gtn20150930_10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)

[X]  Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015 or

 

[ ]    Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from _________ to _________ .

 

Commission file number 1-13796

 

Gray Television, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Georgia

 

58-0285030

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

     

4370 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia

 

30319

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

(404) 504-9828

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes     No____

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☒

Non-accelerated filer ☐ (do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller Reporting Company ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes           No     _    

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date.

 

Common Stock (No Par Value)

 

Class A Common Stock (No Par Value)

66,106,427 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2015

 

6,244,010 shares outstanding as of October 31, 2015

 

 

 
 

 

 

INDEX

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

 

    PAGE

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

     

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 
     
 

Condensed consolidated balance sheets (Unaudited) –September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014

1

     
 

Condensed consolidated statements of operations (Unaudited) – three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

3

     
 

Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (Unaudited) – three months and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

4

     
  Condensed consolidated statement of stockholders' equity (Unaudited) – nine months ended September 30, 2015 5
     
 

Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (Unaudited) – nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

6

     
 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (Unaudited) – September 30, 2015

7

     

Item 2.

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

20

     

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

28

     

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

28

     

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 
     

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

29

     

Item 6.

Exhibits

29

     

SIGNATURES

 

30

 

 

 
 i

 

 

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.     Financial Statements

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Assets:

               

Current assets:

               

Cash

  $ 81,169       30,769  

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,752 and $1,667, respectively

    110,812       106,692  

Current portion of program broadcast rights, net

    12,850       9,765  

Deferred tax asset

    18,855       18,855  

Prepaid and other current assets

    4,431       2,223  

Total current assets

    228,117       168,304  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    229,384       221,811  

Deferred loan costs, net

    16,252       18,651  

Broadcast licenses

    1,058,250       1,023,580  

Goodwill

    398,235       374,390  

Other intangible assets, net

    51,084       47,802  

Investment in broadcasting company

    13,599       13,599  

Other

    97,157       3,443  

Total assets

  $ 2,092,078     $ 1,871,580  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 
1

 

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for share data)

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 4,380     $ 4,613  

Employee compensation and benefits

    23,147       25,160  

Accrued interest

    25,373       17,623  

Accrued network programming fees

    9,833       7,129  

Other accrued expenses

    13,011       6,218  

Federal and state income taxes

    519       1,894  

Current portion of program broadcast obligations

    13,144       9,899  

Deferred revenue

    2,248       7,486  

Total current liabilities

    91,655       80,022  
                 

Long-term debt, less current portion

    1,235,753       1,236,401  

Program broadcast obligations, less current portion

    1,871       2,000  

Deferred income taxes

    313,511       292,679  

Accrued pension costs

    31,322       43,334  

Other

    728       952  

Total liabilities

    1,674,840       1,655,388  
                 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

               
                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Common stock, no par value; authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 70,988,987 shares and 57,326,180 shares, respectively

    655,012       486,317  

Class A common stock, no par value; authorized 15,000,000 shares, issued 7,855,381 shares and 7,567,868 shares, respectively

    18,744       17,096  

Accumulated deficit

    (178,625 )     (202,939 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefit

    (13,318 )     (20,812 )
      481,813       279,662  

Treasury stock at cost, common stock, 4,882,705 shares and 4,814,716 shares, respectively

    (41,890 )     (41,072 )

Treasury stock at cost, Class A common stock, 1,611,371 shares and 1,578,554 shares, respectively

    (22,685 )     (22,398 )

Total stockholders’ equity

    417,238       216,192  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 2,092,078     $ 1,871,580  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 
2

 

  

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for per share data)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 
                                 

Revenue (less agency commissions)

  $ 151,102     $ 131,702     $ 427,869     $ 330,248  

Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets, net:

                               

Broadcast

    98,921       73,218       272,213       199,604  

Corporate and administrative

    10,022       5,271       23,313       21,618  

Depreciation

    9,354       8,228       26,906       21,598  

Amortization of intangible assets

    3,213       3,823       8,715       5,291  

Loss on disposal of assets, net

    248       6       562       385  

Operating expenses

    121,758       90,546       331,709       248,496  

Operating income

    29,344       41,156       96,160       81,752  

Other income (expense):

                               

Miscellaneous income, net

    28       11       102       14  

Interest expense

    (18,645 )     (18,619 )     (55,762 )     (49,718 )

Loss from early extinguishment of debt

    -       -       -       (4,897 )

Income before income taxes

    10,727       22,548       40,500       27,151  

Income tax expense

    4,118       8,608       16,186       10,343  

Net income

  $ 6,609     $ 13,940     $ 24,314     $ 16,808  
                                 

Basic per share information:

                               

Net income

  $ 0.09     $ 0.24     $ 0.36     $ 0.29  

Weighted-average shares outstanding

    71,638       57,863       67,215       57,857  
                                 

Diluted per share information:

                               

Net income

  $ 0.09     $ 0.24     $ 0.36     $ 0.29  

Weighted-average shares outstanding

    72,341       58,394       67,824       58,330  
                                 

Dividends declared per common share

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 
3

 

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 
                                 

Net income

  $ 6,609     $ 13,940     $ 24,314     $ 16,808  
                                 

Other comprehensive income:

                               

Adjustment to pension liability

    -       -       12,287       -  

Income tax expense

    -       -       4,793       -  

Other comprehensive income

    -       -       7,494       -  
                                 

Comprehensive income

  $ 6,609     $ 13,940     $ 31,808     $ 16,808  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 
4

 

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except for number of shares)

 

                                                                           

Accumulated

         
   

Class A

                           

Class A

   

Common

   

Other

         
   

Common Stock

   

Common Stock

   

Accumulated

   

Treasury Stock

   

Treasury Stock

   

Comprehensive

         
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Deficit

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Loss

   

Total

 
                                                                                         
                                                                                         

Balance at December 31, 2014

    7,567,868     $ 17,096       57,326,180     $ 486,317     $ (202,939 )     (1,578,554 )   $ (22,398 )     (4,814,716 )   $ (41,072 )   $ (20,812 )   $ 216,192  
                                                                                         

Net income

    -       -       -       -       24,314       -       -       -       -       -       24,314  
                                                                                         

Adjustment to pension liability, net of income tax

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       7,494       7,494  
                                                                                         

Issuance of common stock:

                                                                                       

Underwritten public offering

    -       -       13,511,040       167,313       -       -       -       -       -       -       167,313  

401(k) plan

    -       -       1,459       19       -       -       -       -       -       -       19  

2007 Long Term Incentive Plan - restricted stock

    287,513       -       150,308       -       -       (32,817 )     (287 )     (67,989 )     (818 )     -       (1,105 )
                                                                                         

Share-based compensation

    -       1,648       -       1,363       -       -       -       -       -       -       3,011  
                                                                                         

Balance at September 30, 2015

    7,855,381     $ 18,744       70,988,987     $ 655,012     $ (178,625 )     (1,611,371 )   $ (22,685 )     (4,882,705 )   $ (41,890 )   $ (13,318 )   $ 417,238  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

 

 
5

 

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Operating activities

               

Net income

  $ 24,314     $ 16,808  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Depreciation

    26,906       21,598  

Amortization of intangible assets

    8,715       5,291  

Amortization of deferred loan costs

    2,396       2,158  

Amortization of original issue discount and premium related to long-term debt, net

    (647 )     (647 )

Amortization of restricted stock and stock option awards

    3,011       4,032  

Amortization of program broadcast rights

    10,837       9,227  

Payments on program broadcast obligations

    (10,558 )     (11,194 )

Common stock contributed to 401(k) plan

    19       19  

Deferred income taxes

    16,040       10,333  

Loss on disposals of assets, net

    562       385  

Loss from early extinguishment of debt

    -       4,897  

Other

    48       (233 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Receivables

    (4,120 )     (7,300 )

Other current assets

    (1,841 )     (772 )

Accounts payable

    (233 )     2,881  

Other current liabilities

    (481 )     13,166  

Accrued interest

    7,750       17,755  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    82,718       88,404  
                 

Investing activities

               

Purchases of property and equipment

    (15,250 )     (20,452 )

Acquisitions of television businesses and broadcast licenses

    (184,346 )     (457,754 )

Proceeds from asset sales

    111       1,162  

Other

    (150 )     (22 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (199,635 )     (477,066 )
                 

Financing activities

               

Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt

    -       644,000  

Repayments of borrowings on long-term debt

    -       (179,758 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

    167,313       -  

Deferred and other loan costs

    4       (9,251 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    167,317       454,991  

Net increase in cash

    50,400       66,329  

Cash at beginning of period

    30,769       13,478  

Cash at end of period

  $ 81,169     $ 79,807  

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

  

 

 
6

 

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.     

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Gray Television, Inc. (and its consolidated subsidiaries, except as the context otherwise provides,“Gray,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) as of December 31, 2014, which was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2014, and our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2015 and for the periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement have been included. Our operations consist of one reportable segment. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (the “2014 Form 10-K”). Our financial condition as of, and operating results, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the financial condition or results that may be expected for any future interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2015.

 

Seasonality and Cyclicality

 

Broadcast advertising revenues are generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season. Broadcast advertising revenues are also typically higher in even-numbered years due to increased spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups in advance of elections. This political spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Our actual results could differ materially from these estimates. The most significant estimates we make relate to our allowance for doubtful accounts in receivables, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, amortization of program broadcast rights and intangible assets, stock-based compensation, pension costs, income taxes, employee medical insurance claims, useful lives of property and equipment and contingencies.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the relevant period. The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding does not include restricted shares. These shares, although classified as issued and outstanding, are considered contingently returnable until the restrictions lapse and, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, are not included in the basic earnings per share calculation until the shares vest. Diluted earnings per share is computed by including all potentially dilutive common shares, including restricted shares and shares underlying stock options, in the denominator of the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding calculation, unless their inclusion would be antidilutive.

 

 

 
7

 

 

The following table reconciles basic weighted-average shares outstanding to diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 
                                 
                                 

Weighted-average shares outstanding-basic

    71,638       57,863       67,215       57,857  

Common stock equivalents for stock options and restricted stock

    703       531       609       473  

Weighted-average shares outstanding-diluted

    72,341       58,394       67,824       58,330  

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

Our accumulated other comprehensive loss balances as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted of adjustments to our pension liability and income tax benefit as follows (in thousands):

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 

Accumulated balances of items included in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

               

Adjustment to pension liability

  $ (21,830 )   $ (34,117 )

Income tax benefit

    (8,512 )     (13,305 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ (13,318 )   $ (20,812 )

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method. Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to operations as incurred; major replacements and betterments are capitalized. The cost of any assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts at the time of disposition, and any resulting profit or loss is reflected in income or expense for the period. The following table lists components of property and equipment by major category (in thousands):

 

                   

Estimated

 
   

September 30,

   

December 31,

   

Useful Lives

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

(in years)

 

Property and equipment:

                         

Land

  $ 34,749     $ 32,085            

Buildings and improvements

    82,406       77,477     7 to 40  

Equipment

    416,024       394,569     3 to 20  
      533,179       504,131            

Accumulated depreciation

    (303,795 )     (282,320 )          

Total property and equipment, net

  $ 229,384     $ 221,811            

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Our allowance for doubtful accounts is equal to at least 85% of our receivable balances that are 120 days old or older. We may provide allowances for certain receivable balances that are less than 120 days old when warranted by specific facts and circumstances. We generally write-off accounts receivable balances when the customer files for bankruptcy or when all commonly used methods of collection have been exhausted.

 

 

 
8

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 provides new guidance on revenue recognition for revenue from contracts with customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard is intended to improve comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities and provide more useful information through improved financial statement disclosures. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. ASU 2015-14 deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09, by one year to December 15, 2017 for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after that date and permitted early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact of the requirements of this ASU on our financial statements.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) - Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. ASU 2014-15 defines management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. This evaluation is required for each interim and annual period. The standard is intended to reduce diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures and require management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 amends previous guidance to require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. In August 2015 the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements- Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting. ASU 2015-15 amended previous guidance to codify the June 18, 2015 Staff Announcement that the SEC staff would not object to the deferral and presentation as an asset, and subsequent amortization of such asset, of deferred debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. We expect that the affected amounts on our balance sheets will be reclassified within our balance sheets to conform to this standard. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. ASU 2015-16 requires that an acquiror recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The amendments in this ASU require that the acquiror record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The amendments in ASU 2015-16 require an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods thereafter. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

 

 
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In October 2015, the FASB voted to ratify a proposed ASU on income taxes (Topic 740) to require “noncurrent” presentation of all deferred income taxes. Entities with publicly traded securities are required to apply the new guidance in the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter. We expect that the affected amounts on our balance sheets will be reclassified within our balance sheets to conform to this standard. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain reclassifications have been made in the presentation of operating activities in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine-months ended September 30, 2014 in order to conform to the presentation for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The reclassifications did not change our total net cash provided by operating activities for the nine-months ended September 30, 2014.

 

2.     Acquisitions and Dispositions

 

During the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, we entered into the transactions described below (collectively, the “2015 Transactions”). The 2015 Transactions are expected to, among other things, increase our revenues and cash flows from operating activities, and allow us to operate more efficiently and effectively, by increasing our scale and providing us with the ability to negotiate more favorable terms in our agreements with third parties.

 

Cedar Rapids Acquisition

 

On September 1, 2015, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire KCRG-TV, which is affiliated with the ABC Network and serves the Cedar Rapids, Iowa television market (the “Cedar Rapids Acquisition”). On September 1, 2015, we acquired certain non-license operating assets of the station and entered into a local programming and marketing agreement (the “LMA”) with the licensee. Under the terms of the LMA, we operate the station subject to the control of the seller and its obligations under the station’s FCC license. As a result of the terms of the LMA, we have included the operating results of the station in our financial statements beginning on September 1, 2015. The total consideration for the transaction was $100.0 million. On September 1, 2015, we paid $80.0 million to the seller and $20.0 million into an escrow account, pending regulatory approval of the transaction. On October 23, 2015, the FCC consented to the assignment of the station's FCC license and related assets and, on November 1, 2015, we completed the acquisition. The amounts paid were funded with cash on hand. As of September 30, 2015, we recorded $5.8 million of non-license operating assets and a non-current deposit of $94.2 million. Please refer to Note 11. “Subsequent Events” for a discussion of the completion and preliminary valuation of the Cedar Rapids Acquisition.

 

Odessa Acquisition

 

On July 1, 2015, we acquired the assets of KOSA-TV, whose digital channels are affiliated with the CBS and MY Networks and which station serves the Odessa-Midland, Texas television market (the “Odessa Acquisition”). The total consideration paid was $33.6 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

Twin Falls Acquisition

 

On July 1, 2015, we acquired KMVT-TV, whose digital channels are affiliated with the CBS and CW Networks, as well as KSVT-LD, whose digital channel is affiliated jointly with the FOX and MY Networks. These stations serve the Twin Falls, Idaho television market (the “Twin Falls Acquisition”). The total consideration paid was $17.5 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

Wausau Acquisition

 

On July 1, 2015, we acquired certain non-license assets of WFXS-TV, which had served as the FOX affiliate for the Wausau-Rhinelander, Wisconsin television market (the “Wausau Acquisition”). On that date WFXS-TV ceased operating, and we began broadcasting its former program streams on our digital low power television station in Wausau, WZAW-LD. The total consideration paid was $14.0 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

 

 
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Presque Isle Acquisition

 

On July 1, 2015, we acquired WAGM-TV, whose digital channels are affiliated with the CBS and FOX Networks and which station serves the Presque Isle, Maine television market (the Presque Isle Acquisition”). The total consideration paid was $10.3 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

Laredo Acquisition

 

On July 1, 2015, we acquired certain non-license assets of KVTV-TV, which had served as the CBS affiliate for the Laredo, Texas television market (the “Laredo Acquisition”). On that date KVTV-TV ceased operating, and we began broadcasting its former program streams on our digital low power television station in Laredo, KYLX-LD. The total consideration paid was $9.0 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

Preliminary Fair Value Estimates:

 

The preliminary fair value estimates of the acquired assets, assumed liabilities and resulting goodwill from each of the acquisitions are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Acquisition

 
   

Odessa

   

Twin Falls

   

Wausau

   

Presque Isle

   

Laredo

 
                                         

Other current assets

  $ 67     $ 94     $ 83     $ 45     $ 22  

Property and equipment

    4,629       5,172       1,985       2,822       1,411  

Goodwill

    3,739       2,587       11,610       245       5,154  

Broadcast licenses

    22,253       6,333       -       6,150       -  

Other intangible assets

    3,067       3,485       397       1,039       2,435  

Other non-current assets

    13       32       87       -       13  

Current liabilities

    (155 )     (140 )     (75 )     (51 )     (22 )

Other long-term liabilities

    (13 )     (63 )     (87 )     -       (13 )
                                         

Total

  $ 33,600     $ 17,500     $ 14,000     $ 10,250     $ 9,000  

 

Amounts in the table above are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches.  In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates, and estimated discount rates. 

 

Property and equipment will be depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 years to 40 years.

 

Amounts related to other intangible assets represent the estimated fair values of retransmission agreements of $5.6 million; advertising relationships of $1.0 million; and favorable leases of $3.6 million. These intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of approximately 5.8 years for retransmission agreements; approximately 9.6 years for advertising relationships; and approximately 18.1 years for leases.

 

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce, as well as future synergies that we expect to generate from each acquisition. We have preliminarily recorded $23.3 million of goodwill related to the acquisitions completed in the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The goodwill recognized related to these acquisitions is deductible for income tax purposes.

 

 

 
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The preliminary fair value estimates of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and resulting goodwill are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. The amounts presented are preliminary and subject to change. 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.

 

The Company’s consolidated results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 include the results of each of the acquisitions described above from the date of each acquisition listed above. Net revenues and operating income from these acquisitions included in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 were $8.3 million and $3.0 million, respectively. In connection with these acquisitions, we incurred a total of $4.5 million of transaction related costs, primarily related to legal, consulting and other professional services.

 

Disposition

 

On September 1, 2015, we donated the FCC license and certain other assets of KMTF-TV in Helena, Montana, which formerly simulcast the CW channel broadcast by our KTVH-D2, to Montana State University (“MSU”). This donation allowed MSU to operate a full power PBS affiliated television station in the state’s capital for the first time, augmenting the statewide PBS network that MSU operates. We recorded a loss on disposal of approximately $0.1 million related to this donation in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015.

 

Pending Transactions

 

Please refer to Note 8. “Commitments and Contingencies” for a description of our pending transactions.

 

3.      Long-term Debt

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, long-term debt consisted of obligations under our 2014 Senior Credit Facility (the “Senior Credit Facility”) and our 7 ½ % Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”), as follows (in thousands):

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Long-term debt including current portion:

               

Senior Credit Facility

    556,438       556,438  

2020 Notes

    675,000       675,000  

Total outstanding principal

    1,231,438       1,231,438  

Unamortized net premium - 2020 Notes

    4,315       4,963  

Net carrying value

  $ 1,235,753     $ 1,236,401  
                 

Borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility

  $ 50,000     $ 50,000  

 

Our Senior Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a term loan. Excluding accrued interest, the amount outstanding under our Senior Credit Facility as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted solely of a term loan balance of $556.4 million. Our maximum borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility is limited by our required compliance with certain restrictive covenants, including a first lien net leverage ratio covenant.

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $675.0 million of our 2020 Notes outstanding, at their face value.

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility was 3.8%, and the coupon interest rate was 7.5% and the yield was 7.3% on the 2020 Notes.

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $6.4 million and $7.4 million, respectively, related to the Senior Credit Facility; and we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $9.8 million and $11.3 million, respectively, related to our 2020 Notes.

 

 

 
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Collateral, Covenants and Restrictions

 

Our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our consolidated subsidiaries' assets, including certain real estate. In addition, all of our subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors of, and our ownership interests in those subsidiaries are pledged to collateralize, our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility. Gray Television, Inc. is a holding company with no material independent assets or operations. For all periods presented, the 2020 Notes have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several, senior unsecured basis, by all of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2015, there were no significant restrictions on the ability of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries to distribute cash to Gray or to the guarantor subsidiaries. 

 

The Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative and restrictive covenants with which we must comply, including (a) limitations on additional indebtedness, (b) limitations on liens, (c) limitations on the sale of assets, (d) limitations on guarantees, (e) limitations on investments and acquisitions, (f) limitations on the payment of dividends and share repurchases, (g) limitations on mergers, and (h) maintenance of a total leverage ratio not to exceed certain maximum limits while any amount is outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, as well as other customary covenants for credit facilities of this type. The 2020 Notes include covenants with which we must comply which are typical for borrowing transactions of their nature. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all required covenants under all our debt obligations.

 

4.     Stockholders’ Equity

 

On March 31, 2015, we completed an underwritten offering of 13.5 million shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. The net proceeds from the offering were $167.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts of $7.5 million and expenses of $0.9 million. We used the net proceeds from the offering to pay a significant portion of the consideration to complete the acquisitions in 2015.

 

We are authorized to issue 135 million shares of all classes of stock, of which 15 million shares are designated Class A common stock, 100 million shares are designated common stock, and 20 million shares are designated “blank check” preferred stock for which our Board of Directors has the authority to determine the rights, powers, limitations and restrictions. The rights of our common stock and Class A common stock are identical, except that our Class A common stock has 10 votes per share and our common stock has one vote per share. Our common stock and Class A common stock are entitled to receive cash dividends if declared, on an equal per-share basis.

 

Our Board of Directors has authorized Gray to repurchase an aggregate of up to 5 million shares of its common stock and Class A common stock at times as management deems appropriate, subject to any contractual or other restrictions. As of September 30, 2015, 279,200 shares of our common stock and Class A common stock remain available for repurchase under these authorizations. There is no expiration date for these authorizations. Shares repurchased are held as treasury shares and may be used for general corporate purposes including, but not limited to, satisfying obligations under our employee benefit plans and long-term incentive plans. Treasury stock is recorded at cost. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we did not make any repurchases under these authorizations.

 

For the period ended September 30, 2015 and for the year ended December 31, 2014, we did not declare or pay any common stock or Class A common stock dividends.

 

Under our various employee benefit plans, we may, at our discretion, issue authorized and unissued shares, or previously issued shares held in treasury, of our common stock or our Class A common stock. As of September 30, 2015, we had reserved 6,964,404 shares and 476,193 shares of our common stock and Class A common stock, respectively, for future issuance under various employee benefit plans. As of December 31, 2014, we had reserved 7,116,171 shares and 763,706 shares of our common stock and Class A common stock, respectively, for future issuance under various employee benefit plans.

 

 

 
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5.      Fair Value Measurement

 

To determine fair value, we utilize market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable. We utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are prioritized into a hierarchy that gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (“Level 1”) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that require assumptions to measure fair value (“Level 3”). Level 2 inputs are those that are other than quoted prices on national exchanges included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly (“Level 2”).

 

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

 

The estimated fair value of other financial instruments is determined using market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Interpreting market data to develop fair value estimates involves considerable judgment. The use of different market assumptions may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. Accordingly, the estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we could realize in a current market exchange, or the value that ultimately will be realized upon maturity or disposition.

 

The carrying amounts of the following instruments approximate fair value due to their short term to maturity: (i) accounts receivable, (ii) prepaid and other current assets, (iii) accounts payable, (iv) accrued employee compensation and benefits, (v) accrued interest, (vi) other accrued expenses, (vii) acquisition-related liabilities and (viii) deferred revenue.

 

The carrying amount of our long-term debt was $1.2 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, and the fair value was $1.3 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. We classify our long-term debt within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Fair value of our long-term debt is based on observable estimates provided by third-party financial professionals as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

6.     Retirement Plans

 

We sponsor and in some cases contribute to defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans covering substantially all of our full-time employees. Our defined benefit pension plans are the Gray Television, Inc. Retirement Plan (the “Gray Pension Plan”) as well as two plans assumed when we acquired the related businesses in prior years. Effective July 1, 2015, monthly plan benefits under the Gray Pension Plan were frozen and no longer increase after June 30, 2015, therefore all three of our defined benefit pension plans are frozen plans.

 

The Gray Television, Inc. Capital Accumulation Plan (“the Capital Accumulation Plan”) is a defined contribution plan intended to meet the requirements of section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective beginning on July 1, 2015, employer contributions under the Capital Accumulation Plan include matching cash contributions at a rate of 100% of the first 3% of each employee’s salary deferral, and 50% of the next 2% of each employee’s salary deferral. In addition, the Company, at its discretion, may make an additional profit sharing contribution, based on annual Company performance, to those employees who meet certain criteria.

 

 

 
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The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for our pension plans for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively (in thousands):

  

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 

Service cost

  $ -     $ 1,279     $ 3,116     $ 3,886  

Interest cost

    -       1,099       4,448       3,336  

Expected return on plan assets

    -       (1,123 )     (5,114 )     (3,410 )

Loss amortization

    -       263       1,740       799  

Net periodic benefit cost

  $ -     $ 1,518     $ 4,190     $ 4,611  

 

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we contributed $3.9 million to our pension plans. During the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2015, we expect to contribute an additional $1.3 million to our pension plans. For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our contributions to our Capital Accumulation Plan were $1.0 million and $0, respectively. We estimate that our contributions to the Capital Accumulation Plan for the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2015 will be approximately $0.9 million.

 

7.     Stock-based Compensation

 

We recognize compensation expense for stock-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including stock options and restricted shares under our 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2007 Incentive Plan”) and our Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. The following table provides our stock-based compensation expense and related income tax benefit for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively (in thousands).

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 

Stock-based compensation expense, gross

  $ 1,009     $ 981     $ 3,011     $ 4,032  

Income tax benefit at our statutory rate associated with stock-based compensation

    (394 )     (383 )     (1,174 )     (1,572 )

Stock-based compensation expense, net

  $ 615     $ 598     $ 1,837     $ 2,460  

 

2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

The 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, and performance awards to acquire shares of our Class A common stock or common stock, or the receipt of other awards based on our performance, to our employees and non-employee directors.

 

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we granted 150,308 shares of restricted common stock to our employees, of which 50,102 shares will vest on January 31, 2016; 50,100 shares will vest on January 31, 2017; and 50,106 shares will vest on January 31, 2018. Also during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we granted 229,322 shares of restricted Class A common stock to our employees, of which 76,442 shares will vest on each of January 31, 2016 and January 31, 2017; and 76,438 shares will vest on January 31, 2018. Also during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we granted 58,191 shares of restricted Class A common stock to our non-employee directors, all of which will vest on January 31, 2016. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, we granted 312,961 shares of restricted common stock to our employees, of which 68,991 shares vested on the date of grant; 127,316 shares vested on January 17, 2015; and 58,327 shares will vest on each of January 17, 2016 and 2017. Also during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, we granted 194,413 shares of restricted Class A common stock to an employee, of which 31,821 shares vested on the date of grant; 75,412 shares vested on January 17, 2015 and 43,590 shares will vest on each of January 17, 2016 and 2017. Also during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, we granted 41,881 shares of restricted Class A common stock to our non-employee directors, all of which vested on January 1, 2015.

 

 

 
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Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan

 

The Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan authorizes the grant of restricted stock awards to our non-employee directors. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we did not grant any restricted stock awards under the Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. However, we granted restricted stock awards to our non-employee directors, pursuant to our 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, as described above.

 

A summary of restricted common stock activity for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2015

   

September 30, 2014

 
           

Weighted-

           

Weighted-

 
           

average

           

average

 
           

Grant Date

           

Grant Date

 
   

Number of

   

Fair Value

   

Number of

   

Fair Value

 
   

Shares

   

Per Share

   

Shares

   

Per Share

 

Restricted stock - common:

                               

Outstanding - beginning of period

    385,056     $ 9.09       274,838     $ 4.43  

Granted

    150,308     $ 10.27       312,961     $ 11.78  

Vested

    (197,858 )   $ 9.16       (202,743 )   $ 6.93  

Outstanding - end of period

    337,506     $ 9.57       385,056     $ 9.09  

 

A summary of restricted Class A common stock activity for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

  

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2015

   

September 30, 2014

 
           

Weighted-average

           

Weighted-average

 
           

Grant Date

           

Grant Date

 
   

Number of

   

Fair Value

   

Number of

   

Fair Value

 
   

Shares

   

Per Share

   

Shares

   

Per Share

 

Restricted stock - class A common:

                               

Outstanding - beginning of period

    204,473     $ 9.81       -     $ -  

Granted

    287,513     $ 9.37       236,294     $ 9.80  

Vested

    (117,293 )   $ 9.85       (31,821 )   $ 9.75  

Outstanding - end of period

    374,693     $ 9.46       204,473     $ 9.81  

 

Stock Options

 

During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, options to purchase 274,746 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price of $1.99, were outstanding. As of September 30, 2015 and 2014, 206,064 and 137,376, respectively, of those shares were exercisable. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we did not have any outstanding stock options for our Class A common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of our outstanding stock options was $3.0 million based on the closing market price of our common stock on September 30, 2015.

 

 

 
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8.      Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Proceedings and Claims

 

From time to time, we are or may become subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the normal course of our business. In our opinion, the amount of ultimate liability, if any, with respect to known actions, will not materially affect our financial position. However, the outcome of any one or more matters cannot be predicted with certainty, and the unfavorable resolution of any matter could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Acquisition Commitments

 

We have previously announced entering into a series of television station acquisition and disposition transactions that we anticipate completing in either the fourth quarter of 2015 or the first quarter of 2016. On September 14, 2015, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Schurz Communications, Inc. (“Schurz”) and certain subsidiaries of Schurz to acquire all of the television and radio stations owned by Schurz for approximately $442.5 million inclusive of working capital (the “Schurz Acquisition”). Specifically, we expect to acquire the Schurz television stations in the Wichita, Kansas, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia, Springfield, Missouri, South Bend, Indiana, Augusta, Georgia, Anchorage, Alaska and Rapid City, South Dakota markets, along with its radio station operations in South Bend and Lafayette, Indiana and Rapid City, South Dakota. To facilitate regulatory approvals for the Schurz Acquisition, and pursuant to that agreement, on October 1, 2015, we announced the sale of certain television stations, and we simultaneously announced the acquisition of two new stations as part of those divestiture transactions. We also entered into agreements to sell our currently owned station in the Wichita, Kansas market and purchase another station in the Knoxville, Tennessee market; and to sell Schurz’s South Bend, Indiana television station; and sell Schurz’s radio station operations in South Bend and Lafayette, Indiana and Rapid City, South Dakota; and purchase another station in the Marquette, Michigan market. We have also agreed to sell the FCC license and certain assets of Schurz’s station in the Rapid City, South Dakota market. In addition, we also announced on October 1, 2015, that we have agreed to acquire a second station in the Anchorage, Alaska market from a third party unrelated to Schurz. We intend to finance the purchase price to complete the Schurz Acquisition with cash on hand and additional borrowings. In the event we do not consummate the Schurz Acquisition as a result of certain breaches by us of the terms of the agreement, we may be required to pay Schurz a termination fee of $10.0 million.

 

9.      Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we acquired and disposed of various television broadcast stations and broadcast licenses. As a net result of these transactions, our goodwill and intangible balances changed during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. See Note 2 “Acquisitions and Dispositions” for more information regarding these transactions. A summary of changes in our goodwill and other intangible assets, on a net basis, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Net Balance at

   

Acquisitions

                   

Net Balance at

 
   

December 31,

   

And

                   

September 30,

 
   

2014

   

Adjustments

   

Impairments

   

Amortization

   

2015

 
                                         

Goodwill

  $ 374,390     $ 23,845     $ -     $ -     $ 398,235  

Broadcast licenses

    1,023,580       34,670       -       -       1,058,250  

Definite lived intangible assets

    47,802       11,997       -       (8,715 )     51,084  

Total intangible assets net of accumulated amortization

  $ 1,445,772     $ 70,512     $ -     $ (8,715 )   $ 1,507,569  

 

 

 
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As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our intangible assets and related accumulated amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    As of September 30, 2015     As of December 31, 2014  
           

Accumulated

                   

Accumulated

         
   

Gross

   

Amortization

   

Net

   

Gross

   

Amortization

   

Net

 

Intangible assets not currently subject to amortization:

                                               

Broadcast licenses

  $ 1,111,948     $ (53,698 )   $ 1,058,250     $ 1,077,279     $ (53,699 )   $ 1,023,580  

Goodwill

    398,235       -       398,235       374,390       -       374,390  
    $ 1,510,183     $ (53,698 )   $ 1,456,485     $ 1,451,669     $ (53,699 )   $ 1,397,970  
                                                 

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

                                               

Network affiliation agreements

  $ 1,264     $ (1,264 )   $ -       1,264     $ (1,264 )   $ -  

Other definite lived intangible assets

    81,277       (30,193 )     51,084       69,281       (21,479 )     47,802  
    $ 82,541     $ (31,457 )   $ 51,084     $ 70,545     $ (22,743 )   $ 47,802  
                                                 

Total intangibles

  $ 1,592,724     $ (85,155 )   $ 1,507,569     $ 1,522,214     $ (76,442 )   $ 1,445,772  

 

Upon renewal of intangible assets such as network affiliations and broadcast licenses, we expense all related fees as incurred.

 

Amortization expense for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $8.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively. Based on the current amount of intangible assets subject to amortization, we expect that amortization expense for the succeeding five years will be as follows: 2016, $11.9 million; 2017, $11.3 million; 2018, $6.7 million; 2019, $4.5 million; and 2020, $3.0 million. If and when acquisitions and dispositions occur in the future, actual amounts may vary from these estimates.

 

10.     Income Taxes

 

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, our income tax expense and effective income tax rates were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 

Income tax expense

  $ 4,118     $ 8,608     $ 16,186     $ 10,343  

Effective income tax rate

    38.4 %     38.2 %     40.0 %     38.1 %

 

We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarter is based upon these full year projections, which are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits to adjust our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate.

 

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 40.0% as follows: state income taxes added 4.5%, while permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.6%, discrete items resulted in a reduction of 0.2% and adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.9%.

 

 

 
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For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 38.1% as follows; state income taxes added 3.8%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income resulted in a reduction of 0.5%, and adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.2%.

 

11.     Subsequent Events

 

Acquisition

 

In the fourth quarter of 2015, we completed the Cedar Rapids Acquisition. Specifically, on October 1, 2015, we acquired the real estate assets of television station KCRG-TV, and, on November 1, 2015, after receipt of FCC approval, we acquired the station’s FCC license and the remaining license-related assets. The preliminary allocation of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction are as follows (in thousands):

 

Property and equipment

  $ 13,754  

Goodwill

    24,721  

Broadcast licenses

    55,676  

Other intangible assets

    5,849  
         

Total

  $ 100,000  

 

Amounts in the table above are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. The amounts presented are preliminary and subject to change.  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. 

 

Disposition

 

On November 1, 2015, we sold to Cordillera Communications, LLC television station KBGF-TV, the NBC affiliate for the Great Falls, Montana television market, and television station KTVH-TV, the NBC and CW affiliate for the Helena, Montana television market. Total consideration received was $3.0 million, and we expect to record a gain on disposal of approximately $0.9 million related to this disposition in the fourth quarter of 2015.

  

 

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

 

Executive Overview

 

Introduction

 

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Gray Television, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (except as the context otherwise provides, “Gray,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this report and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 (the “2014 Form 10-K”).

 

Overview

 

We are a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and operates television stations and digital properties in markets throughout the United States. Upon consummation of all announced transactions, we will own and operate television stations in 50 television markets that broadcast over 175 programming streams, including 35 affiliates of the CBS Network (“CBS”), 26 affiliates of the NBC Network (“NBC”), 19 affiliates of the ABC Network (“ABC”) and 14 affiliates of the FOX Network (“FOX”).

 

In addition to our primary broadcast channels, we can also broadcast secondary digital channels within a market. Our secondary digital channels are generally affiliated with networks different from those affiliated with our primary broadcast channels, and are operated by us to make better use of our broadcast spectrum by providing supplemental and/or alternative programming in addition to our primary channels. Certain of our secondary digital channels are affiliated with more than one network simultaneously. In addition to affiliations with ABC, CBS and FOX, our secondary channels are affiliated with additional networks including the CW Network, MyNetworkTV, the MeTV Network, Antenna TV and Telemundo. We also broadcast 12 local news/weather channels in certain of our existing markets. Our combined TV station group will encompass markets that comprise approximately 9.4% of total United States television households.

 

Recent Acquisitions

 

As described more fully in our 2014 Form 10-K, we continue our focus on strategic growth and acquisitions. Consistent with that strategy, since October 1, 2013, we have completed 16 acquisition transactions and two divestiture transactions, which have added a net toal of 31 additional television stations in 20 markets, and 15 new television markets to our operations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we entered into the 2015 Transactions that are described in Note 2. “Acquisitions and Dispositions” of the notes to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this report. During 2014, we completed the “KNDX Acquisition”, the “KEVN Acquisition”, the “WQCW Acquisition”, the “Hoak Acquisition”, the “SJL Acquisition”, the “Parker Acquisition” and the “Helena Acquisition”, each as described in our 2014 10-K (the “2014 Acquisitions”). In the fourth quarter of 2013, we completed the “Excalibur Acquisition” and the “Yellowstone Acquisition”, each as described in our 2014 10-K (the “2013 Acquisitions”). The 2015 Transactions, the 2014 Acquisitions and the 2013 Acquisitions had a significant impact on our results of operations and on our liquidity and capital resources. As a result the comparability of our period-over-period results may be limited.

 

In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we completed five acquisitions, partially completed one acquisition and completed one dispositon. Subsequent to September 30, 2015 we completed the remaining phases of the partially completed acquisition and completed one disposition. Furthermore, we have recently announced the acquisition of several additional television and radio stations and the disposition of certain television stations, all of which we anticipate will be completed in subsequent periods. These transactions are as follows:

 

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Acquisition - On September 1, 2015, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire KCRG-TV, which is affiliated with the ABC Network and serves the Cedar Rapids, Iowa television market. On September 1, 2015, we acquired certain non-license operating assets of the television staion and entered into a local programming and marketing agreement with the licensee, thereby including that station’s operations in our financial results since September 1, 2015. On October 1, 2015, we acquired certain real estate assets of KCRG-TV, and on November 1,2015, after receipt of Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) approval, we acquired KCRG-TV’s FCC license and related assets. The total purchase price for the acquisition was $100.0 million, plus transaction related fees of approximately $2.1 million. We funded the Cedar Rapids Acquisition with cash on hand.

 

 

 
20

 

  

 

Odessa-Midland, Texas Acquisition – On July 1, 2015, we acquired the assets of KOSA-TV, whose digital channels are affiliated with the CBS and MY Networks. The total consideration paid was $33.6 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

 

Twin Falls, Idaho Acquisition - On July 1, 2015, we acquired KMVT-TV, whose digital channels are affiliated with the CBS and CW Networks, as well as KSVT-LD, whose digital channel is affiliated jointly with the FOX and MY Networks. The total consideration paid was $17.5 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

 

Wausau-Rhinelander, Wisconsin Acquisition - On July 1, 2015, we acquired certain non-license assets of WFXS-TV, which had served as the Fox affiliate for the Wausau-Rhinelander television market. On that date, WFXS-TV ceased operating, and we began broadcasting its former program streams on our digital low power television station in Wausau, WZAW-LD. The total consideration paid was $14.0 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

 

Presque Isle, Maine Acquisition - On July 1, 2015, we acquired WAGM-TV, whose digital channels are affiliated with the CBS and FOX Networks. The total consideration paid was $10.3 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

 

Laredo, Texas Acquisition - On July 1, 2015, we acquired certain non-license assets of KVTV-TV, which had served as the CBS affiliate for the Laredo television market. On that date, KVTV-TV ceased operating, and we began broadcasting its former program streams on our digital low power television station in Laredo, KYLX-LD. The total consideration paid was $9.0 million. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand.

 

 

Helena, Montana Disposition - On September 1, 2015, we donated the FCC license and certain other assets of KMTF-TV in Helena, Montana, which formerly simulcast the CW channel broadcast by our KTVH-D2, to Montana State University (“MSU”). This donation allowed MSU to operate a full power PBS affiliated television station in the state’s capital for the first time, augmenting the statewide PBS network that MSU operates. We recorded a loss on disposal of approximately $0.1 million related to this donation in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015.

 

 

Great Falls and Helena, Montana Disposition – On November 1, 2015, we sold to Cordillera Communications, LLC television station KBGF-TV, the NBC affiliate for the Great Falls television market, and KTVH-TV, the NBC and CW affiliate for the Helena television market. The total consideration received was $3.0 million, and we expect to record a gain on disposal of approximately $0.9 million related to this disposition in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

 

Schurz Acquisition and Related Transactions – As we have previously announced, in September 2015 we entered into agreements providing for a series of television station acquisition and disposition transactions that we anticipate completing in either the fourth quarter of 2015 or the first quarter of 2016. On September 14, 2015, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Schurz Communications, Inc. (“Schurz”) to acquire all of the television and radio stations owned by Schurz for approximately $442.5 million inclusive of working capital (the “Schurz Acquisition”). Specifically, the Schurz agreement covers the Schurz television stations in the Wichita, Kansas, Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia, Springfield, Missouri, South Bend, Indiana, Augusta, Georgia, Anchorage, Alaska and Rapid City, South Dakota markets, along with its radio station operations in the South Bend and Lafayette, Indiana markets and Rapid City, South Dakota market. To facilitate regulatory approvals for the Schurz Acquisition, and pursuant to that agreement, on October 1, 2015, we also entered into agreements to sell our currently owned station in the Wichita, Kansas market in exchange for a television station in the Knoxville, Tennessee market and $11.2 million of cash; to sell Schurz’s South Bend, Indiana television station in exchange for a television station in the Marquette, Michigan market; and sell Schurz’s radio station operations in South Bend and Lafayette, Indiana and Rapid City, South Dakota; and to sell the FCC license and certain assets of Schurz’s station in the Rapid City, South Dakota market. In addition we also announced on October 1, 2015, that we have agreed to acquire a second station in the Anchorage, Alaska market from a third party unrelated to Schurz. We intend to finance the purchase price to complete the Schurz Acquisition and these related transactions with cash on hand and additional borrowings. In the event we do not consummate the Schurz Acquisition as a result of certain breaches by us of the terms of our agreement with Schurz, we may be required to pay Schurz a termination fee of $10.0 million.

  

 

 
21

 

 

2015 Stock Offering

 

On March 31, 2015, we completed an underwritten offering of 13.5 million shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. The net proceeds from the offering were $167.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts of $7.5 million and expenses of $0.9 million. We used the net proceeds from the offering to pay a portion of the consideration to complete the 2015 Transactions.

 

Television Industry Background

 

The FCC grants broadcast licenses to television stations. Historically, there have been a limited number of channels available for broadcasting in any one geographic area.

 

Television station revenue is derived primarily from local and national advertising. Television station revenue is derived to a much lesser extent from retransmission consent fees; network compensation; studio and tower space rental; and commercial production activities. “Advertising” refers primarily to advertisements broadcast by television stations, but it also includes advertisements placed on a television station’s website and sponsorships of television programming and on-line content (such as email messages, mobile applications, and other electronic content distributed by stations). Advertising rates are based upon: (i) the size of a station’s market, (ii) a station’s overall ratings, (iii) a program’s popularity among targeted viewers, (iv) the number of advertisers competing for available time, (v) the demographic makeup of the station’s market, (vi) the availability of alternative advertising media in the market, (vii) the presence of effective sales forces and (viii) the development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming. Rates can also be determined in part by a station’s overall ratings and in-market share, as well as the station’s ratings and market share among particular demographic groups that an advertiser may be targeting. Advertisers’ budgets, which can be affected by broad economic trends, can affect the broadcast industry in general and the revenue of individual broadcast television stations.

 

Cyclicality and Seasonality

 

Our broadcast stations rely on advertising revenue that is sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy. Revenue from stations acquired in the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions, and continuing improvement in general economic conditions, resulted in improvements in our non-political advertising revenue in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014.

 

Broadcast advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season. Broadcast advertising revenue is also typically higher in even-numbered years due to increased spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups in advance of elections. This political spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter.

 

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, our largest advertising customer category was automotive. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we earned approximately 24% and 22%, respectively, of our total broadcast advertising revenue from our automotive customers. Our business and operating results could be materially adversely affected if advertising revenue from automotive customers decreases. Our business and operating results could also be materially adversely affected if revenue decreased from one or more other significant advertising categories, such as the medical, restaurant, furniture and appliances, communications, home improvement, entertainment, or financial service industries.

 

 

 
22

 

 

Please see our “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections below for further discussion of our operating results.

 

Revenue

 

Set forth below are the principal types of revenue, less agency commissions, earned by us for the periods indicated and the percentage contribution of each type of revenue to our total revenue (dollars in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2015

   

2014

 
           

Percent

           

Percent

           

Percent

           

Percent

 
   

Amount

   

of Total

   

Amount

   

of Total

   

Amount

   

of Total

   

Amount

   

of Total

 

Revenue:

                                                               

Local

  $ 76,734       50.8 %   $ 62,029       47.1 %   $ 221,118       51.7 %   $ 169,751       51.4 %

National

    20,889       13.8 %     16,158       12.3 %     57,605       13.5 %     44,332       13.4 %

Internet

    7,238       4.8 %     7,431       5.6 %     20,810       4.9 %     20,676       6.3 %

Political

    4,594       3.0 %     22,029       16.7 %     7,950       1.9 %     33,437       10.1 %

Retransmission consent

    39,329       26.0 %     19,674       14.9 %     112,489       26.3 %     53,450       16.2 %

Other

    2,318       1.6 %     4,381       3.4 %     7,897       1.7 %     8,602       2.6 %

Total

  $ 151,102       100.0 %   $ 131,702       100.0 %   $ 427,869       100.0 %   $ 330,248       100.0 %

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 (“2015 three-month period”) Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 (“2014 three-month period”)

 

Revenue. Total revenue increased $19.4 million, or 15%, to $151.1 million in the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period primarily due to increases in local advertising revenue, national advertising revenue and retransmission consent revenue. The 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $43.0 million and $24.2 million of our total revenue in the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods, respectively. Political advertising revenue decreased $17.4 million to $4.6 million due to 2015 being the “off year” of the two year election cycle. Retransmission consent revenue increased $19.7 million, or 100%, to $39.3 million primarily due to the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions and increased retransmission consent rates. Local advertising revenue increased approximately $14.7 million, or 24%, to $76.7 million. National advertising revenue increased approximately $4.7 million, or 29%, to $20.9 million. Internet advertising revenue decreased $0.2 million, or 3%, to $7.2 million.

 

Excluding revenue attributable to the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions and political advertisers, our five largest local and national advertising categories on a combined local and national basis by customer type, demonstrated the following changes during the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period: automotive increased 12%; medical increased 18%; restuarant increased 13%; furniture and appliances increased 21%; and communications decreased 11%.

 

Broadcast expenses. Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets) increased $25.7 million, or 35%, to $98.9 million in the 2015 three-month period, due primarily to increases in compensation expense of $5.9 million and non-compensation expense of $19.8 million. The 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $24.0 million and $12.7 million of our total broadcast expense in the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods, respectively. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in salaries of $4.4 million, incentive compensation of $0.9 million and offset, in part, by a decrease in pension expense of $1.4 million and an increase in 401(k) plan contributions of $0.9 million. The increase in salaries resulted primarily from the addition of personnel as a result of the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions. During the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, we recorded broadcast non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Non-compensation expense increased due to increases of $12.7 million in network affiliation fees of reflecting in part, increased fees payable to networks related to our increased retransmission consent revenue, as well as the commencement in the first quarter of 2015 of network program fees payable to CBS. Our national sales representation fees increased $5.3 million as a result of a $6.1 million charge resulting from the recent termination of our national advertising sales representation agreements.

 

 

 
23

 

 

Corporate and administrative expenses. Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets) increased $4.8 million, or 90%, to $10.0 million in the 2015 three-month period due primarily to increases in non-compensation expense of $3.9 million and compensation expense of $0.9 million. Non-compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in legal and other professional fees associated with the 2015 Transactions. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in incentive compensation and relocation expenses offset, in part, by reductions in employee retirement expense costs. During the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, we recorded corporate non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

 

Depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment increased $1.1 million, or 14%, to $9.4 million during the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period. Depreciation increased due to additional property and equipment being placed in service as a result of routine purchases and the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions.

 

Amortization of intangible assets. Amortization of intangible assets decreased approximately $0.6 million to $3.2 million during the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period. Amortization expense decreased due to definite lived intangible assets becoming fully amortized.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense was $18.6 million for both the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods, as a result of average interest rates and average borrowings outstanding being unchanged. Our average debt balance was $1.2 billion during each of the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods. The average interest rate on our total debt balances was approximately 5.8% during each of the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods.

 

Income tax expense. We recognized income tax expense of $4.1 million and $8.6 million for the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods, respectively. For the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods, our effective income tax rate was 38.4% and 38.2%, respectively. We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarter is based upon these full year projections that are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the 2015 three-month period, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate as follows: state income taxes added 4.5%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.5%, adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.9% and reduction in discrete items resulted in a reduction of 1.7%.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 (“2015 nine-month period”) Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 (“2014 nine-month period”)

 

Revenue. Total revenue increased $97.6 million, or 30%, to $427.9 million in the 2015 nine-month period as compared to the 2014 nine-month period, primarily due to increases in local advertising revenue, national advertising revenue and retransmission consent revenue. The 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $109.9 million and $29.4 million of our total revenue in the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods, respectively. Retransmission consent revenue increased $59.0 million, or 110%, to $112.5 million primarily due to the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions and increased retransmission consent rates. Local advertising revenue increased approximately $51.4 million, or 30%, to $221.1 million. National advertising revenue increased approximately $13.3 million, or 30%, to $57.6 million. Local and national advertising revenue in the 2014 nine-month period benefited from approximately $3.8 million earned from the broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games on our fourteen NBC affiliated stations. There was no corresponding Olympic Games advertising revenue during the 2015 nine-month period. Local and national advertising revenue included approximately $1.5 million of revenue from the broadcast of the 2015 Super Bowl on our then 24 NBC channels, an increase of approximately $1.3 million compared to the $0.2 million of revenue from the broadcast of the 2014 Super Bowl on our then five FOX channels. Internet advertising revenue increased $0.1 million, or 1%, to $20.8 million. Political advertising revenue decreased $25.5 million, or 76%, to $8.0 million due to 2015 being the “off year” of the two year election cycle in the 2015 nine-month period.

 

 

 
24

 

 

Excluding revenue attributable to the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions and political advertisers, our five largest advertising categories on a combined local and national basis by customer type demonstrated the following changes during the 2015 nine-month period compared to the 2014 nine-month period: automotive increased 2%; medical increased 10%; restaurant decreased 5%; furniture and appliances decreased 11%; and communications decreased 2%.

 

Broadcast expenses. Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets) increased $72.6 million, or 36%, to $272.2 million in the 2015 nine-month period compared to the 2014 nine-month period, due primarily to an increase in non-compensation expense of $51.0 million and compensation expense of $21.6 million. The 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $63.0 million and $15.6 million of our total broadcast expense in the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods, respectively. Non-compensation expense increased primarily due to an increase in network affiliation fees of $38.5 million related to our increased retransmission consent revenue under our affiliation agreements renewed in 2014, as well as the commencement in the first quarter of 2015 of network program fees payable to CBS. Our national sales representation fees increased $5.1 million as a result of a $6.1 million charge resulting from the recent termination of our national advertising sales representation agreements. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in salaries of $16.8 million and incentive compensation of $1.1 million. The increase in salaries resulted primarily from the addition of personnel in the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions. During the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we recorded total broadcast non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

 

Corporate and administrative expenses. Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets) increased $1.7 million, or 8%, to $23.3 million for the 2015 nine-month period due primarily to increases in compensation expense of $2.0 million, partially offset by decreases in non-compensation expense of $0.3 million. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in incentive compensation and relocation expenses. We recorded non-cash stock-based compensation expense during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of $2.3 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Non-compensation expense decreased primarily due to decreases in legal and other professional fees associated with the 2014 Acquisitions, which exceeded professional fees in the current year, associated with the 2015 Transactions.

 

Depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment increased $5.3 million, or 25%, to $26.9 million for the 2015 nine-month period. Depreciation increased due to additional property and equipment being placed in service due to routine purchases and the acquisition of the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions.

 

Amortization of intangible assets. Amortization of intangible assets increased $3.4 million to $8.7 million during the 2015 nine-month period compared to the 2014 nine-month period. Amortization increased due to amortization of the additional definite lived intangible assets of the 2015 Transactions and the 2014 Acquisitions.

 

Interest expense. Interest expense increased $6.0 million, or 12%, to $55.8 million for the 2015 nine-month period. This increase was attributable to an increase in average borrowings outstanding. Our average debt balance was $1.2 billion and $1.0 billion during the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods, respectively. The average interest rates on our total debt balances were 5.8% and 6.4% during the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods, respectively. Our average debt balance has increased as a result of increased borrowings used to finance, in part, the 2014 Acquisitions.

 

Income tax expense. We recognized income tax expense of $16.2 million and $10.3 million in the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods, respectively. For the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods, our effective income tax rate was 40.0% and 38.1%, respectively. The primary reason for the increase in our income tax expense was the increase in our pre-tax income in the 2015 nine-month period compared to the 2014 nine-month period. We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarter is based upon these full year projections that are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the 2015 nine-month period, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate as follows: state income taxes added 4.5%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.6%, adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.9% and a reduction of 0.2% related to a discrete item.

 

 

 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

General

 

The following table presents data that we believe is helpful in evaluating our liquidity and capital resources (in thousands).

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 82,718     $ 88,404  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (199,635 )     (477,066 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    167,317       454,991  

Increase in cash

  $ 50,400     $ 66,329  

 

   

As of

 
   

September 30, 2015

   

December 31, 2014

 

Cash

  $ 81,169     $ 30,769  

Long-term debt

  $ 1,235,753     $ 1,236,401  

Borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility

  $ 50,000     $ 50,000  

 

Our Senior Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a term loan. Excluding accrued interest, the amount outstanding under our Senior Credit Facility as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted solely of a term loan balance of $556.4 million. Our maximum borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility is limited by our required compliance with certain restrictive covenants, including a first lien net leverage ratio covenant.

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $675.0 million of our 2020 Notes outstanding.

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility was 3.8%, the coupon interest rate on our 2020 Notes was 7.5% and the yield was 7.3%.

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $6.4 million and $7.4 million, respectively, related to the Senior Credit Facility; and we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $9.8 million and $11.3 million, respectively, related to our 2020 Notes.

 

Our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our consolidated subsidiaries' assets, including real estate. In addition, all of our subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors of, and our ownership interests in those subsidiaries are pledged to collateralize our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility.

 

The Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative and restrictive covenants that we must comply with, including (a) limitations on additional indebtedness, (b) limitations on liens, (c) limitations on the sale of assets, (d) limitations on guarantees, (e) limitations on investments and acquisitions, (f) limitations on the payment of dividends and share repurchases, (g) limitations on mergers, and (h) maintenance of a total leverage ratio not to exceed certain maximum limits while any amount is outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, as well as other customary covenants for credit facilities of this type. The 2020 Notes include covenants with which we must comply and are typical for borrowing transactions of their nature. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all required covenants under all our debt obligations.

 

 

 
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Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $82.7 million in the 2015 nine-month period compared to $88.4 million in the 2014 nine-month period. The decrease of $5.7 million in the 2015 period was the result of a $7.5 million increase in net income and a $11.3 million increase in non-cash expenses, partially offset by a $24.6 million decrease in cash provided by working capital accounts. These changes were primarily due to the impact of the 2015 Transactions.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $199.6 million in the 2015 nine-month period compared to net cash used in investing activities of $477.1 million for the 2014 nine-month period. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was largely due to a decreased use of funds to complete the 2015 Transactions compared to the larger amount of funds used for the 2014 Acquisitions.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities in the 2015 nine-month period was $167.3 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $455.0 million in the 2014 nine-month period. Cash provided by financing activities in the 2015 nine-month period was due primarily to our underwritten public offering of 13.5 million shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share, on March 31, 2015. The net proceeds of the offering were $167.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and expenses. Cash provided by financing activities in the 2014 nine-month period was due primarily to borrowings of long-term debt, net of repayments in the 2014 nine-month period. On June 13, 2014, we borrowed $525.0 million under the Senior Credit Facility, using the funds as follows: $309.5 million to complete our June, 2014 acquisition of Hoak Media, LLC, including fees, and fund a down payment on our acquisitions in September 2014 and December of 2014 of two subsidiaries of Parker Broadcasting, Inc.; $159.5 million to repay outstanding debt and related accrued interest; $6.5 million for payment of fees resulting from the amendment and restatement of our prior senior credit facility; and $49.5 million in cash for general corporate purposes. In September, 2014, we borrowed an additional $100.0 million under the Senior Credit Facility and used these proceeds to fund a portion of our acquisitions from SJL Holdings, LLC and SLJ Holdings II, LLC.

 

Liquidity

 

As of September 30, 2015, we have no required debt principal payments due over the next twelve months. We estimate that we will make approximately $71.8 million in debt interest payments over the twelve months immediately following September 30, 2015. Excluding acquisitions, our capital expenditures are expected to be between $25.0 million and $30.0 million during the twelve months immediately following September 30, 2015. Although our cash flows from operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, we anticipate that our cash on hand, future cash expected to be generated from operations, borrowings from time to time under the Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility as may be in place at the appropriate time) and, potentially, external equity or debt financing, will be sufficient to fund any debt service obligations, estimated capital expenditures and acquisition-related obligations. Any potential equity or debt financing would depend upon, among other things, the costs and availability of such financing at the appropriate time. We also presently believe that our future cash expected to be generated from operations and borrowing availability under the Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility) will be sufficient to fund our future capital expenditures and long-term debt service obligations until at least June 13, 2021, which is the maturity date of the term loan under the Senior Credit Facility.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Capital expenditures in the 2015 and 2014 nine-month periods were $15.3 million and $20.5 million, respectively. We anticipate that our capital expenditures for the remainder of 2015 will range between approximately $5.0 million and $10.0 million.

 

 

 
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Other

 

We file a consolidated federal income tax return and such state or local tax returns as are required. Although we may earn taxable operating income in future years, as of September 30, 2015, we anticipate that through the use of our available loss carryforwards we will not pay significant amounts of federal or state income taxes until 2016.

 

We do not believe that inflation has had a significant impact on our results of operations nor is inflation expected to have a significant effect upon our business in the near future.

 

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, we contributed $3.9 million to our pension plans. During the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2015, we expect to contribute approximately $1.3 million to our defined benefit pension plans and approximately $0.9 million to our defined contribution plan.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments and estimations that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We consider our accounting policies relating to intangible assets and income taxes to be critical policies that require judgments or estimations in their application where variances in those judgments or estimations could make a significant difference to future reported results. These critical accounting policies and estimates are more fully disclosed in our 2014 Form 10-K.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21 E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than those of historical fact. When used in this Quarterly Report, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “will,” “may,” “should” and similar words and expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Among other things, statements that describe our expectations regarding our results of operations, general and industry-specific economic conditions, future pension plan contributions, capital expenditures and the timing for completing pending transactions are forward-looking statements. Readers of this Quarterly Report are cautioned that any forward-looking statements, including those regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of our management, are not guarantees of future performance, results or events and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results and events may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our 2014 Form 10-K and as may be described in subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

 

We believe that the market risk of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2015 has not materially changed since December 31, 2014. The market risk profile as of December 31, 2014 is disclosed in our 2014 Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or furnish under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. No system of controls, no matter how well designed and implemented, can provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the system of controls are met and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three-month period ended September 30, 2015 identified in connection with this evaluation that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 
28

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Please refer to the information set out under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A in our 2014 Form 10-K for a description of risk factors that we determined to be most material to our financial condition and results of operation. We do not believe there have been any material changes in these risk factors.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

10.1

Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of September 14, 2015 among Schurz Communications, Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, and Gray Television Group, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 15, 2015)

 

31.1

Rule 13(a) – 14(a) Certificate of Chief Executive Officer

 

31.2

Rule 13(a) – 14(a) Certificate of Chief Financial Officer

 

32.1

Section 1350 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer

 

32.2

Section 1350 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer

 

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

 

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 
29

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

    GRAY TELEVISION, INC.  

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 3, 2015

By:

/s/ James C. Ryan

 

 

 

James C. Ryan

 

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

30