’s board of directors, from engaging in specified transactions with such corporation for a period of three years following the date upon which the stockholder acquires the requisite number of securities. The types of transactions covered by the law include certain mergers, share exchanges, material dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of business, dissolutions, reclassifications and recapitalizations. The Company did not opt out of this law in its Articles of Incorporation.

 

The Articles of Incorporation contain provisions allowing the Company to restrict the ownership, conversion and proposed ownership of common stock for reasons related to compliance with the FCC's rules and regulations.

 

Under the Articles of Incorporation, the Company may restrict the ownership, conversion or proposed ownership of shares of common stock by any person if such ownership, conversion or proposed ownership, either alone or in combination with other actual or proposed ownership of shares of capital stock of any other person, would impose restrictions upon the Company or its subsidiaries under, or cause a violation of, the laws administered or enforced by the FCC, including the Communications Act, which are referred to as “federal communications laws.” The Company may enforce such restrictions if it believes the ownership, conversion or proposed ownership by a stockholder of common stock:

 

 

would be in violation of any federal communications laws;

 

 

would (or could reasonably be expected to) materially limit or impair any existing or proposed business activity of the Company or its subsidiaries under the federal communications laws;

 

 

would materially limit or impair under the federal communications laws the acquisition of an attributable interest in a full-power television station by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which it has entered into a definitive agreement with a third party;

 

 

 
28

 

 

 

would (or could reasonably be expected to) cause the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be subject to any rule, regulation, order or policy under the federal communications laws having or which reasonably could be expected to have a material effect on the Company or any of its subsidiaries to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries would not be subject but for such ownership, conversion or proposed ownership; or

 

 

would require prior approval from the FCC and such approval has not be obtained.

 

The restrictions that the Company may enact include refusing to permit the transfer of shares, suspending rights of share ownership, requiring the conversion of voting common stock to non-voting common stock, and other remedies. These provisions may restrict the ability to acquire, own and/or vote shares of voting common stock.

 

Sales of common stock by former equityholders of Young may have an adverse effect on the price of the Company’s common stock.

 

In connection with the merger with Young, equity holders of Young received approximately 60.2 million shares of Media General’s common stock. Certain equityholders of Young who received shares of Media General common stock in the transaction have the right to require Media General to register those shares under a registration rights agreement, subject to certain limitations. The registration rights agreement required the filing of a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 covering such shares, which may be used by the former Young equityholders party to such agreement to facilitate the sale of their shares under certain circumstances. The Company filed a Form S-3 in January 2014. Former Young equityholders party to the registration rights agreement also have the right to demand registration of their shares for sale in underwritten offerings, subject to certain limitations, and the right to participate in registered underwritten offerings conducted by the Company. Sales by such equityholders of their shares of common stock, or the possibility of such sales, pursuant to an underwritten offering or otherwise, may have an adverse effect on the per share price of the Company’s common stock. 

 

The Company does not intend to pay cash dividends on its common stock for at least so long as it is restricted from doing so under its debt instruments.

 

The Company's ability to pay dividends is currently limited by its bank credit agreements until its total leverage ratio is below 5.0.  The Company does not expect to be below this leverage ratio until the fourth quarter of 2015. Therefore, unless it seeks an amendment from its lenders under the credit facility, the Company is unlikely to pay dividends in the immediate future.  Similarly the bond indentures of the Senior Notes issued by its operating subsidiaries limit the magnitude of distributions from the operating subsidiaries to the Company which may limit the Company's ability to return capital to its shareholders.  The Restricted Payment covenant currently allowed by the indentures is in excess of $100 million. However, the Company does not expect to pay a dividend on its common stock in the near-term.


The Company has the ability to issue preferred stock, which could affect the rights of holders of the Company’s common stock.

 

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation allow the Board of Directors to issue up to 50 million shares of preferred stock and set the terms of such preferred stock. The terms of such preferred stock may adversely affect the dividend and liquidation rights of holders of the Company’s common stock.

 

 

 
29

 

 

The public price and trading volume of the Company’s common stock may be volatile.

 

The price and trading volume of the Company’s common stock may be volatile and subject to fluctuations. Some of the factors that could cause fluctuation in the stock price or trading volume of the Company’s common stock include:

 

 

general market and economic conditions and market trends, including in the television broadcast industry and the financial markets generally;

 

 

the political, economic and social situation in the United States;

 

 

actual or expected variations in operating results;

 

 

variation in quarterly operating results;

 

 

inability to meet projections in revenue;

 

 

announcements by the Company or the Company’s competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, capital commitments or other business developments;

 

 

adoption of new accounting standards affecting the industry in which the Company operates;

 

 

operations of competitors and the performance of competitors’ common stock;

 

 

litigation or governmental action involving or affecting the Company or its subsidiaries;

 

 

changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts;

 

 

recruitment or departure of key personnel;

 

 

purchases or sales of blocks of the Company’s common stock; and

 

 

operating and stock performance of the companies that investors may consider to be comparable.

 

There can be no assurance that the price of the Company’s common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly. The stock market in recent years has experienced considerable price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of individual companies and that could adversely affect the price of the Company’s common stock, regardless of the Company’s operating performance. Stock price volatility might be worse if the trading volume of shares of the common stock is low. Furthermore, stockholders may initiate securities class action lawsuits if the market price of the Company’s common stock declines significantly, which may cause the Company to incur substantial costs and could divert the time and attention of the Company’s management.  

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None

  

Item 2. Properties

 

The Company owns its headquarters building in downtown Richmond, Virginia and also owns an adjacent building which it has vacated and listed for sale or lease. It leases properties for certain corporate functions in Providence, RI and Austin, TX.

 

Each of the Company’s stations has facilities consisting of offices, studios, sales offices and tower and transmitter sites. Tower and transmitter sites are located in areas that provide optimal coverage to each market. The Company owns substantially all of the offices and studios where its stations are located and generally owns the property where its towers and primary transmitters are located; in some instances, this ownership is in conjunction with one more broadcasters in that same market. The Company leases the remaining properties, consisting primarily of office locations and microwave transmitter sites. While none of the station properties owned or leased by the Company is individually material to its operations, if the Company were required to relocate any towers, the cost could be significant. This is because the number of sites in any geographic area that permit a tower of reasonable height to provide good coverage of the market is limited, and zoning and other land use restrictions, as well as Federal Aviation Administration and FCC regulations, limit the number of alternative locations or increase the cost of acquiring them for tower sites. See Item 1 for a complete list of stations by market.

 

 

 
30

 

 

The Company leases office space for its digital business units in Austin, TX, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA and New York, NY and maintains sales presences for its digital operations in Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI.

 

The Company considers all of its properties, together with its related computers and equipment contained therein, to be adequate for its present needs.  The Company has pledged substantially all of its assets as collateral under its Senior Secured Credit Facilities.  The Company continually evaluates its future needs and from time-to-time will undertake significant projects to replace or upgrade facilities.  

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

None 

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

None 

 

Executive Officers of the Registrant 

 

Name

Age

Position and Office

Year First Took Office*

       

Vincent L. Sadusky

49

President and Chief Executive Officer

2014

       

Andrew C. Carington

46

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

2011

       

Deborah A. McDermott

60

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

2013

       

Timothy J. Mulvaney

46

Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

2005

       

Robert S. Richter

45

Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer

2014

       

James F. Woodward

55

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

2005

  


* The year indicated is the year in which the officer first assumed an office with the Company.

 

Officers of the Company are elected at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors to serve, unless sooner removed, until the next Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors and/or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

 

 
31

 

 

PART II

 

Item 5.      Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Media General’s voting common stock (no par value) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MEG. The approximate number of equity security holders of record at February 27, 2015 was 1,081.

 

The table below sets forth the volume of shares traded and the high and low sales prices for the Company’s common stock in 2014 and 2013. No dividends were paid in 2014 and 2013. The Company does not anticipate paying dividends in 2015.

 

   

First

   

Second

   

Third

   

Fourth

 

(Unaudited)

 

Quarter

   

Quarter

   

Quarter

   

Quarter

 

2014

                               

Shares traded

    20,513,000       34,519,000       29,162,000       41,820,000  

Stock price range

  $ 15.93-23.65     $ 15.09-20.53     $ 13.11-22.60     $ 12.66-17.70  

2013

                               

Shares traded

    9,309,000       17,257,000       14,632,000       17,005,000  

Stock price range

  $ 3.97-5.97     $ 5.78-11.45     $ 9.68-14.50     $ 12.61-23.55  

 

Performance Graph

 

The following graph, which is being furnished pursuant to Item 201 of Regulation S-K, shows the cumulative stockholder return on the Company’s common stock over the last five fiscal years beginning on January 1, 2010 and ending on December 31, 2014, as compared to the NYSE Market Index and a Broadcast Peer Group Index.  The graph assumes that $100 was invested on January 1, 2010, and also assumes the reinvestment of dividends. 

 

 

 
32

 

 

   

1/1/10

   

12/31/10

   

12/31/11

   

12/31/12

   

12/31/13

   

12/31/14

 

Media General, Inc.

  $ 100.00     $ 73.72     $ 51.91     $ 54.85     $ 288.57     $ 213.39  

NYSE Composite Index

  $ 100.00     $ 113.76     $ 109.70     $ 127.53     $ 161.20     $ 172.27  

Broadcast Peer Group Index*

  $ 100.00     $ 187.50     $ 256.11     $ 332.06     $ 1,202.20     $ 989.47  

 

* The Broadcast Peer Group includes: Gray Television, Inc., Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. and Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Inc.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The following table provides information with respect to shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the release of restrictions on Performance Accelerated Restricted Stock awarded under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan during the fourth quarter of 2014:

 

Date

 

Total Number of

Shares Purchased

   

Average Price Per

Share

 

December 9

    4,636     $ 15.31  

December 19

    29,989     $ 17.63  

December 31

    15,684     $ 16.73  

 

Item 6.      Selected Financial Data

 

On December 19, 2014, Media General, Inc. (now known as MGOC, Inc.) and LIN Media were combined in a stock and cash business combination transaction under a new parent public-reporting company. The new parent company has retained the Media General name. Consequently, the consolidated financial statements of Media General, the legal acquirer and a continuing public corporation in the transaction, include LIN’s operating results for the period from acquisition date to December 31, 2014.

 

On November 12, 2013, Media General, Inc. (“Legacy Media General”) and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) were combined in an all stock, tax-free merger. 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. 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, prior period financial information presented for the Company in the consolidated financial statements reflect the historical activity of Young. The financial statement data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013, are derived from the Company’s audited financial statements that are included elsewhere in this Form 10-K and reflect the results of Young from January 1, 2013, to November 11, 2013, and the results of the combined company for November 12, 2013, through December 31, 2013. The financial statement data as of December 31, 2012 are derived from the audited financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this Form 10-K and reflect the historical results of Young for those periods. The financial statement data as of December 31, 2011, as of and for the six months ended December 31, 2010, and as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2010 are derived from the audited financial statements of the Company not included in this Form 10-K and reflect the historical results of Young for those periods. Earnings per share was not previously presented in the audited financial statements of Young but is included for the Successor periods below for comparison purposes.

 

 

 
33

 

 

   

Successor

   

Predecessor

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Year ended

December 31,

2014

   

Year ended

December 31,

2013

   

Year ended

December 31,

2012

   

Year ended

December 31,

2011

   

Six months

ended

December 31,

2010

   

Six months

ended

June 30, 2010

 

Summary of Operations

                                               

Operating revenues

  $ 674,963     $ 269,912     $ 228,183     $ 174,520     $ 103,187     $ 84,307  

Operating income

  $ 115,104     $ 33,827     $ 55,493     $ 21,304     $ 25,108     $ 13,497  

Net income (a)

  $ 56,520     $ 4,354     $ 35,963     $ 103,924     $ 15,091     $ 609,627  

Net income attributable to Media General (a)

  $ 53,506     $ 6,140     $ 35,921     $ 103,924     $ 15,091     $ 609,627  

Basic EPS adjusted for exchange ratio (b)

  $ 0.59     $ 0.11     $ 0.82     $ 1.91     $ 0.28    

(b)

 

Diluted EPS adjusted for exchange ratio (b)

  $ 0.58     $ 0.10     $ 0.53     $ 1.14     $ 0.17    

(b)

 

Balance Sheet Data

                                               

Total current assets

  $ 524,544     $ 203,296     $ 72,587     $ 95,901     $ 84,441          

Total assets (c)

    4,742,774       1,921,368       483,197       510,601       464,232          

Total current liabilities, excluding current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations

    175,685       68,622       34,169       24,633       28,702          

Long-term debt, including current portion and capital lease obligations (d)

    2,427,627       918,309       154,462       82,587       75,758          
                                                 

 

NOTE: The Predecessor periods represent the financial information of Young Broadcasting Inc. prior to July 1, 2010. The Successor periods represent the financial information of the Company on or after July 1, 2010, after the application of fresh-start accounting. Operating results for 2013 include the results of Legacy Media General for the period November 12 through December 31, 2013. Operating results for 2014 include the results of LIN for the period December 19, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

   

(a)

In 2009, Young Broadcasting Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a result of the continuing deterioration of the economic conditions. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, Young Broadcasting Inc. recorded $609 million in gains as a result of reorganization items and fresh start accounting adjustments related to the bankruptcy. In 2011, Young Broadcasting Inc. released the valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets in the amount of $96.8 million.

   

(b)

EPS has been adjusted to reflect Young shares multiplied by the exchange ratio of: 730.6171 shares of Media General for each share and share equivalent of Young. Periods before bankruptcy for the Predecessor are not meaningful.

 

   

(c)

Total assets as of December 31, 2013 include the impact of the Young Merger. Total assets as of December 31, 2014 reflect the LIN Merger.

   

(d)

In 2010, Young Broadcasting Inc. extinguished $822 million of long-term debt as a result of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Post-bankruptcy, Young entered into a new term loan for $75 million which is included in long-term debt as of December 31, 2010. The increase in long-term debt during 2012 is primarily the result of draw downs from a new $175 million senior credit facility, which was put in place in December 2011. Long-term debt as of December 31, 2013 reflects the impact of the merger transaction and the refinancing of the Company's long-term debt which includes an $885 million term loan under the Media General credit agreement and $32 million of term loans under the Shield Media credit agreement. Long Term debt as of December 31, 2014 reflects the impact of the LIN Merger, including incremental borrowing of $825 million of term loan B under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the issuamce of $400 million of 2022 Notes.

 

 

 
34

 

 

Item 7.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This discussion addresses the principal factors affecting the Company's financial condition and results of operations during the past three years and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Selected Financial Data and consolidated financial statements contained respectively in Item 6 and Item 8 of this report.

 

OVERVIEW

 

On December 19, 2014 (the "Closing Date"), Media General, Inc., now known as MGOC, Inc. (“Old Media General”), and LIN Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LIN Media” or “LIN”) were combined in a business combination transaction (the “LIN Merger”). As a result of this merger, Media General, Inc., formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc. (“New Media General” or the “Company”) became the parent public-reporting company of the combined company; LIN Television Corporation (“LIN Television”) became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New Media General, and Old Media General became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of LIN Television and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of New Media General.

 

References to Media General or the Company in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that include any period at and before the effectiveness of the LIN Merger shall be deemed to refer to Old Media General as the predecessor registrant to New Media General. References to Legacy Media General shall be deemed to refer to Old Media General prior to the merger with New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) as further described below.

 

On November 12, 2013, Legacy Media General and Young were combined in an all-stock, tax-free merger transaction. 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 2012 and from January 1, 2013 through November 11, 2013. For the last seven weeks of 2013, financial results include both the Young and Legacy Media General stations.

 

The following table provides information as to the makeup of Company’s operating results by year as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and Cash Flows:

 

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

Legacy Young

 

January 1 - December 31

 

January 1 - December 31

 

January 1 - December 31

             

Legacy Media General

 

January 1 - December 31

 

November 12 - December 31

   
             

LIN Media

 

December 19 - December 31

       

 

As a result of the mergers described above, along with certain related transactions described more fully in Note 2 of Item 8, the Company owns and operates or services 71 television stations and their associated digital media and mobile platforms in 48 markets across the United States.

 

 

 
35

 

 

The following significant events occurred over the past three years.

 

2012 Events

 

February – completed purchase of $120 million of shares from equity holders

 

February – Legacy Media General announced intent to sell its newspapers

 

May – Legacy Media General refinanced its bank debt with Berkshire Hathaway

 

June – Legacy Media General sold 9 of its 10 newspaper groups to Berkshire Hathaway

 

October – Legacy Media General sold its Tampa newspaper group

 

October – traffic consolidation project launched

 

December – completed purchase of $25 million of shares from equity holders

 

December – entered into a joint sales agreement and a shared service agreement to run WXXA-TV in Albany for Shield Media

 

December – management agreement with Gray TV ended

 

2013 Events

 

March – entered into a joint sales agreement and a shared service agreement to run WLAJ-TV in Lansing for Shield Media and purchased certain non-license assets of the station

 

June – announced merger with Young

 

November – completed merger with Young with headquarters in Richmond, VA

 

November – refinanced all debt for Legacy Media General and Young to new facilities totaling $917 million in term loans with a $60 million revolving line of credit on significantly more favorable credit terms

 

2014 Events

 

March – entered into a merger agreement with LIN Media

 

April – entered into an amendment to credit agreement permitting the Company to obtain additional financing in connection with the LIN Merger

 

September – completed acquisition of WHTM in Harrisburg, PA

 

November – Issued the 2022 Notes to facilitate LIN Merger

 

December – completed merger with LIN Media

 

December – Divested 7 stations and acquired 2 stations in connection with the LIN Merger

 

Advertising sales comprise the majority of the Company’s revenues. The distribution of advertising revenues in the United States continues to shift among numerous established media, as well as many relatively new contenders, resulting in intense competition. The Company faces challenges from other broadcasters, from increasing digital competition, from cautious advertisers and from the cyclical nature of certain advertising which translates into the relative absence of political and Olympics advertising for television stations in odd-numbered years. The role of digital media continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and with the addition of the LIN digital companies, the Company believes it is well positioned both strategically and structurally to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The chart below illustrates the relative importance of Political advertising to revenues for the last six years:

 

 

 
36

 

 

Another major trend is industry consolidation. There were a myriad of transactions consummated in the broadcast television industry in 2014 and 2013 including the two in which we were involved. As consolidation continues, it becomes increasingly important for a company to have more stations and scale to better compete with its peers. The Company’s mergers with LIN and Young are evidence of its ability to capitalize on this trend. Additionally, combining back office operations eliminates duplication and drives higher margins. The Company remains amenable for future opportunities to expand through acquisition at the right valuations and in the right circumstances.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The Company recorded net income attributable to Media General of $54 million ($0.58 per diluted share), $6.1 million ($0.10 per diluted share) and $36 million ($0.53 per diluted share) in the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. These amounts were heavily influenced by specific events in each year. In 2014, in connection with the LIN Merger, the Company disposed of WJAR and WVTM and as a result, recorded a gain on the sale of these stations in the amount of $43 million. In addition, it recognized a $10 million gain by selling its former studio in San Francisco. Partially offsetting these increases to net income were $54 million of merger-related and restructuring expenses, some of which were not tax deductible, $3.5 million of debt modification and extinguishment costs, and an increase in interest expense of $33 million as a result of a merger-related increase in outstanding debt balances. In 2013, $13 million in merger-related and restructuring expenses, some of which were not tax deductible, and $4.5 million of debt modification and extinguishment costs were incurred in connection with the merger with Young and contributed towards the decrease in net income for 2012. Also, in 2013 and 2012, non-cash gains of $1.8 million and $8 million respectively were recorded as certain management fees and a contingent liability related to agreements signed in 2010 were settled for less than the recorded liability.

 

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $57 million and included income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $3 million. The income attributable to noncontrolling interests represents the aggregate income of certain stations operated by the Company through JSA/SSA arrangements as well as certain digital operations acquired in the LIN Merger.

 

Excluding the merger-related and restructuring costs described above, operating income was $169 million in 2014, $47 million in 2013 and $55 million in 2012. This jump in adjusted operating income was reflective of acquisition activity in 2014 and 2013, continuing economic recovery across the country, and excellent even-year Political revenues as well as strong retransmission revenues throughout.

 

The Company’s 2014 operating results include $24 million of net operating revenue and an operating loss of $1 million attributable the LIN Media stations for the period from December 19, 2014 to December 31, 2014 including more than $5 million of non-recurring merger-related and restructuring expenses incurred during the 13 days between the closing date and year end. The Company’s 2013 operating results include seven weeks of the Legacy Media General stations. Additionally, WXXA was consolidated in December of 2012 and WLAJ was consolidated in March of 2013. Combined, these acquisitions provided $63 million of net revenue and $3.6 million of operating income during 2013 and nominal amounts in 2012.

 

 

 
37

 

 

Revenues

 

The following chart details the Company’s net operating revenues along with the year-to-year percentage changes:

 

(in thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

   

'14 vs. '13

   

'13 vs. '12

 
                                         

Local revenue

  $ 476,110     $ 207,367     $ 149,160       129.6 %     39.0 %

National revenue

    149,484       72,948       51,852       104.9 %     40.7 %

Political revenue

    75,767       4,058       49,710       1767.1 %     -91.8 %

Digital revenue

    33,317       9,716       5,791       242.9 %     67.8 %

Barter revenue

    14,348       4,267       3,123       236.3 %     36.6 %

Other revenue

    15,264       7,219       5,477       111.4 %     31.8 %

Total operating revenues

    764,290       305,575       265,113       150.1 %     15.3 %

Commissions

    (89,327 )     (35,663 )     (36,930 )     150.5 %     -3.4 %

Net operating revenues

  $ 674,963     $ 269,912     $ 228,183       150.1 %     18.3 %

  

2014 vs. 2013

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased 150% when compared to 2013. The majority of the increase was due to the addition of twelve months of the results of Legacy Media General (as compared to seven weeks in 2013) and 13 days of results of LIN Media in 2014. The remainder of the increase was primarily due to an increase in both Political advertising and Local revenues. Political advertising, or its relative absence in odd-numbered years, causes a certain cyclicality, as demonstrated in the preceding graph and the table above. During 2014 Political revenue was $76 million due to Senate races in several states as well as strong issue spending. Local revenues benefited from continued growth in retransmission fees.

 

2013 vs. 2012

Revenues during the year ended December 31, 2013 increased 18% when compared to 2012. The increase was due to the addition of seven weeks of the results of Legacy Media General. Excluding the impact of the Young merger, 2013 broadcast revenues for stations owned fully during 2013 decreased 9.3% when compared to those owned for all of 2012. Political advertising and Retransmission revenues were the largest factors in these variances. With 2012 being the first Presidential year since the Citizen’s United ruling (which eliminated restrictions on independent campaign spending by corporations and unions), the Company was able to garner a strong share of 2012 political spending in its markets. The Company experienced record political time sales in 2012 due to an extended Presidential primary race and the footprint of the Company’s television stations in key Presidential swing states, including Iowa, Michigan, Virginia and Wisconsin, but saw a decrease in political sales of 93% in 2013. Partially offsetting the decrease in political time sales was an increase in Local revenues, primarily due to an increase in retransmission revenues, which grew 32% as compared to 2012.

 

Operating Costs

 

Total operating costs as reported on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income increased from $173 million in 2012 to $236 million in 2013 to $560 million in 2014. Total operating costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 experienced significant increases as a result of the mergers with LIN Media and Young, respectively. In addition to merger-related increase, there were higher network programming payments as the Company’s contracts anticipate increased retransmission revenue as well as an increase in compensation expense due in part to health insurance costs. Also contributing to the increase in operating costs in 2014 was growth in merger-related expenses, up approximately $41 million. The increase in operating expenses in 2013 on a same station basis was primarily driven by additional network programming payments, which rose $3.5 million from 2012 to 2013. Sales expenses also increased from 2012 to 2013 as the Company invested in incentive programs to aid in replacing the Political spending which would not recur in the odd-numbered year. Partially offsetting these increases were reductions in program expense and general, selling, and administrative expenses due to open positions.

 

 

 
38

 

  

Corporate and other expenses as shown on the statements of comprehensive income increased by approximately $14 million from 2013 to 2014 and decreased by $4.5 million from 2012 to 2013. The increase during 2014 was primarily due to the addition of the Legacy Media General public-company corporate infrastructure in 2014 as well as a $7.7 million non-recurring cost related to the pension buyout described more fully in Note 10 of Item 8. The decrease in 2013 was due primarily to a drop of $14 million in fees under the Gray agreement more fully described in Note 12 of Item 8. Partially offsetting this decrease were the Corporate and other expenses of Legacy Media General following the merger with Young which totaled more than $9 million. This amount included $5.5 million of variable stock-based compensation.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense as reported on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income was up 59% from 2012 to 2013 and up 158% to $67 million in 2014. The increase in both 2014 and 2013 was primarily due to new higher fair values due to the mergers, although new capital investments contributed as well.

 

The Company also recorded $54 million and $13 million of merger-related and restructuring costs in 2014 and 2013, respectively, as shown on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income primarily for investment banking and professional fees related to the LIN Merger and the merger with Young.

 

Interest expense

 

Total interest expense in 2014 was $46 million compared to $13 million in 2013 and $7.8 million in 2012. As fully discussed in the liquidity section that follows, in connection with the LIN Merger, LIN Television completed the issuance of $400 million of LIN Television’s 2021 Notes. These are in addition to the 2022 Notes with $290 million in aggregate principal outstanding. In addition, the outstanding balance on the Company’s credit agreement increased from $885 million as of December 31, 2013 to $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2014. Average debt outstanding for 2014 was $994 million at an average rate of 4.5%. In comparison, 2013 average debt outstanding was $264 million at an average rate of 4.8% primarily as a result of the debt refinancing that occurred following the merger with Young, which resulted in $917 million in debt outstanding for the last seven weeks of 2013. Average debt outstanding for 2012 was $136 million at an average rate of 5.8%.

 

The Company recorded $3.5 million and $4.5 million of debt modification and extinguishment costs in 2014 and 2013 related to refinancing its debt in connection with the LIN Merger and the merger with Young, respectively.

 

Income taxes

 

Income tax expense was $52 million, $12 million, and $20 million for the years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The effective tax rates in both 2014 and 2013 were relatively high compared to a more typical tax rate in 2012. The higher rate in both years can be attributed primarily to certain merger-related transaction costs that are not deductible for tax purposes as they are capitalized and included in the basis in the stock of the acquired company with an exaggerated impact on relatively low pre-tax earnings in 2013.

 

At December 31, 2014, the Company had $635 million in combined net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards for federal tax purposes. The NOLs are available to offset future taxable income and along with various state NOLs, give rise to a deferred tax asset of approximately $260 million (including minimum tax credit carryforwards). The Company has performed a study of the Combined Company assets and although it has identified certain limitations with respect to annual utilization, it expects to use substantially all of those NOLs as described in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 
39

 

 

The Company acquired approximately $43 million (included in amount discussed above) in federal tax NOLs in connection with the LIN Merger. During 2014, the Company used approximately $100 million of the Combined Company NOLs to offset taxable income resulting from station divestitures and other gains. Therefore, the Company will not pay regular federal tax but estimates that it will pay approximately $2 million of Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) in 2014 for which, it has recorded an unlimited AMT credit carryforward to offset regular federal income tax in the future. In addition to the federal AMT, the Company expects to pay approximately $6 million in state income taxes, due primarily to gains resulting from station divestitures and other income.

 

The Company expects to use approximately $110 million of NOLs for federal tax purposes in 2015. Therefore, the Company expects to pay cash taxes for federal and state purposes of approximately $5 million. 

 

Other

 

In May of 2014, the Company sold its KRON building in San Francisco to a third party for $24.5 million of net cash proceeds. The Company leased the space back from the third party until December of 2014, with no rental payments required. The Company deferred the gain on the sale until the end of the lease term and as a result, recorded a $10 million gain in December 2014.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s qualified pension plans were underfunded by approximately $120 million. This $34 million increase in the underfunded status of the plans as compared to the prior year was primarily due to a change in discount rates, changes made to the mortality tables and the addition of the LIN pension plan, which was also underfunded in December 2014.

 

As indicated above, the Company had a management agreement with Gray that expired on December 31, 2012. As part of the management agreement, if the Company was sold within the term, Gray would initially receive a portion of the aggregate sales price above a specified threshold. The Company had estimated the fair value of this liability to be $8 million. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was not sold and the reversal of the liability was recorded as income in Other, net, on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

 

On December 19, 2014, pursuant to the LIN Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of LIN common stock was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $25.97 or 1.4714 shares of no par value voting common stock of Media General. Media General issued 41,197,003 shares of voting common stock to LIN’s equity holders to effect the LIN Merger. In addition, existing LIN restricted shares and stock options were converted to similar Media General instruments at its fair value on December 18th. As a result, the Company expects a significant increase in noncash stock compensation expense during 2015 and 2016.

 

The FCC adopted an order, effective on June 19, 2014, that may require changes in the Company’s relationship with entities with whom it has joint sales agreements ("JSAs") and amended its rules governing "good faith" retransmission consent negotiations. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any, these new rules may have on future negotiations for retransmission consent agreements. For further discussion see Item 1A of this Form 10-K.

 

Certain pending climate change legislation and other environmental laws and regulations could impact the Company (if enacted or adopted) by potentially increasing its operating costs through higher electricity and other expenses associated with its facilities.  Climate change effects could include more intense tropical storms, tornadoes and hurricanes potentially causing lost revenue and higher expenses associated with storms.

 

 

 
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company’s primary source of liquidity is its cash flow from operations, but it also has access to a Revolving Credit Facility and cash on its balance sheet. The merger transactions of the last two years enhanced the Company’s ability to generate cash, particularly in even-numbered years when Political and Olympic revenues are most prominent. The Company would consider using its cash flow along with both debt and equity for further acquisitions or other corporate initiatives, but its current predisposition is to use the excess cash flow to repay debt. It believes application of excess cash flow will enable a significant reduction in its leverage in the next several years.

 

The Company’s cash provided by operating activities totaled $69 million, $7.8 million, and $74 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. With a full year of the newly acquired LIN operations in 2015, the Company expects even larger cash flows from operations. Retirement plan contributions and changes in balance sheet accounts such as accrued expenses and other liabilities and accounts receivable can and did have an impact on this amount from year to year, as shown on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, but the key component is and was the Company’s underlying operating performance. The Company made nearly $50 million in pension contributions in 2014. This represented multiple years of required funding. The Company will continue to appropriately fund its plans but currently does not expect the 2014 contribution level to recur. The Company had a $150 million Revolving Credit Facility (with no outstanding balance but $3.4 million of undrawn letters of credit as of year-end) and $44 million of cash on its balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. In addition, the Company has restricted cash of $120 million related to a station sale. These proceeds are being held by a qualified intermediary and will revert to the Company in June if an acquisition of certain identified replacement property is not consummated. See Note 12 of Item 8 for more details.

 

The Company internally, and analysts in the Broadcast industry, use Broadcast Cash Flow (“BCF”) as a key performance measure. Cash flow from operations is a more complete measure of cash flow because it includes cash generated or used related to balance sheet changes as well as cash expended as shown in the line item “Corporate and other expenses.” As shown below, BCF for the Company ranged from $92 million to $260 million in 2012-2014, and this only included seven weeks of Legacy Media General in 2013 and 13 days of LIN in 2014.

 

(in thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
                         

Net income

  $ 56,520     $ 4,354     $ 35,963  

Add:

                       

Interest expense

    45,704       12,687       7,830  

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    3,513       4,509       -  

Gain on sale of stations

    (42,957 )     -       -  

Corporate and other expenses

    33,007       19,016       23,531  

Depreciation and amortization

    66,557       25,772       16,179  

Income tax expense

    52,453       12,325       20,380  

(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment, net

    (8,935 )     399       59  

Merger-related and restructuring expenses

    54,202       13,079       -  

Program license rights, net

    (215 )     (246 )     -  

Other, net

    (129 )     (48 )     (8,680 )
                         

Broadcast Cash Flow

  $ 259,720     $ 91,847     $ 95,262  

 

The Company used cash for its investing activities in 2014, 2013 and 2012. In 2014, cash related to acquisitions and dispositions were most prominent. In addition to significant non-cash payments in the form of shares, $763 million in cash was used to acquire LIN (including approximately $26 million of cash on the balance sheet) as described more fully in Note 2 of Item 8. Additionally, during 2014 the Company received $357 million of cash for disposing of television stations in five markets and spent $176 million to acquire stations in Tampa, Colorado Springs, and Harrisburg. Capital expenditures were $37 million in the year. For 2013, the Company spent $15 million on capital expenditures and $14 million to purchase WLAJ. The Young merger, which involved acquiring assets and assuming debt and other liabilities including pension obligations, was a net $434 million non-cash transaction and is described fully in Note 2 of Item 8. The only cash component was the acquisition of Legacy Media General’s cash balances on the merger date of approximately $17 million. In 2012, nearly $20 million was spent to acquire WXXA and $12 million was invested for capital items.

 

 
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Net cash was provided by financing activities in 2014 ($590 million) and 2013 ($49 million), but $74 million was used by financing activities in 2012. As shown on the Statements of Cash Flows, there were considerable inflows and outflows in each period. Most of this activity relates to the borrowings and repayments under various facilities as described in the section that follows. One other key use of cash was stock repurchases made in 2012 totaling $145 million. The Company borrowed funds, supplemented by cash on hand, to repurchase the shares and warrants of these equity holders as described in Note 4 of Item 8.

 

Debt Agreements

 

The Company began the year with an $885 million term loan, a $60 million undrawn revolver, and $32 million of term loans related to Shield Media. Through the first eight months of the year the Company repaid $84 million in debt. In order to facilitate the acquisitions/disposition activities, the Company entered into new agreements, amended existing agreements several times, and assumed certain debt of LIN. At December 31, 2014, the Company had the following debt facilities and other debt instruments:

 

Term Loan

2020

 

$1,701 million

LIBOR + 3.25% w/ 1% LIBOR floor

         

Revolver

2019

 

$147 million available

None drawn

LIBOR + 2.50%; 0.5% commitment fee

 

       

5.875% Senior Notes

2022

 

$400 million

Fixed

         

6.875% Senior Notes

2021

 

$290 million

Fixed

         

Shield Media Term Loans

2019

 

$29.6 million

LIBOR + 3.25%

         

Other Borrowings

2017

 

$2.1 million

LIBOR + 3.00%

 

A small portion ($12 million) of the principal is due in the coming year. The full principal repayment schedule is shown on the commitments table later in this Item 7. The Company 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. Both sets of Senior Notes are also guaranteed by the Company and certain of LIN TV’s subsidiaries on a full and unconditional basis.

 

The Company used the new and amended borrowings above in 2014 to 1) fund a portion of the cash paid for LIN, 2) purchase WHTM, 3) repay $367 million in LIN term loans, 4) deposit $212 million to pay off LIN’s 8.375% Senior Notes, and 5) pay interest, fees and professional costs related to the transactions. In 2013, new debt was used to 1) repay all amounts outstanding for both Legacy Media General and Young at Media Term Loans, 2) pay accrued interest on the loans, fees related to the debt being issued, fees related to the transaction, and 3) make pension plan contributions in December 2013 and January 2014.

 

 

 
42

 

 

As a result of a series of amendments to the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the credit agreement governing the Senior Secured Credit Facility contains a leverage ratio covenant which is tested for purposes of the Revolving Loan Facility if and when the Revolver borrowings and non-collateralized letters of credit exceed $45 million at a quarter end. At other times, there is not a required maximum leverage ratio that the Company must operate within. The leverage ratio involves debt levels and a rolling eight-quarter calculation of EBITDA, as defined in the agreement. Through the first quarter of 2015, the maximum ratio would be 5.5 times, for the second and third quarters, it would be 5.25 times, and it would be 5.0 times thereafter. Additionally, the agreement has restrictions on certain transactions that are operational regardless of Revolver borrowing level, including the incurrence of additional debt, capital leases, investments, fundamental changes (including additional acquisitions mergers or consolidations), limitation liens, prepayment or amendment of certain debt, transactions with affiliates, changes in the nature of the business, 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 Shield Media Term Loans also have 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 Shield Media loans have 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. The Senior Notes do not contain financial maintenance covenants but does include restrictive covenants with respect to the ability to incur additional debt and issue disqualified stock; pay dividends or make other restricted payments; prepay, redeem or repurchase capital stock or subordinated debt; transfer or sell assets; make investments; enter into transactions with affiliates; create or incur liens; and merge or consolidate with any other person. The Media General and Shield Media credit agreements along with both sets of Senior Notes contain cross-default provisions.

 

In March of 2012, the Company entered into a swap agreement which hedged $75 million, or 50%, of its then outstanding debt. The Company used a mark-to-market approach to value the swap. In April of 2013, the notional amount of the swap agreement increased to $91 million to include 50% of the additional debt incurred in the acquisitions of WXXA and WLAJ. For the years ended December 31, 2013, and 2012, the Company recorded a benefit of approximately $200 thousand and an expense of approximately $400 thousand, respectively, related to this swap arrangement within other, net on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company paid approximately $200 thousand to terminate the swap in November of 2013.

 

The Company does not have material off-balance sheet arrangements.  

 

 
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Commitments

 

The table that follows shows long-term debt and other specified obligations of the Company as of December 31, 2014:

 

(in millions)

 

Payments Due by Periods

 

Contractual obligations 1

 

Total

      2015       

2017

2016

     

2018 

2019

     

2020

and beyond 

 

Media General Credit Agreement; Term Loans: 2

                                       

Principal

  $ 1,701.0     $ 8.2     $ 16.2     $ 99.0     $ 1,577.6  

Interest

    389.4       72.0       143.0       136.4       38.0  

2022 Senior Notes 3

                                       

Principal

    400.0       -       -       -       400.0  

Interest

    187.0       23.5       47.0       47.0       69.5  

2021 Senior Notes 4

                                       

Principal

    290.0       -       -       -       290.0  

Interest

    120.2       18.5       37.0       37.0       27.7  

Media General Credit Agreement; Revolving credit facility: 5

                                       

Commitment fees

    3.6       0.8       1.5       1.3       -  

Shield Media Credit Agreement: 6

                                       

Principal

    29.6       2.4       6.4       20.8       -  

Interest

    2.9       1.0       1.6       0.3       -  

Other Borrowings 7

                                       

Principal

    2.1       1.1       1.0                  

Interest

    0.1       0.1                          

Capital leases 8

    23.6       1.7       3.2       2.8       15.9  

Operating leases 9

    62.7       8.2       14.9       10.2       29.4  

Program license rights 10

    102.4       47.7       49.8       4.5       0.4  

Estimated benefit payments from Company assets 11

    65.6       11.3       12.4       12.4       29.5  

Purchase obligations 12

    745.8       275.9       210.7       195.4       63.8  

Total specified obligations

  $ 4,126.0     $ 472.4     $ 544.7     $ 567.1     $ 2,541.8  

  

1 Other than the estimated benefit payments from company assets and program license rights disclosed above and discussed further below, the table excludes items contained in “Other liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, primarily because the ultimate timing and amount of these future payments is not determinable. As disclosed in Note 9 of Item 8, the Company had a non-current liability for uncertain tax positions of approximately $25.2 million at December 31, 2014. Because the Company cannot reasonably estimate the amount or period in which the ultimate settlement of these uncertain tax positions will occur, the contractual obligations table excludes this liability.
   

2

Principal shown above represents minimum required payments under the Media General Senior Secured Credit Facilities Term Loan which matures on July 31, 2020. Interest payments reflect the interest rate of 4.25% as of December 31, 2014. Actual principal and interest payments could differ substantially.

 

3

Principal shown above represents minimum required payments under the 2022 Senior Notes which matures on November 15, 2022. Interest payments reflect a fixed interest rate of 5.875%.

 

4

Principal shown above represents minimum required payments under the 2021 Senior Notes which matures on January 15, 2021. Interest payments reflect a fixed interest rate of 6.375%.

 

5

The Company has a $150 million Revolving Credit Facility that matures on October 28, 2019. The Company pays a 0.5% commitment fee on unutilized commitments. The chart above assumes that no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility will be outstanding through the end of the agreement. Actual payments could differ substantially if amounts are borrowed under the facility.

 

6

Principal shown above represents minimum required payments under the Shield Media Credit Agreement which matures on July 31, 2018. Interest payments reflect the interest rate of 3.415% as of December 31, 2014. Actual principal and interest payments could differ substantially.

 

7

Principal shown above represents minimum required payments under LIN Television agreements for VIEs which mature in quarterly installments through December 2017. Interest payments reflect the interest rate of 3.15% as of December 31, 2014. Actual principal and interest payments could differ substantially.

 

8

Represents minimum rental commitments under capital leases.

 

 

 
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9

Represents minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases with terms in excess of one year.

 

10

Program license rights include both recorded short-term and long-term liabilities for programs which have been produced and unrecorded cash commitments to purchase program license rights which are not yet available for broadcast.

 

11

Actuarially estimated benefit payments under pension and other benefit plans expected to be funded directly from Company assets through 2024 (ie SERP, Excess Plan and OPEB) which includes a $5 million expected contribution to the qualified pension plans in 2015.

 

12

Purchase obligations include: 1) all current liabilities not otherwise reported in the table that will require cash settlement, 2) significant purchase commitments for fixed assets and 3) significant contract-based obligations, including network fees under current agreements. For certain network obligations, the Company has made assumptions regarding future subscriber counts. Actual payments could vary substantially.

  

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) requires that management make various estimates and assumptions that have an impact on the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported. The Company considers an accounting estimate to be critical if that estimate requires assumptions to be made about matters that were uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and if changes in the estimate (which are reasonably likely to occur from period to period) would have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed the development, selection and disclosure of these critical accounting estimates. While actual results could differ from accounting estimates, the Company’s most critical accounting estimates and assumptions are in the following areas: 

 

Intangible assets

 

In the event of an acquisition or merger, the Company allocates purchase price to the assets and liabilities acquired and assumed at fair value. In addition, the Company reviews the carrying values of both goodwill and other identified intangible assets, including FCC licenses, in the fourth quarter each year, or earlier if events indicate an impairment may have arisen, utilizing qualitative analyses and discounted cash flow models and market-based models, where necessary. The assumptions and methods used are similar for both. When evaluating goodwill and other intangible assets for potential impairment, the Company first considers qualitative factors including but not limited to: current macroeconomic conditions, the Company’s actual performance versus budgeted performance, key management changes and selling prices for broadcast companies. When a quantitative test is deemed necessary or in order to value assets in an acquisition, the Company prepares discounted cash flow models which require significant management judgment with respect to revenue growth, compensation levels, capital expenditures, discount rates and long-term growth rates for broadcast assets. In addition, the preparation of market-based models requires the collection of estimated peer company data as to revenues and EBITDA, as well as an assessment of enterprise values by looking at stock prices and debt levels. These key assumptions for both the discounted cash flow and market-based models work in concert with one another. Changes to one variable may necessitate changes to other variables.

 

Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which, following the LIN Merger, the Company considers to be its 48 markets and each digital business unit. Prior to performing a quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether the quantitative test is necessary. In 2014, the Company reviewed Old Media General market reporting units, as the Legacy LIN stations were recorded at fair value as of the Closing Date and no events occurred between then and year-end that necessitated an interim test. An annual quantitative test was not required of the Old Media General market stations. The Company considered Young station performance, forecasted performance and recent industry trends for retransmission and merger and acquisition activity in its qualitative analysis.

 

The Company performs its annual impairment test of indefinite-lived intangible assets (i.e., FCC licenses) at the station level. All of the Company’s stations have FCC license carrying values. The Legacy LIN stations were recorded at fair value as of the Closing Date and no events occurred between then and year end that necessitated an interim test. Quantitative impairment testing was deemed unnecessary for the Old Media General stations. The models the Company uses to value FCC licenses are highly sensitive to changes in assumptions.

 

 

 
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Since the estimated fair values that arise in both the discounted cash flow and market-based models are subject to change based on the Company’s performance and stock prices, peer company performance and stock prices, overall market conditions and the state of the credit markets, future impairment charges of both goodwill and FCC licenses are possible.  

 

Pension plans and postretirement benefits

 

A determination of the liabilities and cost of the Company’s pension and other postretirement plans requires the use of assumptions. The actuarial assumptions used in the Company’s pension and postretirement reporting are reviewed annually with independent actuaries and are compared with external benchmarks, historical trends and the Company’s own experience to determine that its assumptions are reasonable. The assumptions used in developing the required estimates include the following key factors:

 

 

discount rates

 

expected return on plan assets

 

mortality rates

 

health care cost trends

 

retirement rates

 

expected contributions

 

The expected rate of return on plan assets is 7.5%. A one percentage point-change would result in an increase or decrease in plan assets of approximately $4.4 million and a change in annualized pension expense of approximately $4.6 million. The discount rate at year end was 3.80%. A one percentage-point increase in the discount rate would have raised the net periodic benefit costs by approximately $2.0 million and would have decreased the projected benefit obligation by approximately $66 million. A one percentage-point decrease in the discount rate would have lowered the net periodic benefit costs by approximately $1.4 million and would have increased the projected benefit obligation by approximately $81 million.

 

Income taxes

 

The Company files income tax returns with various state tax jurisdictions in addition to the Internal Revenue Service and is regularly audited by both federal and state tax agencies. From time to time, those audits may result in proposed adjustments. The Company has considered alternative interpretations that may be assumed by the various tax agencies and does not anticipate any material impact on its earnings as a result of these audits. Additionally, the Company maintains a reserve for uncertain tax positions, where the probability of sustaining the position does not exceed a “more likely than not” standard. The reserve for uncertain tax positions was $25.2 million as of December 31, 2014.

 

The Company records income tax expense using the liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the differing treatments of various items for financial reporting versus tax reporting purposes. The Company evaluates the need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.  Included in that analysis is the fact that the Company has carried forward $635 million of net operating losses (NOLs) as described in Note 9 of Item 8. The Company engaged a third party to perform a study of its ability to use these NOLs following the merger. This study shows that, although there are limitations in future years, the Company anticipates being able to use the NOLs recorded before they expire over the course of the next 20 years.

 

 

 
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Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)

 

The Company consolidates VIEs when it is the primary beneficiary of the entity, in accordance with the VIE accounting guidance. 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 of Item 8, the Company consolidates the results of WXXA, WLAJ, WBDT, WYTV, KTKA, KWBQ, KRWB, and KASY pursuant to the VIE accounting guidance. All of the liabilities are non-recourse to the Company, except for certain of the debt, which the Company guarantees. As discussed in Note 5 of Item 8, the Company is also the primary beneficiary of the VIE that holds the Supplemental 401(k) Plan’s investments and consolidates the plan accordingly.

 

OUTLOOK FOR 2015

 

With the completion of the LIN Merger and related divestitures, following on the heels of the Young Merger in late 2013, the Company directs 71 stations across 48 markets covering 23% of U.S. Households. The Company’s scale has already delivered significant operating synergies, which will be reflected in the Company’s 2015 results and in years to come. At 23% of U.S. Households, the Company has room under the cap and the financial capacity to acquire additional stations if the right opportunities arise. The combination of the LIN Media Digital companies with the Media General stations should enable an acceleration of digital growth. While 2015 is an off-Political, non-Olympic year, strength in retransmission revenues and an improving economy should enable the Company to recoup much of the lost revenue from 2014. Most experts are projecting strong spending in Political Advertising in 2016 and having the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil should enable more “live” events on the Company’s NBC stations. Expenses will rise in 2015 in several areas including network programming payments. The Company expects to generate strong free cash flow as a combined entity and in the near term use its free cash for debt reduction.

 

* * * * * * *

 

Certain statements in this annual report that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined by the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements related to future financial results, to pending transactions and contractual obligations, critical accounting estimates and assumptions, 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 annual report on Form 10-K and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could potentially cause actual results to differ materially from those results 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: the impact of various business combinations and integration efforts of the Company, changes in advertising demand, changes to pending accounting standards, changes in consumer preferences for programming and delivery method, changes in relationships with broadcast networks, the performance of pension plan assets, health care cost trends, regulatory rulings including those related to ERISA and tax law, natural disasters, and the ability to renew retransmission agreements. 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 this Form 10-K.

 

 

 
47

 

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had a $1.7 billion term loan under the Media General Senior Secured Credit Facilities which matures in July 2020 and bears interest at LIBOR (with a LIBOR floor of 1%) plus a margin of 3.25%. The applicable LIBOR rate at December 31, 2014, was approximately 0.16%. Due to the LIBOR floor, the interest rate on the term loan under the Media General Credit Agreement was substantially fixed at December 31, 2014. As a result of the spread between LIBOR and the interest rate floor, a 50 basis point increase in market interest rates as of December 31, 2014 would not have any effect on the annual cash interest expense. The fair value of the Media General term loan was estimated to be approximately $1.686 billion at December 31, 2014.

 

The Company also has $30 million of Shield Media term loans which mature in July 2018 and bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.25%. As the Shield Media Credit Agreement does not have a LIBOR floor, the Company was subject to fluctuations in interest rates as of December 31, 2014. A 50 basis point increase in market interest rates would increase annual cash interest expense by approximately $150 thousand. The fair value of the Shield Media term loans was estimated to be approximately $29 million at December 31, 2014.

 

LIN Television’s 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes with outstanding principal balances of $290 million and $400 million, respectively, bear fixed interest rates. Consequently, annual cash interest is not impacted by changes in market rates. The estimated fair values at December 31, 2014 for the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes were $289 million and $397 million, respectively.

 

LIN Television has three term loans included in other borrowings totaling $2.1 million which have variable interest rates and mature in quarterly installments through December 2017. These variable interest rates were 3.15% at December 31, 2014. The impact of changes in market rates is immaterial. The carrying value approximates market value for other borrowings.

 

 

 
48

 

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

INDEX     

 

 

Page

Report of Management on Media General, Inc.’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting

50

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

51

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

53

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

55

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

56

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013

57

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

59

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

60

Notes 1 through 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements

61

Quarterly Review (unaudited) 

 

 

 

 
49

 

 

Report of Management on Media General, Inc.’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Management of Media General, Inc., (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is comprised of policies, procedures and reports designed to provide reasonable assurance, to the Company’s management and Board of Directors, that the financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes has been handled in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) govern records to accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable safeguards against or timely detection of material unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets.

 

As indicated in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, Media General, Inc. and LIN Media were combined under a business combination transaction under the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 21, 2014. The combined company has retained the Media General name. The merger was accounted for in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations. Consequently, the consolidated financial statements of Media General, the legal acquirer and a continuing public corporation in the transaction, include LIN’s operating results for the period from acquisition date to December 31, 2014.

 

As the merger transaction occurred during the fourth quarter of 2014, management has excluded, from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, LIN Media’s operations and certain corporate controls that were significantly impacted by the merger from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. LIN’s assets represent $2.6 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2014.

 

Management of the Company has assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” as issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992). Based on this assessment, management believes that as of December 31, 2014, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective, based upon the specified criteria.

 

Internal controls over financial reporting are subject to inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls, and may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Additionally, projections as to the effectiveness of controls to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may not continue to operate at their current effectiveness levels due to changes in personnel or in the Company’s operating environment.

 

Media General’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Its report appears on the following page.

 

 

 

/s/ Vincent L. Sadusky                   

 

Vincent L. Sadusky                         

President and                                    

Chief Executive Officer                    

/s/ James F. Woodward     

 

James F. Woodward 

Senior Vice President and      

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

March 2, 2015

 

 

 
50

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Media General, Inc.

Richmond, Virginia

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Media General, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2014 based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As described in the Report of Management on Media General, Inc.’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at LIN Media, which the Company acquired on December 19, 2014 and whose financial statements constitute $2.6 billion of total assets in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at LIN Media. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Media General, Inc.’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

 
51

 

 

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014 of the Company and our report dated March 2, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Richmond, Virginia

March 2, 2015

 

 
52

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Media General, Inc.

Richmond, Virginia

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Medial General, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2014. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2012, before the effects of the adjustments to retrospectively adjust the common shares outstanding in the Common Stock disclosure (Note 4) and the Earnings Per Share disclosure (Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Notes 2 and 11) as a result of the all-stock merger transaction between the Company and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) as discussed in Note 2, and the segment information in Note 1, were audited by other auditors whose report, dated March 29, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Media General, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

We have also audited the adjustments to the 2012 consolidated financial statements to retrospectively adjust the common shares outstanding in the Common Stock disclosure (Note 4) and the Earnings Per Share disclosure (Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, Notes 2 and 11) as a result of the all-stock merger transaction between the Company and Young as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, and the segment information in Note 1. Our procedures included (1) comparing the amounts shown in the earnings per share disclosure for 2012 to the Company's underlying accounting analysis, (2) comparing the previously reported shares outstanding and income statement amounts per the Company's accounting analysis to the previously issued consolidated financial statements, (3) recalculating the additional shares to give effect to the merger exchange ratio and testing the mathematical accuracy of the underlying analysis, and (4) reviewing the Company's segment analysis. In our opinion, such retrospective adjustments are appropriate and have been properly applied. However, we were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the 2012 consolidated financial statements of the Company other than with respect to the retrospective adjustments and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on the 2012 consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.

 

 

 
53

 

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 2, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Richmond, Virginia

March 2, 2015

 

 

 
54

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Media General, Inc.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of stockholders' equity and of cash flows of Media General, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2012, before the (i) disclosure of the all-stock merger transaction between the Company and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. as discussed in Note 2, (ii) effects of the adjustments to retrospectively adjust the common shares outstanding and the related common stock disclosure in Note 4, (iii) inclusion of the earnings per common share information on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the related disclosure in Note 11, and (iv) inclusion of the segment information described under the principles of consolidation subheading of Note 1, present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Media General, Inc. and its subsidiaries (formerly New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc.) for the year ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (the 2012 financial statements before the (i) disclosure of the all-stock merger transaction between the Company and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. as discussed in Note 2, (ii) effects of the adjustments to retrospectively adjust the common shares outstanding and the related common stock disclosure in Note 4, (iii) inclusion of the earnings per common share information on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the related disclosure in Note 11, and (iv) inclusion of the segment information described under the principles of consolidation subheading of Note 1 are not presented herein). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

We were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures with respect to the (i) disclosure of the all-stock merger transaction between the Company and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. as discussed in Note 2, (ii) effects of the adjustments to retrospectively adjust the common shares outstanding and the related common stock disclosure in Note 4, (iii) inclusion of the earnings per common share information on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the related disclosure in Note 11, and (iv) inclusion of the segment information described under the principles of consolidation subheading of Note 1, and accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance about whether such information and disclosures are appropriate. This information and disclosures were audited by other auditors.

 

 

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

New York, New York

March 29, 2013 except for the presentation of the condensed consolidating statements of comprehensive income and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012 included in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is March 2, 2015

 

 

 
55

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   

Years Ended

 
   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
                         

Net operating revenue

  $ 674,963     $ 269,912     $ 228,183  

Operating costs:

                       

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation expense

    221,914       95,214       68,899  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    171,484       71,243       55,000  

Amortization of program license rights

    21,630       11,362       9,022  

Corporate and other expenses

    33,007       19,016       23,531  

Depreciation and amortization

    66,557       25,772       16,179  

(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment, net

    (8,935 )     399       59  

Merger-related and restructuring expenses

    54,202       13,079       -  

Total operating costs

    559,859       236,085       172,690  

Operating income

    115,104       33,827       55,493  

Other (expense) income:

                       

Interest expense

    (45,704 )     (12,687 )     (7,830 )

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    (3,513 )     (4,509 )     -  

Gain on sale of stations

    42,957       -       -  

Other, net

    129       48       8,680  

Total other (expense) income

    (6,131 )     (17,148 )     850  
                         

Income before income taxes

    108,973       16,679       56,343  

Income tax expense

    (52,453 )     (12,325 )     (20,380 )

Net income

    56,520       4,354       35,963  
                         

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

    3,014       (1,786 )     42  

Net income attributable to Media General

  $ 53,506     $ 6,140     $ 35,921  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

                       

Change in unrecognized amounts included in pension and postretirement obligations net of tax of $24,067 in 2014, $3,908 in 2013 and $318 in 2012

    (42,113 )     6,655       (500 )

Total comprehensive income

  $ 14,407     $ 11,009     $ 35,463  
                         

Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General

  $ 11,393     $ 12,795     $ 35,421  
                         

Earnings per common share (basic and diluted):

                       

Net earnings per common share (basic)

  $ 0.59     $ 0.11     $ 0.82  

Net earnings per common share (diluted)

  $ 0.58     $ 0.10     $ 0.53  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page 61.

 

 

 
56

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except shares)

 

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
ASSETS                

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 43,920     $ 71,618  

Trade accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts 2014 - $5,475; 2013 - $2,772)

    265,169       110,283  

Restricted cash at qualified intermediary

    119,903       -  

Current deferred tax asset

    55,754       7,506  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    39,798       13,889  

Total current assets

    524,544       203,296  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    495,379       285,467  

Deferred tax asset long-term

    -       42,711  

Other assets, net

    79,000       35,477  

Definite lived intangible assets, net

    911,860       239,642  

Broadcast licenses

    1,123,800       573,300  

Goodwill

    1,608,191       541,475  

Total assets (a)

  $ 4,742,774     $ 1,921,368  

  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page 61.

 

(a) Consolidated assets as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $175.9 million and $40.8 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs. See Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

 

 

 
57

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Current liabilities:

               

Trade accounts payable

  $ 36,359     $ 11,783  

Accrued salaries and wages

    36,634       14,183  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    102,692       42,656  

Current installments of long-term debt

    11,781       11,217  

Current installments of obligation under capital leases

    815       153  

Total current liabilities

    188,281       79,992  
                 

Long-term debt

    2,400,162       905,783  

Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities

    356,401       -  

Long-term capital lease obligations

    14,869       1,156  

Retirement and postretirement plans

    211,264       155,309  

Other liabilities

    38,168       43,891  

Total liabilities (b)

    3,209,145       1,186,131  
                 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

               
                 

Noncontrolling interests

    34,481       (1,744 )
                 

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 129,931,812 and 87,695,495

    1,321,011       557,754  

Non-voting common stock, authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued 828,885 at December 31, 2013

    -       12,483  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

    (36,445 )     5,668  

Retained earnings

    214,582       161,076  

Total stockholders' equity

    1,499,148       736,981  

Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity

  $ 4,742,774     $ 1,921,368  

  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page 61.

 

(b) Consolidated liabilities as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, include total liabilities of VIEs of $10.8 million and $10.6 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the Company. See Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

 

 

 
58

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands)

 

                   

Accumulated

                 
                   

Other

           

Total

 
   

Common Stock

   

Comprehensive

   

Retained

   

Stockholders'

 
   

Voting

   

Non-Voting

   

Income (Loss)

   

Earnings

   

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

  $ 270,511     $ 7,489     $ (487 )   $ 119,015     $ 396,528  

Net income

    -       -       -       35,921       35,921  

Change in pension and postretirement, net of tax

    -       -       (500 )     -       (500 )

Conversion of common stock

    5,301       (5,301 )     -       -       -  

Repurchase of securities

    (142,812 )     (2,188 )     -       -       (145,000 )

Balance at December 31, 2012

    133,000       -       (987 )     154,936       286,949  

Net income

    -       -       -       6,140       6,140  

Young Merger transaction

    421,703       12,483       -       -       434,186  

Change in pension and postretirement, net of tax

    -       -       6,655       -       6,655  

Exercise of stock options

    2,613       -       -       -       2,613  

Performance accelerated restricted stock

    (51 )     -       -       -       (51 )

Stock-based compensation

    493       -       -       -       493  

Other

    (4 )     -       -       -       (4 )

Balance at December 31, 2013

    557,754       12,483       5,668       161,076       736,981  

Net income

    -       -       -       53,506       53,506  

LIN Merger transaction

    736,290       -       -       -       736,290  

Change in pension and postretirement, net of tax

    -       -       (42,113 )     -       (42,113 )

Conversion of common stock

    12,483       (12,483 )                        

Exercise of stock options

    603       -       -       -       603  

Performance accelerated restricted stock

    (163 )     -       -       -       (163 )

Amendment to Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan

    7,361       -       -       -       7,361  

Stock-based compensation

    5,987       -       -       -       5,987  

Other

    696       -       -       -       696  

Balance at December 31, 2014

  $ 1,321,011     $ -     $ (36,445 )   $ 214,582     $ 1,499,148  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page 61. 

 

 
59

 

 

Media General, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

   

Years Ended

 
   

December 31,

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                       

Net income

  $ 56,520     $ 4,354     $ 35,963  

Adjustments to reconcile net income:

                       

Deferred income tax expense

    44,285       11,584       18,669  

Depreciation and amortization

    66,557       25,772       16,179  

Provision for doubtful accounts

    298       1,497       784  

Amortization of program license rights

    21,630       11,362       9,022  

Change in fair value of interest rate swap

    -       (192 )     440  

Amortization of debt discount

    3,721       844       751  

Gain on sale of stations

    (42,957 )     -       -  

(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment, net

    (8,935 )     399       59  

Decrease in Gray Equity Participation

    -       -       (8,000 )

Gain on insurance proceeds

    -       -       (328 )

Stock-based compensation

    4,071       6,101       -  

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    3,513       4,509       -  

Change in assets and liabilities:

                       

Program license rights, net of liabilities

    (21,834 )     (12,015 )     (8,999 )

Trade accounts receivable

    (2,658 )     (9,262 )     (3,050 )

Trade accounts payable

    9,189       (6,401 )     1,060  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    (13,786 )     (28,350 )     15,702  

Contributions to retirement plans

    (49,879 )     (6,225 )     (938 )

Other, net

    (1,213 )     3,823       (3,748 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

    68,522       7,800       73,566  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                       

Capital expenditures

    (36,615 )     (15,166 )     (11,612 )

Payments for acquisition of station assets

    (175,662 )     (14,324 )     (19,500 )

Proceeds from station sales

    357,315       -       -  

Cash and cash equivalents acquired in merger transaction

    25,507       17,327       -  

Cash consideration LIN Merger

    (763,075 )     -       -  

Collateral refunds related to letters of credit

    980       2,498       -  

Proceeds from the sale of PP&E

    25,914       -       -  

Increase in restricted cash at qualified intermediary

    (119,903 )     -       -  

Other, net

    (283 )     126       195  

Net cash used by investing activities

    (685,822 )     (9,539 )     (30,917 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

                       

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

    10,000       -       -  

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit facility

    (10,000 )     -       -  

Borrowings under Media General Credit Agreement

    889,687       885,000       -  

Repayment of borrowings under Media General Credit Agreement

    (84,000 )     -       -  

Borrowings under 2022 Senior Notes

    398,000       -       -  

Debt payoff LIN Merger

    (577,610 )     -       -  

Borrowings under Shield Media Credit Agreement

    -       32,000       -  

Repayment of borrowings under Shield Media Credit Agreement

    (2,400 )     -       -  

Repayment of Berkshire Hathaway Financing Arrangement

    -       (375,260 )     -  

Repayment of Senior Notes

    -       (326,145 )     -  

Borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

    -       -       65,000  

Repayment of borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

    -       (135,000 )     (15,000 )

Borrowings under WLAJ and WXXA Term Loan

    -       10,000       22,000  

Repayment of borrowings under WLAJ and WXXA Term Loan

    -       (32,000 )     -  

Debt issuance costs

    (35,198 )     (11,896 )     (842 )

Redemption of common stock

    -       -       (145,000 )

Other, net

    1,123       2,414       (122 )

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

    589,602       49,113       (73,964 )

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (27,698 )     47,374       (31,315 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    71,618       24,244       55,559  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  $ 43,920     $ 71,618     $ 24,244  
                         

Cash paid:  Interest

  $ 45,172     $ 26,461     $ 6,256  

 Income taxes, net

  $ 1,741     $ 1,047     $ 1,449  
                         

Non cash investing activity: Merger transactions

  $ (736,289 )   $ (434,186 )   $ -  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements begin on page 61. 

 

 
60

 

 

Media General, Inc.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

On December 19, 2014 (the "Closing Date"), Media General, Inc., now known as MGOC, Inc. (“Old Media General”), and LIN Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LIN Media” or “LIN”) were combined in a business combination transaction (the “LIN Merger”). As a result of this merger, Media General, Inc., formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc. (“New Media General” or the “Company”) became the parent public reporting company of the combined company; LIN Television Corporation (“LIN Television”) became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of New Media General; and Old Media General became a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of LIN Television and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of New Media General. The merger was accounted for in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), and New Media General was the acquirer.

 

Also on the Closing Date, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, completed the sale of the following television stations: (i) WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, (ii) WLUK-TV and WCWF-TV in Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin, (iii) certain assets of WTGS-TV in Savannah, Georgia, (iv) WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, (v) WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia, and (vi) WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama. It also completed the purchase of the following television stations: (i) KXRM-TV and KXTU-LD in Colorado Springs, Colorado and (ii) WTTA-TV in Tampa, Florida.

 

References to Media General, we, us, or the Company in this Item 8 that include any period at and before the effectiveness of the LIN Merger shall be deemed to refer to Old Media General as the predecessor registrant to New Media General. References to Legacy Media General refer to Old Media General prior to the merger with New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (“Young”) as further described below.

 

On November 12, 2013, Legacy Media General and Young were combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger transaction. In the merger, Media General issued to Young’s equity holders 60.2 million shares of Media General voting common stock. The merger with Young was accounted for as a reverse acquisition in accordance with ASC 805. For financial reporting purposes, Young is the acquirer and the continuing reporting entity. Accordingly, financial information presented for the Company in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflect the historical activity of Young.

 

As a result of the mergers described above, the Company owns, operates or services 71 network-affiliated stations and their associated digital media and mobile platforms (22 with CBS, 14 with NBC, 12 with ABC, eight with FOX, seven with MyNetworkTV, seven with CW, and one with Telemundo), operating in 48 markets.

 

Legacy Media General was incorporated in Virginia and became a public company in 1969. It grew through acquisition, mostly by purchasing high-quality, privately owned local media entities in the Southeastern United States. Legacy Media General sold all of its newspapers in 2012. Young was incorporated in 2009 for purposes of acquiring the business of Young Broadcasting Inc. in connection with Young Broadcasting Inc.’s bankruptcy filing under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In June of 2010, Young Broadcasting Inc. emerged from bankruptcy as a wholly owned subsidiary of Young pursuant to Young Broadcasting Inc.’s confirmed Chapter 11 plan of reorganization. Various LIN entities have owned and operated television stations since 1966. LIN Television was incorporated in Rhode Island in 1990 and LIN TV Corp. (“LIN TV”) was incorporated in 1998. On July 30, 2013, LIN TV merged with and into LIN Media LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of LIN TV, with LIN Media as the surviving entity. LIN TV became a public company in 2002.

 

 

 
61

 

  

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on December 31 for all years presented.

 

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and certain variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in companies in which the Company has significant influence; generally, this represents investments comprising approximately 20 to 50 percent of the voting stock of companies or certain partnership interests.

 

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, WLAJ, WBDT, WYTV, KTKA, KWBQ, KRWB, and KASY pursuant to the VIE accounting guidance. All of the liabilities are non-recourse to the Company, except for certain of the debt, which the Company guarantees. As discussed in Note 5, the Company is also the primary beneficiary of the VIE that holds the Supplemental 401(k) Plan’s investments and consolidates the plan accordingly.

 

The Company has one reportable segment. The Segment includes 71 television stations that are either owned, operated or serviced by the Company in 48 markets, all of which are engaged principally in the sale of television advertising and digital advertising primarily on the station’s companion websites and five digital operations.

 

The Company guarantees all of LIN Television's debt and the debt of its consolidated VIE’s. All of the consolidated wholly-owned subsidiaries of LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantee LIN Television's 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) and the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (the "2021 Notes") on a joint-and-several basis, subject to customary release provisions.

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Company’s significant accounting policies are described below.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company re-evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Advertising Revenues

The Company’s primary source of revenue is the sale of advertising time on its television stations. Advertising revenue is recognized when advertisements are aired. Agency commissions related to broadcast advertising are recorded as a reduction of revenue.  Broadcast advertising revenue represented approximately 73%, 77% and 84% of gross operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 

 

Retransmission Consent Revenues

The Company receives consideration from certain satellite and cable providers in return for the Company’s consent to the retransmission of the signals of its television stations. Retransmission consent revenue is recognized on a per subscriber basis in accordance with the terms of each contract. Retransmission consent revenue represented approximately 19%, 16% and 10% of gross operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 

 

 

 
62

 

 

Digital Revenue

The Company recognizes revenue generated by its digital companies over the service delivery period when necessary provisions of the contracts have been met. In addition, for the sale of third-party products and services by its digital companies, the Company evaluates whether it is appropriate to recognize revenue based on the gross amount billed to the customer over the net amount retained by the Company. Also included in digital revenue is revenue earned by the television station websites.

  

Other Revenue

The Company generates revenue from other sources, which include sales of digital advertising, commercial production and tower space rental income.

 

Barter Arrangements

The Company, in the ordinary course of business, provides advertising airtime to certain customers in exchange for products or services. Barter transactions are recorded on the basis of the estimated fair value of the advertising spots delivered. Revenue is recognized as the related advertising is broadcast and expenses are recognized when the merchandise or services are consumed or utilized. Barter revenue programming transactions amounted to approximately $14.3 million, $4.3 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Network Compensation

Twenty-two of the Company’s 71 stations are affiliated with CBS, 14 are affiliated with NBC, 12 with ABC, eight with FOX, seven with CW and MyNetworkTV and one with Telemundo. Network compensation is determined based on the contractual arrangements with the Company’s affiliates and is recognized within operating expenses over the term of the arrangement.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash in excess of current operating needs is invested in various short-term instruments carried at cost that approximates fair value. Those short-term investments having an original maturity of three months or less are classified in the balance sheet as cash equivalents.

 

Derivatives

Derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments that are designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the change in value of the derivative instrument is reported as a component of the Company’s other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss is recognized in the Company’s current earnings during the period of change. The Company terminated its interest rate swap in November 2013 and has entered into no other derivative instruments since that date.

 

Trade Accounts Receivable and Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company provides advertising airtime to national, regional and local advertisers within the geographic areas in which the Company operates. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition, and advance payment is not generally required. The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of significant customers, and this assessment, combined with the size and geographic diversity of its customer base, limits its concentration of risk with respect to trade receivables. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on both the aging of accounts at period end and specific reserves for certain customers. Accounts are written off when deemed uncollectible.

 

Self-insurance

The Company self-insures for certain employee medical and disability benefits, workers’ compensation costs, as well as automobile and general liability claims. The Company’s responsibility for medical, workers’ compensation and auto and general liability claims is capped at a certain dollar level (generally $100 thousand to $500 thousand depending on claim type). Insurance liabilities are calculated on an undiscounted basis based on actual claim data and estimates of incurred but not reported claims. Estimates for projected settlements and incurred but not reported claims are based on development factors, including historical trends and data, provided by a third party.

 

 

 
63

 

    

Program License Rights

Program license rights are recorded as assets when the license period begins and the programs are available for use. Capitalized program license rights are stated at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value. Program license rights are 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. Program license rights with lives greater than one year, in which the Company has the right to multiple showings, are amortized using an accelerated method. Program rights with lives of one year or less are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the program. Capitalized program rights expected to be amortized in the succeeding year and amounts payable within one year are classified as current assets and liabilities, respectively. Capitalized program license rights are evaluated on a periodic basis to determine if estimated future net revenues support the recorded basis of the asset. If the estimated net revenues are less than the current carrying value of the capitalized program rights, the Company will reduce the program rights to net realizable value.

 

Company-owned Life Insurance

The Company owns life insurance policies on executives, current employees, former employees and retirees. Management considers these policies to be operating assets. Cash surrender values of life insurance policies are presented net of policy loans. Borrowings and repayments against company-owned life insurance are reflected in the operating activities section of the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment acquired in the normal course of business are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Assets acquired prior to June of 2010, were recorded at fair value when the Company adopted fresh start accounting. Assets acquired through acquisitions and mergers were recorded at fair value as of the date of the respective business combination. Equipment under capital leases are stated at the present value of the future minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease, less accumulated amortization. Major renovations and improvements as well as interest cost incurred during the construction period of major additions are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and minor renovations are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment are calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Equipment held under capital leases are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Depreciation deductions are computed by accelerated methods for income tax purposes. The estimated useful lives of depreciable assets are as follows:

 

Classification

 

Estimated Useful Lives

(years)

 

Land improvements

    10 - 40  

Buildings and building improvements

    10 - 40  

Broadcast equipment and other

    3 - 15  

 

Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets

Intangible assets consist of goodwill (which is the excess of purchase price over the net identifiable assets of businesses acquired), broadcast licenses, network affiliations, advertiser relationships and favorable lease interests. Indefinite-lived intangible assets (goodwill and broadcast licenses) are not amortized, but finite-lived intangibles (network affiliations, advertiser relationships and favorable lease interests) are amortized using the straight-line method over periods ranging from one to 20 years.

 

 

 
64

 

 

Annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators are present, management evaluates the recoverability of indefinite-lived intangibles using estimated discounted cash flows and market factors to determine fair value. When indicators of impairment are present, management evaluates the recoverability of long-lived tangible and finite-lived intangible assets by reviewing current and projected profitability using undiscounted cash flows of such assets.  

 

Broadcast licenses are granted by the FCC for maximum terms of eight years and are subject to renewal upon application to the FCC. The licenses remain in effect until action on the renewal applications has been completed. The Company has filed all of its applications for renewal in a timely manner prior to the applicable expiration dates and expects its applications will be approved when the FCC works through its backlog, as is routine in the industry. The Company’s ABC network affiliation agreements are due for renewal in a weighted-average period of approximately two and one-half years. The Company’s CBS network affiliation agreements are due for renewal in a weighted-average period of approximately five and one-half years. The Company’s NBC network affiliation agreements are due for renewal in a weighted-average period of approximately one and one-half years. The Company’s CW affiliation is due for renewal within six and one-half years. The FOX affiliation expires in three years. The Company’s affiliation with MyNetworkTV and Telemundo expire in September 2016 and March 31, 2015. The Company currently expects that it will renew these network affiliation agreements prior to their expiration dates. Direct costs associated with renewing or extending intangible assets have historically been insignificant and are expensed as incurred.

 

Income Taxes

The Company provides for income taxes using the asset and liability method. The provision for, or benefit from, income taxes includes deferred taxes resulting from temporary differences in income for financial statement and tax purposes. Such temporary differences result primarily from differences in the carrying value of assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are established when it is estimated that it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The evaluation prescribed includes the consideration of all available evidence regarding historical operating results, including the estimated timing of future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, estimated future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards and potential tax planning strategies which may be employed to prevent an operating loss or tax credit carryforward from expiring unused. Future taxable income may be considered with the achievement of positive cumulative financial reporting income (generally the current and two preceding years). Once a valuation allowance is established, it is maintained until a change in factual circumstances gives rise to sufficient income of the appropriate character and timing that will allow a partial or full utilization of the deferred tax asset. Residual deferred taxes related to comprehensive income items are removed from comprehensive income and affect net income when final settlement of the items occurs. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return, and combined and separate state tax returns as appropriate.

 

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities. The determination is based on the technical merits of the position and presumes that each uncertain tax position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The Company recognizes interest and penalties relating to uncertain tax positions within income tax expense.

 

Comprehensive Income

The Company’s comprehensive income consists of net income and unrecognized actuarial gains and losses on its pension and postretirement liabilities, net of income tax adjustments and, when applicable, recognition of deferred gains or losses on derivatives designated as hedges.

 

 

 
65

 

 

 Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of financial instruments, including cash, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value. See Note 8 regarding the fair value of long-term debt and other financial instruments.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") and the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") issued a converged standard on revenue recognition from contracts with customers, ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606 and IFRS 15). This standard will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-08, "Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360) - Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity" ("ASU 2014-08"). ASU 2014-08 changes the threshold for disclosing discontinued operations and the related disclosure requirements. Pursuant to ASU 2014-08, only disposals representing a strategic shift, such as a major line of business, a major geographical area or a major equity investment, should be presented as a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 with early adoption permitted but only for disposals or classifications as held for sale which have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. As a result of early adoption, the Company’s sales of WJAR and WVTM in conjunction with the LIN Merger did not meet the criteria of a discontinued operation since they do not represent a strategic shift in operations.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, "Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern." This ASU establishes specific guidance to an organization's management on their responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the organization's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company has not yet adopted this standard and is currently evaluating the impact that the new guidance will have on its disclosures and consolidated financial statements.

 

Reclassifications

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

 

Earnings per share and share information presented in the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to November 12, 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. Beginning on November 12, 2013, common shares and share equivalents are presented for the combined company.

 

Note 2: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Dispositions

 

LIN Merger

 

As described in Note 1, Old Media General and LIN were combined under New Media General, a newly formed holding company, that has been renamed Media General. This combination increased the scale of the combined entity enabling the Company to continue to participate in industry consolidation. In connection with the LIN Merger, former shareholders of LIN Media had the option to make an election to receive either $25.97 in cash or 1.4714 shares of voting common stock of Media General, subject to pro-ration in accordance with the terms of the LIN Merger Agreement, in exchange for their shares of LIN Media. Based on the final results of the elections made by LIN Media’s shareholders, the Company issued a total of approximately 41,239,715 shares of voting common stock and paid approximately $763 million in cash to the former LIN Media shareholders. The total purchase price of the LIN Merger was approximately $2.4 billion. The LIN Merger was financed using proceeds from the Company’s borrowings more fully described in Note 8.

 

 

 
66

 

 

As part of the LIN Merger, the Company sold WJAR-TV in Providence, RI, WLUK-TV and WCWF-TV in Green Bay-Appleton, WI, WTGS-TV in Savannah, GA, WVTM-TV in Birmingham, AL, WJCL-TV in Savannah, GA and WALA-TV in Mobile, AL for approximately $360 million and purchased KXRM-TV and KXTU-LD in Colorado Springs, CO and WTTA-TV in Tampa, FL for approximately $93 million. At December 31, 2014, the Company had restricted cash in the amount of $120 million in a qualified intermediary (a consolidated entity) relating to the sale of WJAR-TV. The sales of these stations resulted in a gain on sale of approximately $43 million and included in the assets sold was goodwill of approximately $86 million.

 

The Company incurred $33 million of investment banking, legal and accounting fees and expenses during the year ended December 31, 2014 related to the LIN Merger.

 

Following the LIN Merger and the divestitures and acquisitions discussed above, the Company now owns or operates 71 stations across 48 markets.

 

The initial allocated fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of LIN (including the acquisitions of the stations in Colorado Springs and Tampa discussed above) is as follows:

 

(In thousands)

               

Current assets acquired

          $ 218,516  

Property and equipment

            280,124  

Other assets acquired

            12,812  

FCC broadcast licenses

            614,942  

Definite lived intangible assets

            740,065  

Goodwill

            1,132,538  

Deferred income tax liabilities recorded in conjunction with the acquisition

            (330,647 )

Current liabilities assumed

            (111,517 )

Other liabilities assumed

            (79,185 )

Total

          $ 2,477,648  

 

Current assets acquired included cash and cash equivalents of $26 million and trade accounts receivable of $162 million.

 

The amount allocated to definite-lived intangible assets represents the estimated fair values of network affiliations of $457.2 million, advertiser and publisher relationships of $211.4 million, $36.5 million of LMA agreements, $16.5 million of technology and trade names and favorable lease assets of $18.5 million. These intangible assets will be amortized over their weighted-average estimated remaining useful lives of 15 years for network affiliations, 5-7 years for the advertiser relationships, 20 years for LMA agreements, 5 years for technology and trade names 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.

 

None of the goodwill recognized in connection with the LIN Merger is expected to be tax deductible.

 

The LIN Merger closed shortly before year end. The initial allocation presented above is based upon management’s preliminary 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.

 

 

 
67

 

 

The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 include the results of LIN from December 19, 2014 through December 31, 2014. Net operating revenues and operating loss of LIN included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, were $25 million and $1.2 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Legacy Media General Merger

 

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 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  

 

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, seven 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.

 

 

 
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The allocation presented above was determined using similar techniques and methodologies as described for the LIN Merger. Approximately $164 million of the goodwill recognized is expected to be tax deductible.

 

The Company incurred $4 million and $17 million of legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, related to the Legacy Media General merger.

 

The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 include the results of Legacy Media General from November 12, 2013 through December 31, 2013. Net operating revenues and operating income of Legacy Media General included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, were $48.3 million and $1 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations, assuming that the LIN Merger, the acquisition of WHTM, the merger with Young, the consolidation of the VIEs described in Note 4 and the refinancing described in Note 8, occurred at the beginning of the year preceding the year of acquisition. The 2012 period does not include the pro forma effects of the LIN Merger, and as such, will not provide comparability to the 2013 and 2014 pro forma periods presented in the following table:

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Net operating revenue

  $ 1,345,275     $ 1,173,140     $ 602,335  

Net (loss) income

    (41,901 )     38,863       34,554  

Net (loss) income attributable to Media General

    (47,767 )     38,464       32,265  
                         

Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted

    (0.53 )     0.30       0.36  

 

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 1st of the applicable year. The 2014 results include $60 million in pretax impairment charges and similar amount of stock-based compensation most of which related to the merger and will not recur. The pro forma adjustments 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 PARS 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.

 

Pro forma results for 2014 presented above, exclude $75 million of merger-related expenses recognized on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Additionally, results for 2014 also exclude $3.5 million of debt modification and extinguishment costs. These costs were not included in the pro forma amounts above as they are non-recurring in nature.

 

Pro forma results for 2013 presented above, exclude the $13.1 million of merger-related expenses recognized on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and $16.3 million of merger-related expenses incurred by Legacy Media General prior to the Young merger. Additionally, results for 2013 also exclude $4.5 million of debt modification and extinguishment costs. These costs were not included in the pro forma amounts above as they are non-recurring in nature.

 

 

 
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Acquisition of WHTM

 

On September 1, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of WHTM, a television station located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for approximately $83.5 million, including assumed liabilities. This transaction was accounted for as a purchase and has been included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations since the date of acquisition.

 

The initial allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities is summarized as follows:

 

(In thousands)

       

Property and equipment

  $ 3,515  

Broadcast licenses

    27,900  

Definite lived intangible assets

    31,700  

Goodwill

    20,357  

Other assets

    380  

Other liabilities

    (354 )

Total

  $ 83,498  

 

The amount allocated to definite-lived intangible assets represents the estimated fair values of network affiliations of approximately $24.7 million and advertiser relationships of $7.0 million. These intangible assets will be amortized over their weighted-average estimated remaining useful lives of 15 years for network affiliations and seven years for the advertiser relationships. Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated remaining useful lives.

 

The allocation presented above was determined using similar techniques and methodologies as described for the LIN Merger. None of the goodwill recognized is expected to be tax deductible.

  

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

 

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 results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 include the results of WHTM from September 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. Net operating revenues and operating income of WHTM included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, were $8.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company incurred approximately $0.2 million of transition related expenses related to the WHTM acquisition.

 

Note 3: Variable Interest Entities

 

Shield Media Entities

Shield Media LLC and Shield Media Lansing LLC, through their respective subsidiaries, WXXA-TV LLC (“WXXA”) and WLAJ-TV LLC (“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.

 

 

 
70

 

 

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. 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.

 

LIN Merger

As a result of the LIN Merger, the Company now has a JSA and an SSA with WBDT Television, LLC (“WBDT”), a third party licensee for WBDT-TV in the Dayton, OH market. It also has JSAs and SSAs with affiliates of Vaughan Acquisition LLC (“Vaughan”), a third party licensee for WYTV-TV in the Youngstown, OH market and KTKA-TV in the Topeka, KS market and SSAs with KASY-TV Licensee, LLC (“KASY”), a third-party licensee, for KWBQ-TV in the Santa Fe, NM market, KRWB-TV in the Roswell, NM market and KASY-TV in the Albuquerque, NM market. Under these agreements, the Company provides administrative services to these stations, has an obligation to reimburse certain of the stations' expenses, and is compensated through a performance-based fee structure that provides the Company the benefit of certain returns from the operation of these stations. The company determined that WBDT, Vaughan and KASY are VIEs and as a result of the JSAs and/or SSAs, it has a variable interest in these entities.

 

The Company is the primary beneficiary of the entities described above and therefore, the financial results and financial position of these entities have been consolidated by the Company in accordance with the VIE accounting guidance.

 

 

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

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 

Assets

               

Current assets

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,846     $ 4,110  

Trade accounts receivable, net

    10,336       3,831  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    1,156       671  

Total current assets

    15,338       8,612  

Property and equipment, net

    3,244       2,996  

Other assets, net

    2,011       697  

Definite lived intangible assets, net

    20,152       3,400  

Broadcast licenses

    84,300       22,400  

Goodwill

    50,855       2,730  

Total assets

  $ 175,900     $ 40,835  

Liabilities

               

Current liabilities

               

Trade accounts payable

  $ 56     $ -  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    6,839       2,180  

Current installments of long-term debt

    3,562       2,400  

Total current liabilities

    10,457       4,580  

Long-term debt

    28,150       29,600  

Other liabilities

    3,914       8,399  

Total liabilities

  $ 42,521     $ 42,579  

 

The assets of the Company’s consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs and may not be sold, or otherwise disposed of, except for assets sold or replaced with others of like kind or value. At December 31, 2014, the Company has an option that it may exercise if the FCC attribution rules change. The option would allow the Company to acquire the assets or member’s interest of the VIE entities for a nominal exercise price, which is significantly less than the carrying value of their tangible and intangible net assets. The options are carried at zero on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, as any value attributable to the options is eliminated in the consolidation of the VIEs. In an order adopted in March 2014, 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 until June 19, 2016 (subsequently extended to December 19, 2016) to amend or terminate those arrangements, unless they are able to obtain a waiver of such rules. Accordingly, absent further developments, or the grant of waivers, the Company will be required to modify or terminate its existing JSAs no later than December 19, 2016.

 

Note 4: Common Stock 

 

Common Stock

 

On December 19, 2014, pursuant to the LIN Merger, each outstanding share of LIN common stock was converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to $25.97 or 1.4714 shares of no par value voting common stock of Media General. Media General issued 41,197,003 shares of voting common stock to LIN’s equity holders to effect the LIN Merger.

 

 

 
72

 

 

On November 12, 2013, pursuant to the merger agreement with Young, Media General reclassified all of the outstanding shares of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock (28,192,395 shares in the aggregate) into shares of no par value voting common stock. 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 all periods presented reflect the applicable number of shares of no par value voting common stock. Warrants for the year ended 2012 have been restated to reflect the right to receive the applicable number of shares of no par value voting common stock. Media General issued 60,193,351 shares of voting common stock to Young’s equity holders to effect the merger transaction.

 

A few shareholders elected to receive (certain of their) shares in a separate class of unlisted Media General non-voting common stock. These shares were converted back to voting shares with the LIN Merger.

 

The following table shows common stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

 

   

Voting

   

Non-voting

 
   

Shares

   

Shares

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

    53,062,528       1,469,271  

Conversion of warrants

    12,747,077       -  

Conversion of common stock

    1,039,668       (1,039,668 )

Repurchase of securities

    (19,046,457 )     (429,603 )

Balance at December 31, 2012

    47,802,816       -  

Conversion of warrants

    12,390,535       -  

Young Merger transaction

    27,363,510       828,885  

Exercise of stock options

    141,001       -  

Performance accelerated restricted stock

    (2,384 )     -  

Other

    17       -  

Balance at December 31, 2013

    87,695,495       828,885  

Directors deferred compensation plan

    172,557       -  

LIN Merger

    41,197,003       -  

Exercise of stock options

    106,798       -  

Conversion of non-voting shares

    828,885       (828,885 )

Performance accelerated restricted stock

    (69,086 )     -  

Other

    160       -  

Balance at December 31, 2014

    129,931,812       -  

 

Note 5: Stock-Based Compensation

 

Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) is administered by the Compensation Committee and permits the grant of stock-based awards to key employees in the form of nonqualified stock options (Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan) and non-vested shares (Performance Accelerated Restricted Stock Plan (“PARS”)). As required by the agreement at the effective time of the LIN Merger, the stock options of LIN Media outstanding immediately prior to the merger became an option to purchase 1.4714 times the number of shares of voting common stock equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to such stock option on the same terms and conditions as applied to such stock option immediately prior to the effective time of the LIN Merger (including applicable vesting, exercise and expiration provisions). Likewise, the outstanding restricted stock awards of LIN Media were converted into 1.4714 shares of Class A common stock of the Company on the same terms and conditions that applied prior to the merger. At the effective time of the LIN Merger, the exercise price of the both the stock options and restricted stock was adjusted accordingly by dividing the exercise price prior to the merger by the conversion rate of 1.4714.

 

 

 
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At December 31, 2014, a combined 1,643,848 shares remained available for grants of PARS (up to 314,548 shares) and stock options under the LTIP. Grant prices of stock options are equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant. Options are exercisable during the continued employment of the optionee but not for a period greater than ten years and not for a period greater than one year after termination of employment; they generally become exercisable at the rate of one-third each year from the date of grant. For awards granted prior to 2006, the optionee may exercise any option in full in the event of death or disability or upon retirement after at least ten years of service with the Company and after attaining age 55. For awards granted in 2006 and thereafter, the optionee must be 63 years of age, with ten years of service, and must be an employee on December 31 of the year of grant in order to be eligible to exercise an award upon retirement. The Company has options for 8,000 shares outstanding under a former plan with slightly different exercise terms. LIN options are exercisable during the continued employment of the optionee but not for a period greater than ten years and they generally become exercisable over a three or four-year period from the date of grant. 

 

The Company valued outstanding LIN stock options as of December 18, 2014, using a Black-Scholes valuation method. The volatility factor in all periods was estimated based on the Company’s historical volatility over the contractual term of the options. The Company also used historical data to derive the option’s expected life. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve on December 18, 2014. The dividend yield was predicated on the average expected dividend payment over the expected life of the option and the stock price on December 18, 2014. Outstanding options that were granted prior to 2011 (with an aggregate fair value of $2.4 million) were fully vested and were considered to be part of the purchase price of LIN. The portion of outstanding options granted in 2013, 2012 and 2011 that were earned prior to the LIN Merger (an aggregate fair value of $14.7 million) were also considered to be part of the purchase price of LIN. The portion of these awards that were not earned prior to the LIN Merger (an aggregate fair value of $2.1 million) will be amortized over the remaining service period. The key assumptions used to value stock options granted by LIN in 2013, 2012 and 2011 and the resulting merger date fair values are summarized below:

 

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

Risk-free interest rate

    2.12 %     2.12 %     1.85% - 2.01 %

Dividend yield

    0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %

Volatility factor

    77.83 %     77.83 %     77.83 %

Expected approximate life (years)

    8       8       6 to 7  

Exercise price

  $ 8.07 - $8.70     $ 2.89 - $4.49     $ 2.44 - $4.01  

LIN Merger date fair value

  $ 14.70 - $14.91     $ 15.69 - $16.17     $ 15.40 - $16.22  

  

The Company valued outstanding stock options as of November 12, 2013, using a Black-Scholes valuation method. The volatility factor in all periods was estimated based on the Company’s historical volatility over the contractual term of the options. The Company also used historical data to derive the option’s expected life. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve on November 12, 2013. The dividend yield was predicated on the average expected dividend payment over the expected life of the option and the stock price on November 12, 2013. Outstanding options that were granted prior to 2011 (with an aggregate fair value of $6.9 million) were fully vested and were considered to be part of the purchase price of Legacy Media General. The portion of outstanding options granted in 2013, 2012 and 2011 that were earned prior to the merger transaction (an aggregate fair value of $4.9 million) were also considered to be part of the purchase price of Legacy Media General. The portion of these awards that were not earned prior the merger transaction (an aggregate fair value of $2.8 million) will be amortized over the remaining service period. The key assumptions used to value stock options granted by Legacy Media General in 2013 and 2012 and the resulting merger date fair values are summarized below: 

 

   

2013

   

2012

 

Risk-free interest rate

    1.82 %     1.82 %

Dividend yield

    0.00 %     0.00 %

Volatility factor

    79.05 %     86.31 %

Expected life (years)

    6.2       6.2  

Exercise price

    4.26       4.98  

Young Merger date fair value

  $ 12.90     $ 12.96  

 

 

 
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The following is a summary of option activity for the year ended December 31, 2014:

 

           

Weighted-

   

Weighted-Average

         
           

Average

   

Remaining

   

Aggregate

 
           

Exercise

   

Contractual

   

Intrinsic

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Shares

   

Price

   

Term (in years)*

   

Value

 

Outstanding -1/1/2014

    1,317     $ 16.83                  

LIN converted stock options

    1,216       5.49                  

Exercised

    (107 )     5.64                  

Forfeited or expired

    (144 )     30.41                  

Outstanding - 12/31/2014

    2,282     $ 10.45       6.5     $ 21,453  
                                 

Outstanding - 12/31/2014 less estimated forfeitures

    2,279     $ 10.46       6.5     $ 21,414  
                                 

Exercisable - 12/31/2014

    1,544     $ 12.44       6.4     $ 14,231  

 

* Excludes 8,000 options which are exercisable during the continued employment of the optionee and for a three-year period thereafter.

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2014 and 2013 was $1.4 million and 0.4 million, respectively; cash received from these options exercised was $0.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

 

In 2014, the Company recognized non-cash compensation expense of approximately $2.5 million ($1.6 million after-tax) related to stock options. As of December 31, 2014 there was $2.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1 year.

 

In 2013, the Company recognized non-cash compensation expense of approximately $450 thousand ($290 thousand after-tax) related to stock options. As of December 31, 2013 there was $2.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.7 year.

 

 

 
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The Company valued outstanding restricted stock as of December 18, 2014, using the closing price of Media General’s common stock on December 18, 2014, of $17.64. The portion of outstanding restricted stock that was earned prior to the LIN Merger (an aggregate fair value of $1.3 million) was considered to be part of the purchase price of LIN. The portion of these awards that were not earned prior to the merger transaction (an aggregate fair value of $12.6 million) will be amortized over the remaining service period of approximately 2 years. The Company recognized approximately $0.8 million of expense related to restricted stock in the year ended December 31, 2014, mainly due to accelerated vesting of awards held by participants at stations sold in conjunction with the merger.

 

           

Weighted-

 
           

Average

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Nonvested balance - 12/18/2014

    791     $ 17.64  

Restrictions released

    (25 )   $ 17.64  

Nonvested balance - 12/31/2014

    766     $ 17.64  

  

Certain executives are eligible for PARS, which vest over a ten-year period. If pre-determined earnings targets are achieved (as defined in the plan), vesting may accelerate to either a three, five or seven year period. The recipient of PARS must remain employed by the Company during the vesting period. However, in the event of death, disability or retirement after age 63, a pro-rata portion of the recipient’s PARS becomes vested. All restrictions on PARS granted prior to 2005 have been released. The following is a summary of PARS activity for the year ended December 31, 2014: 

 

           

Weighted-

 
           

Average

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Nonvested balance - 1/1/2014

    204     $ 15.06  

Restrictions released

    (134 )   $ 15.06  

Forfeited

    (16 )   $ 15.06  

Nonvested balance - 12/31/2014

    54     $ 15.06  

  

The Company valued outstanding PARS as of November 12, 2013, using the closing price on November 11, 2013, of $15.06. The portion of outstanding PARS that were earned prior to the Young merger transaction (an aggregate fair value of $1 million) was considered to be part of the purchase price of Legacy Media General. The portion of these awards that were not earned prior to the merger transaction (an aggregate fair value of $2.1 million) will be amortized over the remaining service period. The vesting of awards to certain participants whose jobs were eliminated as part of the merger was accelerated and restrictions were released on those shares. As of December 31, 2014, there was $0.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to PARS under the LTIP; that cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 6.5 years. The Company recognized approximately $2.1 million of expense related to PARS in the year ended December 31, 2014.  

 

Executive Retention Deferred Stock Units

In June of 2013, Legacy Media General entered into employment agreements with certain executive officers of Legacy Media General and Young. Each agreement became effective upon the closing of the transaction with Young. The employment agreements entitled certain of the officers to a grant of deferred stock units, the number of which was determined by dividing the officer’s base salary by the closing per share price ($9.76) on the date of the public announcement of the transaction, June 6, 2013. One half of such units will vest on each of the first and second anniversary of the closing date of the merger with Young. Officers must be employed through each applicable vesting date in order to receive a cash payment in settlement of the deferred stock units. The Company recorded expense of $1.9 million and $0.4 million ($1.2 million and $0.3 million after-tax) during the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which reflected the number of deferred stock units earned following the merger as well as an adjustment for changes in fair value of the deferred stock units.

 

 

 
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Supplemental 401(k) Plan

The Company has a Supplemental 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) which allows certain employees to defer salary and obtain a Company match where federal regulations would otherwise limit those amounts. The Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE that holds the Plan’s investments and consolidates the Plan accordingly. Participants receive cash payments upon termination of employment, and participants age 55 and above can choose from a range of investment options including the Company’s voting common stock.  The Plan’s liability to participants ($1.1 million at December 31, 2014) is adjusted to its fair value each reporting period. The Plan’s investments ($0.4 million at December 31, 2014) other than its voting common stock, are considered trading securities, reported as assets, and are adjusted to fair value each reporting period. Investments in the voting common stock fund are measured at historical cost and are recorded as a reduction of voting common stock. Consequently, fluctuations in the Company’s stock price will have an impact on the Company’s net income when the liability is adjusted to fair value and the common stock remains at historical cost. The Company recognized $0.2 million of income in 2014 due to fluctuations in the Company’s stock price. From January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014, all eligible and participating employees received a company match of up to a maximum of 4% of their salary. Effective July 1, 2014, the Company amended the Supplemental 401(k) plan to reduce the maximum effective company matching contribution to 3% of participant compensation as defined by the plan for all Media General, LIN (effective on its acquisition date) and Young employees. Participants are permitted to contribute up to a maximum of 50% of their annual base salary in any Plan year.

 

Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan

Each member of the Board of Directors who is neither an employee nor a former employee of the Company (an Outside Director) is eligible to participate in the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan. This plan provides that each Outside Director shall receive half of his or her annual compensation for services to the Board in the form of Deferred Stock Units (“DSU”); each Outside Director additionally may elect to receive the balance of his or her compensation in either cash, DSU or a split between cash and DSU. Other than dividend credits (if dividends are declared), deferred stock units do not entitle Outside Directors to any rights due to a holder of common stock. Prior to April 2014, DSU account balances could be settled after the Outside Director's retirement date by a cash lump-sum payment, a single distribution of common stock or annual installments of either cash or common stock over a period of up to ten years. In April 2014, the Company amended this plan and now it only allows for settlement in stock going forward. The Company records expense based on the amount of compensation paid to each Outside Director. Prior to the April amendment, it also recorded an adjustment for changes in fair value of DSU; this fair value adjustment is no longer applicable. The Company recognized income of $3.3 million ($2.1 million after-tax) in 2014 under the plan due primarily to the fluctuations in the fair value of DSUs.

 

Because the Supplemental 401(k) Plan, the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan and the deferred stock units awarded to certain officers were designed to align the interest of participants with those of shareholders, fluctuations in stock price have an effect on the expense recognized by the Company. Each $1 change in the Company’s stock price as of December 31, 2014, would have adjusted the Company’s pre-tax income by approximately $0.5 million. 

 

Note 6: Intangible Assets and Impairment 

 

The Company reviews the carrying values of both goodwill and FCC broadcast licenses in the fourth quarter each year, or earlier if events indicate an impairment may have arisen, utilizing qualitative analyses and discounted cash flow models and market-based models, where necessary. When evaluating goodwill and other intangible assets for potential impairment, the Company first considers qualitative factors including but not limited to: current macroeconomic conditions, the Company’s actual performance versus budgeted performance, key management changes and selling prices for broadcast companies. When a quantitative test is deemed necessary, the Company compares the carrying value of the reporting unit or asset tested to its estimated fair value. The estimated fair value is determined using the income approach. The income approach utilizes the estimated discounted cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. The Company considers but does not use a market approach to value its reporting units and broadcast licenses, however, market multiples are evaluated to assess the reasonableness of the income approach. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 no impairment charges were recorded.

 

 

 
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Definite and indefinite lived intangible assets were as follows as of December 31, 2014, and 2013:

 

   

Weighted -Average

   

December 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

Remaining Useful Life

(in years)

   

2014

   

2013

 

Definite-lived intangible assets:

                       

Network affiliations

    15     $ 618,500     $ 183,800  

Advertiser relationships

    7       321,855       79,310  

Favorable leases

    8       19,990       1,370  

Accumulated amortization

            (48,485 )     (24,838 )

Net finite-lived intangible assets

          $ 911,860     $ 239,642  
                         

Indefinite-lived intangible assets:

                       

Broadcast licenses

          $ 1,123,800     $ 573,300  
                         

Summary:

                       

Goodwill

          $ 1,608,191     $ 541,475  

Broadcast licenses and finite-lived intangible assets, net

            2,035,660       812,942  

Total intangible assets

          $ 3,643,851     $ 1,354,417  

 

Aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $25.9 million, $9.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively. Amortization expense is expected to be approximately $86 million each year through 2018, $76.2 million in 2019 and $491.8 million thereafter.  

 

Note 7: Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment, net at December 31, 2014, and 2013 consists of the following:

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 

Land and land improvements

  $ 75,759     $ 59,148  

Buildings and building improvements

    150,591       98,421  

Broadcast equipment and other

    328,977       158,436  

Assets in service

    555,327       316,005  

Equipment not yet placed into service

    8,193       4,173  

Total property and equipment

    563,520       320,178  

Accumulated depreciation

    (68,141 )     (34,711 )

Property and equipment, net

  $ 495,379     $ 285,467  

  

Depreciation expense, including capital lease amortization, was approximately $40.6 million, $15.9 million and $9.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Accumulated amortization of capitalized leases was $0.5 million and $0.4 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. 

 

 
78

 

 

Note 8: Debt and Other Financial Instruments

 

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

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Media General Credit Agreement

  $ 1,701,000     $ 885,000  

2022 Notes

    400,000       -  

2021 Notes

    290,000       -  

Shield Media Credit Agreement

    29,600       32,000  

Other borrowings

    2,111       -  

Total debt

    2,422,711       917,000  
                 

Less: net unamortized discount

    (10,768 )     -  

Less: scheduled current maturities

    (11,781 )     (11,217 )
                 

Long-term debt

  $ 2,400,162     $ 905,783  

  

Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt as of December 31, 2014, were as follows (in thousands):

 

(In thousands)

       

Year Ending December 31

       

2015

  $ 11,781  

2016

    11,941  

2017

    11,602  

2018

    70,302  

2019

    49,502  

Thereafter

    2,267,583  

Total

  $ 2,422,711  

  

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 with Young, 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 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. 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.

 

The Company repaid $84 million of principal on the term loan in the early 2014. The early repayment of debt resulted in debt modification and extinguishment costs of $0.2 million due to the accelerated recognition of deferred debt-related items.

 

 

 
79

 

 

In August 2014, the Company obtained an incremental term loan of $75 million to facilitate the acquisition of the WHTM station in Harrisburg, PA.

 

The Company entered into amendments to its credit agreement. Pursuant to the amendments in April and October of 2014, the Company’s existing revolving credit facility under its senior secured credit facility was amended to (i) extend the maturity date to 5 years (October 2019), (ii) reduce the interest rate (effective upon consummation of the business combination transaction with LIN Media) to LIBOR + 2.50% and (iii) make other administrative and implementing changes to such revolving facility. In November of 2014, the Company entered into an additional amendment so that the Company’s existing credit facility under its senior secured credit facility was amended, to be effective as of the closing date of the LIN merger transaction, to (i) eliminate testing and operation of the credit facility’s quarterly maintenance Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio financial covenant, as such covenant is applicable to the term B credit facility, and (ii) modify the annual excess cash flow mandatory prepayment provisions to require that a minimum annual $50 million excess cash flow payment is made in fiscal years 2017, 2018 and 2019 (in each case, relating to the immediately prior fiscal year), provided that each of such minimum amounts will be reduced by the sum of other voluntary and/or mandatory prepayments made in respect of the credit facility and permanent reductions (if any) of the revolving credit facility in or prior to such periods. These amendments were made to align the applicable provisions with the comparable provisions in the Company’s term credit facility, which was consummated concurrently with the LIN Merger. These incremental credit facilities consisted of (i) a $90 million incremental revolving credit commitment ($150 million in total) and (ii) an $825 million incremental term loan (collectively, the “Incremental Facilities”). In addition to permitting the Incremental Facilities, 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 incremental term loan constitutes an additional term loan with the same principal terms (including a maturity date of July 2020, with quarterly 0.25% amortization and an interest rate equal to LIBOR (with a LIBOR floor of 1.00%) plus a margin 3.25%. The incremental revolver constitutes additional revolving credit commitments with the same principal terms (including a maturity date of October 2019 and an interest rate equal to LIBOR (with no LIBOR floor) plus a margin of 2.50%)) as the Existing Revolver.

 

The Company paid a $1.3 million non-refundable amendment fee to the participating lenders in April of 2014. The net proceeds received on the incremental term loan B were used to pay merger related costs, pay the cash consideration portion of the LIN merger transaction and to pay off certain debt of LIN. In connection with these incremental credit facilities, the Company incurred debt modification and extinguishment costs of $3.4 million. As of December 31, 2014 the Company had capitalized $40.1 million of other direct costs related to the Media General Credit Agreement in other assets; these fees will be amortized as interest expense over the term of the credit agreement. 

 

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 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 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.

 

 

 
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2022 Notes

On November 5, 2014, a wholly owned subsidiary of Old Media General completed the issuance of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Unsecured Notes due in 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) in connection with the financing of the LIN Merger. The net proceeds from offering of the 2022 Notes were used to repay certain indebtedness of LIN Media in connection with the LIN Merger, including to satisfy and discharge LIN Television’s $200 million aggregate principal amount of 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018 and to pay related fees and expenses. The Company irrevocably deposited $212 million of principal and accrued interest with the Trustee and gave the proper notice to the LIN bondholders and therefore such debt is no longer outstanding. The 2022 Notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of November 5, 2014 (the “2022 Notes Indenture”). New Media General, as the new direct parent of LIN Television, and certain of the wholly owned subsidiaries of LIN Television provide full and unconditional guarantees to the 2022 Notes, on a senior basis.

 

2021 Notes

 

LIN Television’s previously issued 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021 with an aggregate principal amount outstanding of $290 million were assumed as of the Closing Date (the “2021 Notes”). Following the consummation of the LIN Merger, New Media General, as the new direct parent of LIN Television, and certain of the wholly owned subsidiaries of LIN Television provide full and unconditional guarantees to the 2021 Notes, on a senior basis.

 

Other Borrowings

 

Three of LIN Television’s consolidated VIEs, Vaughan, KASY and WBDT, have term loans with principal outstanding of $1.1 million, $0.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively, at December 31, 2014. LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantees these loans. These variable rate term loans had an interest rate of 3.16% at December 31, 2014 and mature in quarterly installments through December 2017.

 

Fair Value

 

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

 

   

December 31, 2014

 
   

Carrying

   

Fair

 

(In thousands)

 

Amount

   

Value

 

Assets:

               

Investments

               

Trading

  $ 449     $ 449  

Liabilities:

               

Long-term debt:

               

Media General Credit Agreement

    1,690,753       1,686,000  

2022 Notes

    398,038       397,000  

2021 Notes

    291,442       289,000  

Shield Media Credit Agreement

    29,600       29,600  

Other borrowings

    2,111       2,111  

 

 

 
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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, the 2022 Notes and the 2021 Notes were determined by reference to the most recent trading prices. The fair value of the Shield Media Credit Agreement and other borrowings were 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, 2022 Notes and 2021 Notes fall under Level 2 (other observable inputs), and the Shield Media Credit Agreement and other borrowings fall under Level 3 (unobservable inputs).

 

Note 9: Taxes on Income

 

The reconciliation of income taxes computed at U.S. federal statutory rates to income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is summarized below. Significant reconciling items are described further in the paragraphs that follow.

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Income taxes computed at federal statutory tax rate (35%)

  $ 38,140     $ 5,838     $ 19,720  

Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from:

                       

State and local provision/benefit

    10,385       1,845       2,944  

Change in rate differential

    -       -       (2,722 )

NOL adjustments

    -       -       694  

Non-deductible merger-related expenses

    4,446       3,385       -  

Exclusion for VIE (income) loss for tax puposes

    (1,261 )     625       (15 )

Stock-based compensation tax deficiencies

    -       475       -  

Other

    743       157       (241 )

Income tax expense

  $ 52,453     $ 12,325     $ 20,380  

 

In both 2014 and 2013, the respective business combination transactions with LIN and Young involved the exchange of stock where certain transaction costs are required to be capitalized into the basis of stock and will not deductible for tax purposes.

 

The financial results of all stations operated as JSA/SSA or VIEs are consolidated by the Company in accordance with the VIE accounting guidance. However, the Company does not reflect a tax provision for these entities’ income or loss in its financial results since their tax liability flows through to an unrelated party.

 

Significant components of income tax expense are as follows:

 

(In thousands)u

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Federal

  $ 2,022     $ -     $ 383  

State

    6,146       741       1,293  

Current

    8,168       741       1,676  

Federal

    34,454       9,486       18,845  

State

    9,831       2,098       (141 )

Deferred

    44,285       11,584       18,704  

Income tax expense

  $ 52,453     $ 12,325     $ 20,380  

 

 

 
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Temporary differences, which gave rise to significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets at December 31, 2014, and 2013, were as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

               

Difference between book and tax bases of intangible assets

  $ (587,980 )   $ (249,251 )

Property and equipment

    (79,597 )     (50,826 )

Other comprehensive income items

    -       (3,227 )

Total deferred tax liabilities

    (667,577 )     (303,304 )
                 

Deferred tax assets:

               

Employee benefits

    82,825       78,503  

Other comprehensive income items

    20,840       -  

Net operating loss and minimum tax credit carryforwards

    259,837       269,268  

Other

    3,428       5,750  

Total deferred tax assets

    366,930       353,521  
                 

Net deferred tax (liability) asset

  $ (300,647 )   $ 50,217  
                 

Current deferred tax asset

    (55,754 )     (7,506 )

Deferred tax (liability) asset, long-term

  $ (356,401 )   $ 42,711  

 

At December 31, 2014, the Company projects federal Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) carryforwards available to reduce future federal taxable income in the amount of approximately $635 million ($224 million deferred tax asset, or “DTA”). This federal NOL is comprised of $624 million of Old Media General historical losses and $11 million of LIN Television historical losses. At December 31, 2014, the Company also has significant state NOL carryforwards in varying amounts available to reduce future state taxable income for which it has recorded a DTA of approximately $32 million. These federal and state NOLs will expire at various dates through 2034.

 

The Company performed an ownership shift analysis to determine if the LIN Merger triggered an ownership change in accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and determined that the Company did not undergo an ownership change for tax purposes (i.e., a 50% or less change in stock ownership in aggregated 5% shareholders) with respect to its legacy NOLs. Therefore, no further 382 restrictions were placed on the existing Old Media General NOLs. However, the LIN Merger did trigger an ownership change with respect to the legacy LIN NOLs, but any annual use limitations exceed the LIN Television legacy NOLs and will not restrict the Company’s ability to use the NOLs. The Young merger that closed in November of 2013, did however cause an ownership change with respect to both Media General and Young legacy NOLs. As a result, the use of the Young ($226 million) and Legacy Media General ($362 million) historical NOL carryforwards and tax credits generated prior to the ownership change will be subject to annual Section 382 use limitation. The Young NOLs are subject to two previous Section 382 ownership changes and will generally be subject to the annual base limitation of approximately $11.1 million that resulted from the first ownership change upon emergence from bankruptcy. The Legacy Media General NOLs will generally be subject to an annual Section 382 base limitation of approximately $15.2 million. The Company also determined that it had a net unrealized built-in gain at the time of the 2013 merger with respect to both Young and Legacy Media General NOLs. Pursuant to Section 382(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company is able to increase its Section 382 annual base limitation with respect to the Legacy Media General NOLs by an incremental limitation of $54.7 million in the first five years following the ownership change. The Young NOLs are generally subject to a more restrictive Section 382 limitation related to prior ownership changes. Therefore, the Company is unable to take advantage of the incremental limitation, but have unused Section 382 limitations from prior years of approximately $54 million that will be available to increase the annual base limitation.

 

 

 
83

 

 

The Company has analyzed the various layers of losses and related restrictions on utilization and has concluded that it will be able to utilize its NOLs.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company's reserve for uncertain tax positions totaled approximately $25.2 million including interest. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, there were $3.8 million, $1.4 million and $16 thousand of unrecognized tax benefits, respectively, that would reduce the effective tax rate if the underlying tax positions were sustained or settled favorably. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the gross liability for uncertain tax positions is as follows:

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Uncertain tax position liability at the beginning of the year

  $ 1,446     $ 16     $ 16  

Additions for tax positions for prior years

    -       8       -  

Additions resulting from merger transaction

    23,715       1,422       -  

Uncertain tax position liability at the end of the year

  $ 25,161     $ 1,446     $ 16  

 

In connection with the LIN Merger, the Company acquired a liability for uncertain tax positions in the amount of $2.4 million related to various federal, state and foreign tax benefits. In addition to the reserve for uncertain tax positions discussed above, the Company acquired approximately $21.3 million of unrecognized state tax benefits in connection with its business combination with LIN that are presented net along with the DTA related to certain state NOLs. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes. As of December 31, 2014, the liability for uncertain tax positions included approximately $0.7 million of estimated interest and penalties.

 

For federal tax purposes, the Company’s tax returns have been audited or closed by statute through 2010 and remain subject to audit for years 2011 and beyond. The Company has various state income tax examinations ongoing and at varying stages of completion, but generally its state income tax returns have been audited or closed to audit through 2010.

 

While the Company does not anticipate any significant changes to the amount of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months, there can be no assurance that the outcomes from any tax examinations will not have a significant impact on the amount of such liabilities, which could have an impact on the operating results or financial position of the Company.

 

Note 10: Retirement and Postretirement Plans

 

Until November 2013, 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 Young Merger on November 12, 2013, the Company assumed Legacy Media General’s retirement and post retirement plans as of those dates. 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.

 

 

 
84

 

 

The KRON plan was merged into the Media General qualified plan on December 31, 2014.

 

The Company also assumed liability for an additional defined benefit retirement plan as well as a supplemental retirement plan as part of the LIN Merger. Under these plans, which are frozen, LIN made contributions to a traditional retirement plan for the then eligible employees or to a cash balance plan for certain employees based on 5% of each participant’s eligible compensation.

 

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its retirement and postretirement plans. The Company recognizes the underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as a liability on its balance sheet. The funded status of a plan represents the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the related plan projected benefit obligation. Changes in the funded status are recognized through comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur.

 

Benefit Obligations

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations for the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

 

Change in benefit obligation:

                               

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

  $ 488,229     $ 14,941     $ 24,747     $ -  

Merger transactions

    146,403       473,296       -       24,847  

Service cost

    170       170       81       11  

Interest cost

    22,324       3,312       1,076       134  

Participant contributions

    -       -       180       23  

Plan settlements

    (70,612 )     -       -       -  

Actuarial loss (gain)

    61,484       (430 )     2,077       (174 )

Benefit payments

    (26,175 )     (3,060 )     (1,777 )     (94 )

Benefit obligation at end of year

  $ 621,823     $ 488,229     $ 26,384     $ 24,747  

  

The accumulated benefit obligation at the end of 2014 and 2013 was $621.8 million and $488.2 million, respectively. The Company’s policy is to fund benefits under the Legacy Media General supplemental executive retirement, ERISA Excess, and the LIN Supplemental Retirement and all postretirement benefits plans as claims and premiums are paid. As of December 31, 2014, the benefit obligation related to the supplemental executive retirement and ERISA Excess plans included in the preceding table was approximately $62.6 million.

 

In the second half of 2014, the Company offered terminated vested participants of the Legacy Media General Retirement Plan an opportunity to receive a lump-sum payout in settlement of their retirement plan liability. Approximately half of the roughly 1,800 participants elected to do so, resulting in $70.6 million in payouts from plan assets. The company recognized an immediate loss of $7.7 million in 2014 related to this curtailment but also relieved pension liabilities in excess of the $70.6 million cash paid resulting in an actuarial gain.

 

 

 
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The Plans’ benefit obligations were determined using the following assumptions:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

 

Discount rate

    3.80 %     4.65 %     3.65 %     4.40 %

Compensation increase rate

    -       -       3.00 %     3.00 %

 

The Company also updated its mortality table assumption in 2014. A 7.4% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2014. This rate was assumed to decrease gradually each year to a rate of 4.5% in 2027 and remain at that level thereafter. These rates have an effect on the amounts reported for the Company’s postretirement obligations. A one percentage-point increase or decrease in the assumed health care trend rates would change the Company’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligation by approximately $0.3 million, and it would change the Company’s net periodic cost by a nominal amount.

 

Plan Assets

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the fair value of the Plans’ assets for the years ended December 31, 2014, and 2013:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

 

Change in plan assets:

                               

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

  $ 352,226     $ 8,960     $ -     $ -  

Merger transactions

    115,556       326,667       -       -  

Actual return on plan assets

    16,712       13,434       -       -  

Plan settlements

    (70,612 )     -                  

Employer contributions

    49,879       6,225       1,597       71  

Participant contributions

    -       -       180       23  

Benefit payments

    (26,175 )     (3,060 )     (1,777 )     (94 )

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

  $ 437,586     $ 352,226     $ -     $ -  

 

Under the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s retirement plan assets fall under Level 1 (quoted prices in active markets) and Level 2 (other observable inputs). The following table provides the fair value by each major category of plan assets at December 31, 2014:

 

   

2014

 

(In thousands)

 

Total

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

 

U.S. Small/Mid Cap Equity

  $ 30,169     $ 22,343     $ 7,826  

U.S. Large Cap Equity

    155,492       121,046       34,446  

International/Global Equity

    70,618       50,037       20,581  

Fixed Income

    167,211       120,522       46,689  

REIT

    5,192       -       5,192  

Cash

    8,904       8,904       -  

Total assets

  $ 437,586     $ 322,852     $ 114,734  

 

 

 

 
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The following table provides the fair value by each major category of plan assets at December 31, 2013:

 

   

2013

 

(In thousands)

 

Total

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

 

U.S. Small/Mid Cap Equity

  $ 40,339     $ 25,256     $ 15,083  

U.S. Large Cap Equity

    143,209       58,650       84,559  

International/Global Equity

    68,263       17,054       51,209  

Fixed Income

    87,266       66,215       21,051  

Cash

    13,149       13,149       -  

Total assets

  $ 352,226     $ 180,324     $ 171,902  

 

The asset allocation for the Company’s funded retirement plans at the end of 2014 and 2013, and the asset allocation range for 2015, by asset category, are as follows:

 

   

Asset allocation Range

   

Percentage of Plan Assets at Year End

 

Asset Category

 

2015

   

2014

   

2013

 

Equity securities

    60 %     59 %     71 %

Fixed income securities/cash

    40 %     40 %     29 %

Other

            1 %     0 %

Total

            100 %     100 %

 

As the plan sponsor of the funded retirement plans, the Company’s investment strategy is to achieve a rate of return on the plans’ assets that, over the long-term, will fund the plans’ benefit payments and will provide for other required amounts in a manner that satisfies all fiduciary responsibilities. A determinant of the plans’ returns is the asset allocation policy. The Company’s investment policy provides ranges (30-50% U.S. large cap equity, 5-17% U.S. small/mid cap equity, 10-30% international/global equity, 25-45% fixed income and 0-5% cash) for the plans’ long-term asset mix. The Company periodically (at least annually) reviews and rebalances the asset mix if necessary. The Company also reviews the plans’ overall asset allocation to determine the proper balance of securities by market capitalization, value or growth, U.S., international or global or the addition of other asset classes.

 

The plans’ investment policy is reviewed frequently and distributed to an investment consultant. Periodically, the Company evaluates each investment with the investment consultant to determine if the overall portfolio has performed satisfactorily when compared to the defined objectives, similarly invested portfolios and specific market indices. The policy contains general guidelines for prohibited transactions such as:

 

borrowing of money

 

purchase of securities on margin

 

short sales

 

pledging any securities except loans of securities that are fully-collateralized

 

purchase or sale of futures or options for speculation or leverage

 

Restricted transactions include:

 

purchase or sale of commodities, commodity contracts or illiquid interests in real estate or mortgages

 

purchase of illiquid securities such as private placements

 

use of various futures and options for hedging or for taking limited risks with a portion of the portfolio’s assets

 

 

 
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Funded Status

The following table provides a statement of the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2014, and 2013:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

 

Amounts recorded in the balance sheet:

                               

Current liabilities

  $ (4,175 )   $ (3,373 )   $ (2,148 )   $ (2,068 )

Noncurrent liabilities

    (180,062 )     (132,630 )     (24,236 )     (22,679 )

Funded Status

  $ (184,237 )   $ (136,003 )   $ (26,384 )   $ (24,747 )

  

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to pension and other benefits prior to any deferred tax effects:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

(In thousands)

 

Net Actuarial Gain/(Loss)

   

Net Actuarial Gain/(Loss)

 

December 31, 2011

  $ (850 )   $ -  

Actuarial loss

    (818 )     -  

December 31, 2012

  $ (1,668 )   $ -  

Actuarial gain

    10,389       174  

December 31, 2013

  $ 8,721     $ 174  

Actuarial loss

    (64,103 )     (2,077 )

December 31, 2014

  $ (55,382 )   $ (1,903 )

 

Expected Cash Flows

The following table includes amounts that are expected to be contributed to the plans by the Company. It additionally reflects benefit payments that are made from the plans’ assets as well as those made directly from the Company’s assets, and it includes the participants’ share of the costs, which is funded by participant contributions. The amounts in the table are actuarially determined and reflect the Company’s best estimate given its current knowledge including the impact of recent pension funding relief legislation; actual amounts could be materially different.

 

(In thousands)

 

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

Employer Contributions

               

2015 to participant benefits

  $ 9,334     $ 2,148  

Expected Benefit Payments

               

2015

    33,953       2,148  

2016

    33,856       2,148  

2017

    33,868       2,128  

2018

    33,985       2,110  

2019

    35,416       2,083  
2020-2024     176,772       9,937  

 

 

 
88

 

 

Net Periodic Cost

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Plans for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

   

2014

   

2013

 
                                         

Service cost

  $ 170     $ 170     $ 150     $ 81     $ 11  

Interest cost

    28,147       3,312       615       1,076       134  

Expected return on plan assets

    (33,973 )     (3,509 )     (588 )     -       -  

Settlement loss recognized

    7,744       -       -       -       -  

Amortization of net loss

    1,098       35       -       -       -  

Net periodic benefit cost

  $ 3,186     $ 8     $ 177     $ 1,157     $ 145  

 

The Company anticipates recording an aggregate net periodic benefit of $6.1 million for its pension and other benefits in 2015, as the expected return on plan assets exceeds estimated interest and service costs. An interest crediting rate of 1.6% was assumed for 2014 to determine net periodic costs for LIN’s supplemental retirement plan. This rate was assumed to increase to 2%, 3%, and 4% in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, and up to a rate of 5.25% thereafter.

 

The net periodic costs for the Company’s pension and other benefit plans were determined using the following assumptions:

 

   

Pension Benefits

   

Other Benefits

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

   

2014

   

2013

 

Discount rate

    4.65 %     4.62 %     4.55 %     4.40 %     4.35 %

Expected return on plan assets

    7.50 %     7.50 %     7.50 %     -       -  

Compensation increase rate

    -       -       -       3.00 %     3.00 %

 

The reasonableness of the expected return on the funded retirement plan assets was determined by the Company’s investment consultant. Their proprietary model simulates possible capital market scenarios based on the current economic environment and their capital market assumptions to come up with an expected return for the portfolio based on the current asset allocation.

 

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company sponsors 401(k) plans covering substantially all Media General, LIN and Young employees. For 2012, the Company matched up to a maximum of 4% of an eligible and participating employee’s salary for Young employees. For 2013, the Company matched up to a maximum of 2% and 4% of an eligible and participating employee’s salary for Legacy Media General and Young employees, respectively. From January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014, all eligible and participating employees received a company match of up to a maximum of 4% of their compensation as defined by the plans. Effective July 1, 2014, the Company amended the 401(k) plans to reduce the maximum effective company matching contribution to 3% of participant compensation as defined by the plans for all Media General, LIN (effective on its acquisition date) and Young employees. The Company also sponsors a Supplemental 401(k) plan as described in Note 5.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company incurred 401(k) matching contributions of approximately $3.8 million, $1.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

 

LIN has a Supplemental Income Deferral Plan that certain employees, including executive officers, are eligible for. The plan provides benefits to highly compensated employees in circumstances in which the maximum limits established under the ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code prevent them from receiving Company contributions. The amounts recorded by the Company following the LIN Merger were nominal.

 

 

 
89

 

 

Note 11: Earnings Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share as presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. There were approximately 388,000 share equivalents (representing the weighted-average of outstanding stock options) that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS in 2014 because to do so would have been anti-dilutive.

 

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

(In thousands, except

 

Income

   

Shares

   

Per Share

   

Income

   

Shares

   

Per Share

   

Income

   

Shares

   

Per Share

 

per share amounts)

 

(Numerator)

   

(Denominator)

   

Amount

   

(Numerator)

   

(Denominator)

   

Amount

   

(Numerator)

   

(Denominator)

   

Amount

 
                                                                         

Net income attributable to Media General

  $ 53,506                     $ 6,140                     $ 35,921                  
                                                                         

Undistributed earnings  attributable to participating securities

    (339 )                     (13 )                     -                  
                                                                         

Basic EPS

                                                                       

Income available to common stockholders

  $ 53,167       89,912     $ 0.59     $ 6,127       53,337     $ 0.11     $ 35,921       43,590     $ 0.82  
                                                                         

Effect of dilutive securities: warrants and other

            1,140                       10,764                       24,489          
                                                                         

Diluted EPS

                                                                       

Income available to common stockholders

  $ 53,167       91,052     $ 0.58     $ 6,127       64,101     $ 0.10     $ 35,921       68,079     $ 0.53  

  

Note 12: Commitments, Contingencies and Other

 

Gain on sale of KRON building

During the year ended December 31, 2014 the Company recorded a gain of approximately $10 million relating to the sale of the former KRON studio building in San Franciso, which is included in the caption "(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment, net" in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 

Program license rights

The Company had unamortized program license assets of $8.5 million and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively, of which $4.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, were expected to be amortized over a period greater than one year.

 

Unpaid program license liabilities totaled $14 million and $2.5 million as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively, of which $5.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively, were payable in greater than one year and included in other liabilities. The obligation for programming that has been contracted for, but not recorded in the accompanying balance sheet because the program rights were not currently available for airing, was approximately $93.9 million at December 31, 2014. If such programs are not produced, the Company's commitment would expire without obligation.

 

 

 
90

 

 

Lease obligations

 

Capital Leases

The Company is obligated under various capital leases for certain broadcast equipment, office furniture, fixtures and other equipment that range from one to fifteen years. At December 31, 2014, and 2013, the net amount of property and equipment recorded under capital leases was $14 million and $1.2 million, respectively. Amortization of assets held under capital leases is included with depreciation and amortization of property and equipment.

 

Operating Leases

The Company has certain operating leases, primarily for administrative offices, broadcast equipment and vehicles that range from one year to more than fifteen years. In many cases, the leases contain renewal options and require the Company to pay all costs such as maintenance and insurance.

 

Future minimum lease payments under capital and operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2014, are as follows:

 

   

Capital

   

Operating

 

(In thousands)

 

Leases

   

Leases

 

Year Ending December 31

               

2015

  $ 1,707     $ 8,154  

2016

    1,714       7,789  

2017

    1,502       7,126  

2018

    1,396       5,475  

2019

    1,395       4,726  

Thereafter

    15,862       29,466  

Total minimum lease payments

    23,576     $ 62,736  

Less: amounts representing interest

    (7,892 )        

Present value of capital lease obligations

  $ 15,684          

 

Rental expense under operating leases was $4.8 million, $1.9 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Gray management agreement

The Company had a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Gray Television, Inc. (“Gray”) that expired on December 31, 2012. As part of the Management Agreement, if the Company was sold within the term, then Gray would initially receive a portion of the aggregate sales price above a specified threshold. The Company had estimated the fair value of this liability to be $8 million. As of December 31, 2012, the Company was not sold and the liability was reversed against other, net, on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

 

In August of 2013, the Company made a payment of $7.1 million to Gray in accordance with other provisions of the Management Agreement. This was a final payment and satisfied all remaining obligations the Company had in relation to that agreement. The Company reversed its remaining accrued liability of $1.8 million in 2013 as a reduction to corporate and other expenses.

 

Other assets

Other assets included assets held for sale of $4.5 million at December 31, 2014.

 

 

 
91

 

 

Accrued salaries and wages

Accrued salaries and wages consist of the following:

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 

Accrued bonuses

  $ 8,679     $ 5,509  

Accrued severance

    9,060       1,431  

Other accrued salaries and wages

    18,895       7,243  

Accrued salaries and wages

  $ 36,634     $ 14,183  

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

(In thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

 

Employee benefits

  $ 14,233     $ 14,074  

Network compensation accrued fees

    30,655       13,213  

Accrued interest payable

    14,456       1,720  

Other

    42,993       13,649  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

  $ 102,337     $ 42,656  

 Restricted cash at qualified intermediary

The Company has restricted cash of approximately $120 million related to the sale of its Providence, RI television station. The qualified intermediary took direct possession of the sale proceeds. The Company has identified certain potential replacement property that, if acquired, may qualify as an exchange under section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. No agreement to acquire the identified replacement property is currently in place, and one may never be reached. If an acquisition is not consummated by June of 2015, the sale proceeds will revert to the Company without restrictions.

 

Dedicated Media, Inc. 

The Company holds a 60% interest (calculated on a fully diluted basis) in Dedicated Media, a multi-channel advertisement buying and optimization company.  Under the terms of the agreement with Dedicated Media, the Company agreed to purchase the remaining outstanding shares of Dedicated Media if Dedicated Media achieved both (i) a target earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and (ii) a target gross profit in 2014, as outlined in the purchase agreement.  The purchase price of these shares is based on multiples of Dedicated Media’s 2014 EBITDA and gross profit. Dedicated Media achieved the required levels of gross profit and adjusted EBITDA during 2014, and as a result, the Company will purchase the remaining outstanding shares for a total purchase price of $10.5 million. Accordingly, the Company adjusted the mandatory redeemable noncontrolling interest account for Dedicated Media to equal $10.5 million as of December 31, 2014 and recorded a corresponding decrease to equity in its statement of shareholders' equity for the year ended December 31, 2014.  The Company currently expects to close this transaction during the first or second quarter of 2015.

 

HYFN, Inc.

The Company holds a 50.1% interest (calculated on a fully diluted basis) in HYFN, a full service digital advertising agency specializing in the planning, development, deployment and support for websites, mobile sites, interactive banners, games and various applications for multiple devices.  Under the terms of the agreement with HYFN, the Company agrees to purchase the remaining outstanding shares of HYFN by no later than February 15, 2016 if HYFN achieves both (i) a target EBITDA and (ii) target net revenues in 2015, as outlined in the transaction agreements.  The purchase price of these shares is based on multiples of HYFN’s 2015 net revenue and EBITDA.  As of December 31, 2014, the Company believed it was probable that HYFN would achieve at least the minimum levels of EBITDA and net revenues to obligate the Company to purchase the remaining outstanding shares of HYFN.  Based on management’s current projections, it estimates the purchase price for the remaining outstanding shares to be approximately $23.5 million and accordingly, has adjusted the mandatory redeemable noncontrolling interest account for HYFN to equal this estimated obligation and has recorded a corresponding decrease to equity on its statement of stockholders' equity for the year ended December 31, 2014.  The Company believes that the stage two purchase price of $23.5 million represents the fair value of the stage two shares to be acquired. This estimate is subject to change based on HYFN’s actual results in 2015, which will be determined during the first quarter of 2016. The Company’s maximum potential obligation under the terms of its agreement is approximately $62.4 million.

 

 

 
92

 

 

If the Company does not purchase the remaining outstanding shares of HYFN by the date set forth in the purchase agreement, the noncontrolling interest holders have the right to purchase the Company’s interest. The purchase price of these shares is based on the same purchase price multiple described above and is exercisable only if the applicable financial targets are not met and the Company does not elect to purchase the remaining interest. The fair value of this option is zero and no amounts related to these options are included in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014.

 

The Company’s obligations to purchase the noncontrolling interest holders’ shares of both Dedicated Media and HYFN are outside of its control, because they are based on the achievement of certain financial targets described above. Therefore, the noncontrolling interests related to Dedicated Media and HYFN as of December 31, 2014 have been reported as redeemable noncontrolling interest and classified as temporary equity on the consolidated balance sheets.  

 

Note 13: Guarantor Financial Information

 

LIN Television, a 100% owned subsidiary of New Media General, is the primary obligor of the 2021 Notes. New Media General fully and unconditionally guarantees all of LIN Television’s debt on a joint and several basis. Additionally, all of the consolidated 100% owned subsidiaries of LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantee LIN Television’s 2021 Senior Notes on a joint and several basis. There are certain limitations in the ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends to New Media General. The following financial information presents condensed consolidating balance sheets, statements of operations, and statements of cash flows for New Media General, LIN Television (as the issuer), the Guarantor Subsidiaries, and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, together with certain eliminations.

 

 

 
93

 

 

Media General, Inc.                         

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet                        

As of December 31,2014                        

(in thousands)                        

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 

ASSETS

                                               

Current assets:

                                               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2,388     $ 9,658     $ 27,371     $ 4,503     $ -     $ 43,920  

Trade accounts receivable, net

    -       82,909       168,862       13,398       -       265,169  

Restricted cash at qualified intermediary

    -       -       119,903       -       -       119,903  

Current deferred tax asset

    -       3,492       52,222       40       -       55,754  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    -       19,424       11,396       8,978       -       39,798  

Total current assets

    2,388       115,483       379,754       26,919       -       524,544  
                                                 

Property and equipment, net

    -       177,370       314,380       3,629       -       495,379  

Deferred tax asset long-term

                    -                       -  

Other assets, net

    -       8,565       67,962       2,473       -       79,000  

Definite lived intangible assets, net

    -       380,090       500,688       31,082       -       911,860  

Broadcast licenses

    -       -       1,039,500       84,300       -       1,123,800  

Goodwill

    -       513,822       995,319       99,050       -       1,608,191  

Advances to consolidated subsidiaries

    2,021       (441,971 )     443,939       (3,989 )             -  

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

    1,494,739       1,319,033       -       -       (2,813,772 )     -  
                                                 

Total assets

  $ 1,499,148     $ 2,072,392     $ 3,741,542     $ 243,464     $ (2,813,772 )   $ 4,742,774  
                                                 

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND MEMBERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

                                               

Current liabilities:

                                               

Trade accounts payable

  $ -     $ 4,014     $ 31,794     $ 551     $ -     $ 36,359  

Accrued salaries and wages

    -       9,384       26,536       714       -       36,634  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    -       42,501       53,042       7,149       -       102,692  

Current installments of long-term debt

    -       -       8,218       3,563       -       11,781  

Current installments of obligation under capital leases

    -       441       303       71       -       815  

Total current liabilities

    -       56,340       119,893       12,048       -       188,281  

Long-term debt

    -       291,442       2,080,570       28,150       -       2,400,162  

Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities

    -       172,726       180,974       2,701       -       356,401  

Long term capital lease obligations

    -       13,529       1,312       28       -       14,869  

Retirement and postretirement plans

    -       33,031       178,233                       211,264  

Other liabilities

    -       10,585       22,179       5,404       -       38,168  

Accumulated (gains) losses in excess of investment in consolidated subsidiaries

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total liabilities

    -       577,653       2,583,161       48,331       -       3,209,145  
                                                 

Noncontrolling interests

    -       -       10,981       23,500       -       34,481  
                                                 

Stockholders' equity:

                                               

Voting common stock

    1,321,011       -       -       -       -       1,321,011  

Additional paid-in capital

            1,442,667       962,584       172,765       (2,578,016 )     -  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

    (36,445 )     (1,434 )     (34,847 )     -       36,281       (36,445 )

Retained earnings

    214,582       53,506       219,663       (1,132 )     (272,037 )     214,582  

Total stockholders' equity

    1,499,148       1,494,739       1,147,400       171,633       (2,813,772 )     1,499,148  
                                                 

Total liabilities, noncontrolling interest and Stockholders' equity (deficit)

  $ 1,499,148     $ 2,072,392     $ 3,741,542     $ 243,464     $ (2,813,772 )   $ 4,742,774  

  

 

 
94

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2013

(In thousands)

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 

ASSETS

                                               

Current assets:

                                               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ -     $ -     $ 67,508     $ 4,110     $ -     $ 71,618  

Trade accounts receivable, net

    -       -       106,452       3,831       -       110,283  

Current deferred tax asset

    -       -       7,506       -       -       7,506  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    -       -       21,273       672       (8,056 )     13,889  

Total current assets

    -       -       202,739       8,613       (8,056 )     203,296  
                                                 

Property and equipment, net

    -       -       282,471       2,996       -       285,467  

Deferred tax asset long-term

    -       -       42,711       -       -       42,711  

Other assets, net

    -       -       34,499       978       -       35,477  

Definite lived intangible assets, net

    -       -       236,242       3,400       -       239,642  

Broadcast licenses

    -       -       550,900       22,400       -       573,300  

Goodwill

    -       -       538,745       2,730       -       541,475  

Total assets

  $ -     $ -     $ 1,888,307     $ 41,117     $ (8,056 )   $ 1,921,368  
                                                 
                                                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                               

Current liabilities:

                                               

Trade accounts payable

  $ -     $ -     $ 11,783     $ -     -     11,783  

Accrued salaries and wages

    -       -       14,183       -       -       14,183  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    -       -       40,476       2,180       -       42,656  

Current installments of long-term debt

    -       -       8,817       2,400       -       11,217  

Current installments of obligation under capital leases

    -       -       153       -       -       153  

Total current liabilities

    -       -       75,412       4,580       -       79,992  
                                                 

Long-term debt

    -       -       876,183       29,600       -       905,783  

Deferred tax liability and other long-term tax liabilities

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Long term capital lease obligations

    -       -       1,156       -       -       1,156  

Retirement and postretirement plans

    -       -       155,309       -       -       155,309  

Other liabilities

    -       -       42,553       9,394       (8,056 )     43,891  

Total liabilities

    -       -       1,150,613       43,574       (8,056 )     1,186,131  
                                                 

Noncontrolling interests

    -       -       (1,744 )     -       -       (1,744 )
                                      -          

Stockholders' equity (deficit):

                                    -          

Voting common stock

    -       -       557,754       -       -       557,754  

Non-voting common stock

    -       -       12,483       -       -       12,483  

Additional paid-in capital

    -       -       476       (476     -       -  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    -       -       5,668       -       -       5,668  

Retained earnings

    -       -       163,057       (1,981 )     -       161,076  

Total stockholders' equity

    -       -       739,438       (2,457 )     -       736,981  

Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity

  $ -     $ -     $ 1,888,307     $ 41,117     $ (8,056 )   $ 1,921,368  

 

 

 
95

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the Year Ended December 31, 2014

(in thousands)

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 

Net operating revenue

  $ -     $ 13,218     $ 641,938     $ 22,157     $ (2,350 )   $ 674,963  
                                                 

Operating costs:

                                               

Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense

    -       5,292       211,184       6,717       (1,279 )     221,914  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    -       2,585       159,983       8,953       (37 )     171,484  

Amortization of program license rights

    -       629       19,895       1,106       -       21,630  

Corporate and other expenses

    -       5,956       27,235       (184 )     -       33,007  

Depreciation and amortization

    -       1,944       63,989       624       -       66,557  

Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net

    -       (4 )     (9,002 )     71       -       (8,935 )

Merger-related and restructuring expenses

    -       -       54,202       -       -       54,202  

Operating (loss) income

    -       (3,184 )     114,452       4,870       (1,034 )     115,104  
                                                 

Other income (expense):

                                               

Interest expense, net

    -       (665 )     (43,823 )     (1,216 )     -       (45,704 )

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    -       -       (3,513 )             -       (3,513 )

Intercompany income and expenses

    (3 )     (1,007 )     1,052       (42 )     -       -  

Gain on sale of stations

    -       -       42,957       -       -       42,957  

Other, net

    -       -       109       20       -       129  

Total other income (expense), net

    (3 )     (1,672 )     (3,218 )     (1,238 )     -       (6,131 )
                                                 

(Loss) income before taxes and equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries

    (3 )     (4,856 )     111,234       3,632       (1,034 )     108,973  

Benefit from (provision) for income taxes

    -       1,942       (54,395 )     -               (52,453 )

Net (loss) income from continuing operations

    (3 )     (2,914 )     56,839       3,632       (1,034 )     56,520  

Equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries

    53,509       56,423       -       -       (109,932 )     -  

Net income (loss)

    53,506       53,509       56,839       3,632       (110,966 )     56,520  

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

    -       -               3,014       -       3,014  

Net income (loss) attributable to Media General

  $ 53,506     $ 53,509     $ 56,839     $ 618     $ (110,966 )   $ 53,506  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    (42,113 )     (1,434 )     (40,679 )     -       42,113       (42,113 )

Total comprehensive income

  $ 11,393     $ 52,075     $ 16,160     $ 3,632     $ (68,853 )   $ 14,407  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    -       -       -       3,014       -       3,014  

Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General

  $ 11,393     $ 52,075     $ 16,160     $ 618     $ (68,853 )   $ 11,393  

 

 

 
96

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Conprehensive Income

For the Year Ended December 31, 2013

(In thousands)

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 

Net operating revenue

  $ -     $ -     $ 255,038     $ 14,874     $ -     $ 269,912  
                                                 

Operating costs:

                                               

Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense

    -       -       89,833       5,381       -       95,214  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    -       -       64,524       6,719       -       71,243  

Amortization of program license rights

    -       -       10,307       1,055       -       11,362  

Corporate and other expenses

    -       -       18,779       237       -       19,016  

Depreciation and amortization

    -       -       25,071       701               25,772  

Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net

    -       -       396       3       -       399  

Merger-related and restructuring expenses

    -       -       13,079       -       -       13,079  

Operating income

    -       -       33,049       778       -       33,827  
                                                 

Other income (expense)

    -       -                                  

Interest expense

    -       -       (11,075 )     (1,612 )     -       (12,687 )

Debt modification and extinguishment costs

    -       -       (3,273 )     (1,236 )     -       (4,509 )

Gain on sale of stations

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other, net

    -       -       48       -       -       48  

Total other income (expense)

    -       -       (14,300 )     (2,848 )     -       (17,148 )
                                                 

Income before income taxes

    -       -       18,749       (2,070 )     -       16,679  

Provision for income taxes

    -       -       (12,325 )      -       -       (12,325 )

Net income (loss)

    -       -       6,424       (2,070 )     -       4,354  
                                                 

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

    -       -       -       (1,786 )     -       (1,786 )

Net income attributable to Media General

  $ -     $ -     $ 6,424     $ (284 )   $ -     $ 6,140  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    -       -       6,655       -       -       6,655  

Total comprehensive income

    -       -       13,079       (2,070 )     -       11,009  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    -       -       -       (1,786     -       (1,786

Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General

  $ -     $ -     $ 13,079     $ (284 )   $ -     $ 12,795  

 

 

 
97

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012

(In thousands)

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

 

Consolidated

 

Net operating revenue

  $ -     $ -     $ 227,648     $ 535     $ -     $ 228,183  
                                                 

Operating costs:

                                               

Operating Expenses, excluding depreciation expense

    -       -       68,826       73       -       68,899  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    -       -       54,769       231       -       55,000  

Amortization of program license rights

    -       -       8,975       47       -       9,022  

Corporate and other expenses

    -       -       23,531       -       -       23,531  

Depreciation and amortization

    -       -       16,155       24               16,179  

Gain on disposal of property and equipment, net

    -       -       59       -       -       59  

Merger-related and restructuring expenses

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Operating income

    -       -       55,333       160       -       55,493  
                                                 

Other income (expense)

                                               

Interest expense

    -       -       (7,712 )     (118 )     -       (7,830 )

Other, net

    -       -       8,680       -       -       8,680  

Total other income (expense)

    -       -       968       (118 )     -       850  
                                                 

Income before income taxes

    -       -       56,301       42       -       56,343  

Provision for income taxes

    -       -       (20,380 )     -       -       (20,380 )

Net income

    -       -       35,921       42       -       35,963  
                                                 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

    -       -       -       42       -       42  

Net income attributable to Media General

  $ -     $ -     $ 35,921     $ -     $ -     $ 35,921  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    -       -       (500 )     -       -       (500 )

Total comprehensive income

    -       -       35,421       42       -       35,463  
                                                 

Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    -       -       -       42       -       42  

Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General

  $ -     $ -     $ 35,421     $ -     $ -     $ 35,421  

 

 

 
98

 

            

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the Year Ended December 31, 2014 

(In thousands)

 

   

New Media General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                               

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    250       (27,654 )     94,320       1,856       (250 )     68,522  
                                                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                               

Capital expenditures

    -       (177 )     (35,807 )     (631 )      -       (36,615 )

Payment for acquistion of station assets

    -       -       (175,662 )      -        -       (175,662 )

Proceeds from station sales

    -       -       357,315        -        -       357,315  

Cash and cash equivavlents acquired in merger transaction

    2,138       21,690       961       718        -       25,507  

Cash consideration LIN Merger

    -       -       (763,075 )     -       -       (763,075 )

Collateral refunds related to letters of credit

    -       -       980       -       -       980  

Proceeds from the sale of PP&E

    -       4       25,881       29       -       25,914  

Decrease in restricted cash at qualified intermediary

    -       -       (119,903 )     -       -       (119,903 )

Receipt of dividend

    -       19,503       -        -       (19,503 )     -  

Advances on intercompany borrowings

    -       (1,000 )     -        -       1,000       -  

Payments from intercompany borrowings

    -       1,545       4,003        -       (5,548 )     -  

Other, net

    -       -       (283 )      -               (283 )

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    2,138       41,565       (705,590 )     116       (24,051 )     (685,822 )
                                                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

                                               

Borrowings under revolving credit facitilty

    -       -       10,000       -       -       10,000  

Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit facility

    -        -       (10,000 )      -        -       (10,000 )

Principal borrowings under Media General Credit Agreement

    -       -       889,687       -       -       889,687  

Repayment of borrowings under Media General Credit Agreement

    -        -       (84,000 )     -        -       (84,000 )

Principal borrowings under 2022 Senior Notes

    -        -       398,000       -        -       398,000  

Debt payoff LIN Merger

    -        -       (577,610 )      -        -       (577,610 )

Principal borrowings under Shield Media Credit Agreement

    -        -       -        -        -       -  

Repayment of borrowings under Shield Media Credit Agreement

    -        -       -       (2,400 )      -       (2,400 )

Payment of dividend

    -       (250 )     (19,503 )             19,753       -  

Proceeds from intercompany borrowings

    -                       1,000       (1,000 )     -  

Payments on intercompany borrowings

    -       (4,003 )     (1,545 )             5,548       -  

Redemption of common stock

            -       -                       -  

Debt issuance costs

    -       -       (35,095 )     (103 )             (35,198 )

Other, net

    -       -       1,199       (76 )             1,123  

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    -       (4,253 )     571,133       (1,579 )     24,301       589,602  

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    2,388       9,658       (40,137 )     393       -       (27,698 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    -       -       67,508       4,110       -       71,618  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  $ 2,388     $ 9,658     $ 27,371     $ 4,503     $ -     $ 43,920  

 

 

 
99

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the Year Ended December 31, 2013

(In thousands)

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Media General

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                               

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ -     $ -     $ 5,499     $ 2,301     $ -     $ 7,800  
                                                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                               

Capital expenditures

     -        -       (15,166 )     -        -       (15,166 )

Payment for acquisition of station assets

    -       -       -       (14,324 )     -       (14,324 )

Cash and cash equivalents acquired in merger transaction

    -       -       17,327       -       -       17,327  

Collateral refunds related to letters of credit

    -       -       2,498       -       -       2,498  

Proceeds from the sale of PP&E

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Other, net

    -       -       118       8       -       126  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    -       -       4,777       (14,316 )     -       (9,539 )
                                                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

                                               

Principal borrowings under Media General Credit Agreement

    -       -       885,000       -       -       885,000  

Principal borrowings under Shield Media Credit Agreement

    -       -       -       32,000       -       32,000  

Repayment of Berkshire Hathaway Financing Arrangement

    -       -       (375,260 )     -       -       (375,260 )

Repayment of Senior Notes

    -       -       (326,145 )     -       -       (326,145 )

Repayment of borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

    -       -       (135,000 )     -       -       (135,000 )

Principal borrowings under WLAJ LLC Term Loan

    -       -       -       10,000       -       10,000  

Repayment of borrowings under WLAJ and WXXA Term Loan

    -       -       -       (32,000 )     -       (32,000 )

Debt issuance costs

    -       -       (11,036 )     (860 )     -       (11,896 )

Proceeds from intercompany borrowings

    -       -       (5,400 )     5,400       -       -  

Other, net

    -       -       2,418       (4 )     -       2,414  

Net cash provided by financing activities

    -       -       34,577       14,536       -       49,113  
                                                 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

                    44,853       2,521               47,374  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    -       -       22,655       1,589       -       24,244  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  $ -     $ -     $ 67,508     $ 4,110     $ -     $ 71,618  

 

  

 
100

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012 

(In thousands)

 

   

New Media

General

   

LIN Television

Corporation

   

Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                               

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ -     -     $ 73,635     $ (69 )   $ -     $ 73,566  
                                                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                               

Capital expenditures

    -       -       (11,612 )     -       -       (11,612 )

Payment for acquisition of station assets

    -       -       -       (19,500 )     -       (19,500 )

Other, net

    -       -       195       -       -       195  

Net cash used in investing activities

    -       -       (11,417 )     (19,500 )     -       (30,917 )
                                                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

                                               

Principal borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

    -       -       65,000       -       -       65,000  

Repayment of borrowings under Senior Credit Facility

    -       -       (15,000 )     -       -       (15,000 )

Principal borrowings under WXXA Term Loan

    -       -       -       22,000       -       22,000  

Debt issuance costs

    -       -       -       (842 )     -       (842 )

Redemption of common stock

    -       -       (145,000 )     -       -       (145,000 )

Other, net

    -       -       (122 )     -       -       (122 )

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    -       -       (95,122 )     21,158       -       (73,964 )
                                                 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    -       -       (32,904 )     1,589       -       (31,315 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

                    55,559       -       -       55,559  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  $ -     $ -     $ 22,655     $ 1,589     $ -     $ 24,244  

 

 

 
101

 

 

Quarterly Review 

 

   

First

   

Second

   

Third

   

Fourth

 

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Quarter

   

Quarter

   

Quarter

   

Quarter

 

2014

                               

Operating revenues

  $ 143,918     $ 154,111     $ 160,224     $ 216,710  

Operating income

    19,254       22,037       35,181       38,632  

Net income

    5,439       6,892       13,849       30,340  

Net income attributable to Media General

    5,385       6,786       13,395       27,940  

Earnings per share - basic

    0.06       0.08       0.15       0.29  

Earnings per share - diluted

    0.06       0.08       0.15       0.29  

2013

                               

Operating revenues

  $ 50,045     $ 55,782     $ 54,097     $ 109,988  

Operating income

    7,062       8,185       8,923       9,657  

Net income (loss)

    3,019       3,447       4,137       (6,249 )

Net income (loss) attributable to Media General

    3,114       3,706       4,477       (5,157 )

Earnings (loss) per share - basic

    0.07       0.08       0.09       (0.06 )

Earnings (loss) per share - diluted

    0.05       0.06       0.07       (0.06 )

 

On December 19, 2014, the Company and LIN Media were combined under a business combination transaction. As a result of the LIN Merger, the Company became the parent public reporting company. Consequently, the consolidated financial results for the fiscal year 2014 of the Company include the results of LIN Media from December 19, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

 

On November 12, 2013, Legacy Media General and Young were combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger transaction. The merger was accounted for as a reverse acquisition. For financial reporting purposes only, Young is the acquirer and the continuing reporting entity, but has been renamed Media General, Inc. Consequently, the consolidated financial statements of Media General, Inc., the legal acquirer and the continuing public corporation in the transaction, include the operating results for only Young for periods prior to November 12, 2013.

 

 

 
102

 

 

Schedule I Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant*  

 

Media General, Inc.        

Condensed Balance Sheet        

(In thousands)        

 

   

December 31,

2014

 

ASSETS

       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2,388  

Advances to and investment in consolidated subsidiaries

    1,496,760  

Total assets

  $ 1,499,148  
         
         

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

       

Liabilities

  $ -  

Total liabilities

    -  
         

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 129,931,812     1,321,011  
Non-voting common stock, authorized 400,000,000 shares; none outstanding     -  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (36,445 )

Retained earnings

    214,582  

Total stockholders' equity

    1,499,148  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 1,499,148  

 
* Media General, Inc. (formerly Mercury New Holdco, Inc.) was formed in 2014.

 

 
103

 

 

Media General, Inc.

Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

 

   

Year Ended

December 31,

2014

 

Net revenues

  $ -  

Operating expenses

    -  

Operating income

    -  
         

Other income (expense):

       

Intercompany income and expenses

    (3 )

Total other income (expense), net

    (3 )
         

Loss before taxes and equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries

    (3 )

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

    -  

Net loss from continuing operations

    (3 )

Equity in income (loss) from operations of consolidated subsidiaries

    53,509  

Net income attributable to Media General

    53,506  
         

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

    (42,113 )

Total comprehensive income attributable to Media General

  $ 11,393  
         

Net earnings per common share (basic)

  $ 0.59  

Net earnings per common share (diluted)

  $ 0.58  

 

 

 
104

 

 

Media General, Inc.             

Condensed Statement of Cash Flows             

 

 

  Year Ended  
(In thousands)   December 31,  
   

2014

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

       

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 250  
         

Cash flows from investing activities:

       

Cash and cash equivalent acquired in merger transaction

    2,138  

Net cash provided by investing activities

    2,138  
         

Cash flows from financing activities

    -  

Net cash provided by financing activities

    -  
         

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

    2,388  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    -  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  $ 2,388  

 

 
105 

 

 

Item 9.      Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

 None 

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In December 2014, Media General and LIN Media were combined in a business combination transaction. Management has excluded LIN Media’s operations from its evaluation as of December 31, 2014 because LIN Media was acquired on December 19, 2014. LIN Media’s assets represent $2.9 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2014, and $24.2 million of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

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. 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 the end of the period covered by this report.

 

Reports on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The Company’s report on internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report on internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, are included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K on pages 51-53.

 

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The LIN Merger was completed in the latter half of December 2014 and represented a change in internal control over financial reporting. As part of the Company’s ongoing integration activities, the Company is in the process of standardizing financial reporting controls and procedures. The two companies maintained separate accounting systems throughout 2014, but are in the process of integrating both. The consolidated financial statements and other information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were combined using information obtained from these separate accounting systems.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

None 

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 23, 2015, with respect to directors, executive officers, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, audit committee and audit committee financial experts of the Company and Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance, except as to certain information regarding executive officers included in Part I of this Form 10-K.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 23, 2015.

 

 

 
106

 

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 23, 2015.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

Incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 23, 2015.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 23, 2015. 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

1

Financial Statements

Page

     

 

As listed in the Index in “Item 8 – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

  49
     

2

Financial Statement Schedules

 
     

 

Schedule I

103
     

3

Exhibits

 

 

Index to Exhibits

 

 

Exhibit

Number

Description
     
  2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 21, 2014, by and among Media General, Inc., Mercury New Holdco, Inc., Mercury Merger Sub 1, Inc., Mercury Merger Sub 2, LLC and LIN Media LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed March 25, 2014.
     
  2.2 Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 20, 2014, by and among Media General, Inc., Mercury New Holdco, Inc., Mercury Merger Sub 1, Inc., Mercury Merger Sub 2, LLC and LIN Media LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 20, 2014.
     
  2.3 Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among Media General, Inc., General Merger Sub 1, Inc., General Merger Sub 2, Inc., General Merger Sub 3, LLC, and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc., dated as of June 5, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 10, 2013.

 

 

 
107

 

 

 

3.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Media General, Inc. (formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc.), dated as of December 18, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

 

 

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Media General, Inc. (formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc.), dated as of December 18, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

 

 

3.3

Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Media General, Inc. (formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc.), dated as of December 19, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

 

 

4.1

Indenture, dated November 5, 2014, among Media General Financing Sub, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 5, 2014.

 

 

4.2

Form of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (included as part of Exhibit 4.1 above).

 

 

4.3

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2014, among Media General, Inc. (formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc.), the additional guarantors named therein, LIN Television Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, amending the Indenture, dated as of November 5, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

 

 

4.4

Indenture, dated as of October 12, 2012, among LIN Television Corporation, the guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to LIN Television’s Form 8-K filed October 17, 2012.

 

 

4.5

Form of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (included as part of Exhibit 4.4. above).

 

 

4.6

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 30, 2013, among LIN Media LLC, LIN Digital Media LLC, LIN Digital LLC, LIN Television Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, amending the Indenture, dated as of October 12, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to LIN Media's Form 8-K filed July 31, 2013.

 

 

4.7

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2013, among LIN Mobile, LLC, LIN Television Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee amending the Indenture, dated as of October 12, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to LIN Television's Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

 

 

4.8

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2014, among Media General, Inc. (formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc.), MGOC, Inc. (formerly known as Media General, Inc.), the additional guarantors named therein, LIN Television Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, amending the Indenture, dated as of October 12, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

     
  4.9 Registration Rights Agreement among Media General, Inc. and New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc., amended and restated as of June 5, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 10, 2013.

 

 

4.10

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2014, among Media General Financing Sub, Inc. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 5, 2014.

 

 

4.11

Registration Rights Agreement Joinder, dated as of December 19, 2014, among Media General, Inc. (formerly known as Mercury New Holdco, Inc.), the additional guarantors named therein, LIN Television Corporation and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, as representative of the initial purchasers named therein, with respect to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

 

 

10.1

Addendum dated June 19, 1992, to Form of Option granted under the 1987 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 1992 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.2

Deferred Income Plan for Selected Key Executives of Media General, Inc., and form of Deferred Compensation Agreement thereunder dated as of December 1, 1984, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1989 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.3

Media General, Inc., Management Performance Award Program, adopted November 16, 1990, and effective January 1, 1991, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 1991 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.4

Media General, Inc., Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated as of January 1, 2012, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2011.

 

 

10.5

Amendment to form of Deferred Compensation Agreement dated as of December 1, 1984, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.05 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

     
  10.6 Amendment to the Media General, Inc., ERISA Excess Benefit Plan dated May 31, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 28, 2009 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.7

Media General, Inc., ERISA Excess Benefit Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.06 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

 
 108

 

 

 

10.8

Media General, Inc., 1995 Long-Term Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of April 26, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.9

Media General, Inc., 1996 Employee Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, amended as of December 31, 2001, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2004 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.10

Media General, Inc., 1997 Employee Restricted Stock Plan, amended as of December 31, 2001, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2004 (File number 001-06383).

  

 

10.11

Media General, Inc., Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated as of April 30, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014.

 

 

10.12

Form of an executive life insurance bonus agreement between the Company and certain executive officers (who were participants on or before November 19, 2007), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2002 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.13

Media General, Inc., Executive Financial Planning and Income Tax Program, amended and restated effective January 1, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.08 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.14

Media General, Inc., Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.07 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.15

Amendment to the Media General Inc., Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan dated May 31, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 28, 2009 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.16

Amendment to the Media General Inc., Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan dated September 24, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2009 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.17

Media General, Inc., Supplemental Profit Sharing Plan, effective as of January 1, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.18

Media General, Inc., Retirement Transition Planning Program, effective January 1, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.09 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.19

Form of an executive life insurance agreement between the Company and certain executive officers (who become participants subsequent to November 19, 2007), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.03 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 6, 2008 (File number 001-06383).

     
  10.20 Media General, Inc., Supplemental 401(k) Plan, amended and restated effective July 1, 2014, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014.
     
  10.21 LIN Media LLC 1998 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated effective as of July 30, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to LIN Media’s Form S-8 filed July 31, 2013.
     
  10.22 LIN Media LLC 2002 Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective as of July 30, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to LIN Media’s Form S-8 filed July 31, 2013.
     
  10.23 LIN Media LLC amended and restated 2002 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective as of July 30, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to LIN Media’s Form S-8 filed July 31, 2013.
     
  10.24 Supplemental Benefit Retirement Plan of LIN Television Corporation and Subsidiary Companies, as amended and restated effective December 21, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to LIN Television’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

 
109

 

 

  10.25 Second Amendment to the Supplemental Benefit Retirement Plan of LIN Television Corporation and Subsidiary Companies, dated as of December 23, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to LIN Television’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (File number 001-06383).
     
  10.26 LIN Television Corporation Supplemental Income Deferral Plan effective July 1, 2010, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to LIN Television’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010.
     
  10.27 Form of Employee Grant Option Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to LIN Television’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (File number 001-06383).
     
  10.28 Form of Non-Employee Director Grant Option Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to LIN Television’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (File number 001-06383).
     
  10.29 Form of a Non-Qualified Stock Option Letter Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to LIN Television’s Form 8-K filed July 6, 2005 (File number 001-06383).
     
  10.30 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to LIN Television’s Form 8-K filed August 16, 2005 (File number 001-06383).
     
  10.31 Clarification of the Supplemental Benefit Retirement Plan of LIN Television Corporation and Subsidiary Companies, dated October 29, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to LIN Television’s Form 10-Q filed for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007 (File number 001-06383).

 

 

10.32

Separation Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2014, by and between Media General, Inc. and George L. Mahoney, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2014.

 

 

10.33

Separation Agreement, dated December 12, 2014, by and between Media General, Inc. and John R. Cottingham.

 

 

10.34

Separation Agreement, dated December 31, 2014, by and between Media General, Inc. and James R. Conschafter.

     
  10.35 Employment Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2013, by and between Media General Inc. and James F. Woodward, as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 10, 2013.       
     
  10.36 Employment Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2013, by and between Media General, Inc. and Deborah A. McDermott, as Senior Vice President, Broadcast Markets, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.      

 

 

10.36.1

Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Media General, Inc. and Deborah A. McDermott, as Senior Vice President, Broadcast Markets, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

 

 

 
110

 

 

  10.37 Employment Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2014, by and among Mercury New Holdco, Inc., LIN Media LLC, LIN Television Corporation and Vincent L. Sadusky, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Mercury New Holdco, Inc.’s Form S-4 filed May 9, 2014.
     
  10.38 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2013, by and among LIN Media LLC, LIN Television Corporation and Robert Richter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to LIN Television’s Form 8-K filed September 27, 2013.
     
  10.39 Employment Agreement dated as of June 5, 2013, by and between Media General Inc. and Andrew C. Carrington, as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.         
     
  10.40 Standstill and Lock-up Agreement, entered into as of June 5, 2013, by and among Media General, Inc., the Company, and Standard General Fund, LP and Standard General Communications, LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 10, 2013.

 

 

10.41

Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013 among Media General Inc., as the Borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Co-Syndication Agents, SunTrust Bank and U.S. Bank N.A. as Co-Documentation Agents, and other lenders party hereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 5, 2013.

     
  10.42 Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2014, among Media General, Inc., as the Borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent and a Lender and the other lenders party thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 18, 2014.
     
  10.43 Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2014, among Media General, Inc., as the Borrower, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, each Loan Party thereto and each Term B-1 Lender party thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 3, 2014.
     
  10.44  Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2014, among Media General, Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, each Loan Party thereto and each Term B-1 Lender party thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 14, 2014.
     
  10.45 Incremental Facility Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2014, among Media General, Inc, as the Borrower, each Loan Party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent and the lenders party thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 4, 2014.
     
  10.46 Incremental Facility Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2014, among MGOC, Inc. (f/k/a Media General, Inc.) and LIN Television Corporation, as co-borrowers, each Loan Party thereto, the Royal Bank of Canada, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed December 22, 2014.

  

 

10.47

Credit Agreement, dated July 31, 2013 among Shield Media LLC, Shield Media Lansing LLC, as the Holding Companies, WXXA-TV LLC and WLAJ-TV LLC as the Borrowers, and the Company and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and Lender and other lenders part hereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 5, 2013.

 

 

 
111

 

 

 

12.1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

     
  21 List of subsidiaries of the registrant.

 

 

23.1

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

23.2

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

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. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL includes: (i) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014, and 2013 (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Note:     Exhibits 10.1-10.40 are management contracts or compensatory plans, contracts or arrangements.

 

 

 
112

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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:     March 2, 2015

/s/ Vincent L. Sadusky     

 

Vincent L. Sadusky, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Signature

 

Title

Date

       

/s/ J. Stewart Bryan III

 

Chairman

March 2, 2015

J. Stewart Bryan III

     
       

/s/ Vincent L. Sadusky

 

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

March 2, 2015

Vincent L. Sadusky

     
       

/s/ James F. Woodward

 

Senior Vice President,

March 2, 2015

James F. Woodward

 

Chief Financial Officer

 
       

/s/ Timothy J. Mulvaney

 

Controller and

March 2, 2015

Timothy J. Mulvaney

 

Chief Accounting Officer

 
       

/s/ Diana F. Cantor

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Diana F. Cantor

     
       

/s/ Royal W. Carson III

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Royal W. Carson III

     
       

/s/ H.C. Charles Diao

 

Director

March 2, 2015

H.C. Charles Diao

     
       

/s/ Dennis J. FitzSimons

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Dennis J. FitzSimons

     
       

/s/ Soohyung Kim

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Soohyung Kim

     
       

/s/ Douglas W. McCormick

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Douglas W. McCormick

     
       

/s/ John R. Muse

 

Director

March 2, 2015

John R. Muse

     
       

/s/ Wyndham Robertson

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Wyndham Robertson

     
       

/s/ Thomas J. Sullivan

 

Director

March 2, 2015

Thomas J. Sullivan      

 

 113