UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
| ☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
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: 000-29253
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 65-0960915 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
3033 Riviera Drive, Suite 200
Naples, Florida 34103
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)
(239) 263-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 of Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or and emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth 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 | ☒ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2017, the aggregate market value of the Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $46,180,491 based on the number of shares outstanding as of such date and the closing price of $9.80 on NASDAQ’s National Market System on such date, the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value, 12,189,623 Shares Outstanding as of February 12, 2018
Class B Common Stock, $.001 par value, 16,662,743 Shares Outstanding as of February 12, 2018
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Certain information in the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, is incorporated by reference in Part III of this report.
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this report to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
2
Overview
We are a radio broadcasting company whose primary business is operating radio stations throughout the United States. We own and operate 63 radio stations in the following radio markets: Atlanta, GA, Augusta, GA, Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Detroit, MI, Fayetteville, NC, Fort Myers-Naples, FL, Las Vegas, NV, Middlesex, NJ, Monmouth, NJ, Morristown, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Tampa-Saint Petersburg, FL, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL, and Wilmington, DE. We refer to each group of radio stations in each radio market as a market cluster. Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed in 1999.
Recent Developments
On December 19, 2017, we completed an asset exchange with CBS Radio Stations, Inc., Entercom Boston, LLC, and The Entercom Divestiture Trust under which we agreed to exchange all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WMJX-FM in Boston, MA for all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBZ-FM in Boston, MA. In addition, we also paid $12.0 million in cash, which was partially financed with $6.0 million in borrowings from our credit facility and partially funded with $6.0 million in cash from operations. The asset exchange was accounted for as a business combination. The fair value of the assets received in the asset exchange was $48.9 million. We recorded a gain on exchange of $11.8 million and incurred transaction costs of $0.2 million. The operations of the acquired radio station are included in our results of operations from the acquisition date.
On November 17, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), Beasley Mezzanine Holdings, LLC (the “Borrower”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a new credit agreement by and among the Company, the Borrower and U.S. Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent, providing for a term loan B facility in the amount of $225.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a revolving credit facility of $20.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility,” and together with the Term Loan Facility, the “New Credit Facilities”). Proceeds from the New Credit Facilities were primarily used to repay the old credit facilities. The New Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all assets of the Company, the Borrower and their material subsidiaries. The Company and the Borrower’s material subsidiaries guarantee repayment of the New Credit Facilities. The Term Loan Facility matures on November 1, 2023 and will amortize in quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan Facility. The first amortization payment is due at the end of the first full fiscal quarter after the Closing Date and the remaining balance of the original principal amount of the Term Loan Facility outstanding at maturity will be paid in a final balloon payment. The Revolving Credit Facility terminates on November 17, 2022 and loans thereunder may be borrowed, repaid, and reborrowed up to such date. Loans under the New Credit Facilities, at the Borrower’s option, bear interest at either the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 4.0% or base rate plus 3.0%. Solely with respect to the Term Loan Facility, LIBOR is subject to a 1% floor and base rate is subject to a 2% floor. Interest payments are, for loans based on LIBOR, due at the end of each applicable interest period unless the interest period is longer than three months, in which case they are due at the end of each three month period. Interest payments for loans based on the base rate are due quarterly. Under certain circumstances described in the new credit agreement, the Company may increase the New Credit Facilities so long as the Company does not exceed a maximum first lien leverage ratio of 4.00:1.00 plus an additional $56.8 million. The New Credit Facilities are subject to customary negative covenants as well as a financial covenant that is a maximum first lien net leverage ratio that will be tested as the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2017.
Acquisition of Greater Media, Inc.
On November 1, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Greater Media, Inc. (“Greater Media”), pursuant to the merger agreement, dated as of July 19, 2016 by and among the Company, Greater Media, Beasley Media Group 2, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), and Peter A. Bordes, Jr., as the Stockholders’ Representative (the “Merger Agreement”). On the Closing Date, Merger Sub was merged with and into Greater Media, with Greater Media surviving the merger as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, the Company added 21 radio stations in the Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, Charlotte, NC, Middlesex, NJ, Monmouth, NJ, Morristown, NJ and Philadelphia, PA markets.
Strategy
We seek to secure and maintain a leadership position in the markets we serve by developing market-leading clusters of radio stations in each of our markets. We operate our radio stations in clusters to capture a variety of demographic listener groups, which we believe enhances our radio stations’ appeal to a wide range of advertisers. In addition, we have been able to achieve operating efficiencies by consolidating office and studio space where possible to minimize duplicative management positions and reduce overhead expenses. Current FCC rules and regulations do not permit us to add any more radio stations to our existing cluster in the Augusta, GA radio market.
3
Competition
The radio broadcasting industry is highly competitive. Our radio stations compete for listeners and advertising revenue with other radio stations within their respective markets. In addition, our radio stations compete with other media such as broadcast and cable television, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising, direct mail, internet radio, satellite radio, smart phones, tablets, and other wireless media, the internet, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and other forms of advertising.
The following are some of the factors that we believe are important to a radio station’s competitive position: (i) audience ratings; (ii) program content; (iii) management experience; (iv) sales experience; (v) audience characteristics; and (vi) the number and characteristics of other radio stations and other advertising media in the market area. We attempt to improve our competitive position with promotional campaigns aimed at the demographic groups targeted by our radio stations and by sales efforts designed to attract advertisers. We conduct extensive market research in an effort to enhance our audience ratings and, in certain circumstances, to identify opportunities to reformat radio stations to reach underserved demographic groups and increase advertising revenue.
Federal Regulation of Radio Broadcasting
The radio broadcasting industry is subject to extensive and changing federal regulations administered by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). Among other things, the FCC:
| • | determines the particular frequencies, locations, operating powers and other technical parameters of radio stations; |
| • | issues, renews, revokes, conditions and modifies radio station licenses; |
| • | determines whether to approve changes in ownership or control of radio station licenses; |
| • | regulates equipment used by radio stations; and |
| • | adopts and implements regulations and policies that directly or indirectly affect the ownership, operation, program content and employment practices of radio stations. |
The FCC has the power to impose penalties for violations of its rules that are implemented pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 (“Communications Act”), as amended, including the imposition of monetary forfeitures, the issuance of short-term licenses, the imposition of conditions on the renewal of a license, and, in egregious cases, non-renewal of licenses and the revocation of licenses.
The following is a brief summary of some provisions of the Communications Act and of certain specific FCC rules and policies. The summary is not a comprehensive listing of all of the regulations and policies affecting radio stations. For further information concerning the nature and extent of federal regulation of radio stations, you should refer to the Communications Act, FCC rules and FCC public notices, reports, orders and rulings.
FCC Licenses. Radio stations operate pursuant to broadcasting licenses that are ordinarily granted by the FCC for renewable terms of eight years. A radio station may continue to operate beyond the expiration date of its license if a timely filed license renewal application is pending. During the period following the filing of renewal applications, petitions to deny license renewals can be filed by interested parties, including members of the public. Generally, the FCC renews a broadcast license upon a finding that (i) the broadcast station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity; (ii) there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules; and (iii) there have been no other violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or other FCC rules which, taken together, indicate a pattern of abuse. Historically, FCC licenses have generally been renewed. The most recent renewal cycle started in June 2011, and concluded in April 2014. The non-renewal of one or more of our licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The FCC classifies each AM and FM radio station. An AM radio station operates on either a clear channel, regional channel or local channel. A clear channel is one on which AM radio stations are assigned to serve wide areas, particularly at night. The minimum and maximum facilities requirements for an FM radio station are determined by its class. Possible FM class designations depend upon the geographic zone in which the transmitter of the FM radio station is located. In general, commercial FM radio stations are classified as follows, in order of increasing power and antenna height: Class A, B1, C3, B, C2, C1, C0, or C.
Several years ago, the FCC authorized an additional 100 kHz of bandwidth for the AM band and has allotted frequencies in this new band to certain existing AM radio station licensees that applied for migration to the expanded AM band, including one of our radio stations, subject to the requirement that at the end of a transition period, those licensees return to the FCC the license for one of the AM band radio stations. Upon the completion of the migration process, it is expected that some AM radio stations will have improved coverage because of reduced interference. We have not completed our evaluation of the impact of the migration process on
4
our operations but believe that such impact will not be significant. Current FCC requirements call for surrender of either the expanded band license or the existing band license. This surrender obligation is currently suspended. As part of an Order released in October 2015 with respect to revitalization of the AM band (“AM Improvement Order”) the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on its tentative conclusion that licensees that have not yet surrendered one of their licenses be required to do so. The surrender of either license will have no material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. As part of the AM Improvement Order, the FCC also launched a Notice of Inquiry with respect to the AM expanded band. The NOI sought comments regarding the FCC’s tentative conclusion that AM expanded band licenses should be made available to additional stations and whether technical parameters applicable to expanded band stations should be modified.
The FCC also permits AM and FM radio stations to operate FM translators and FM stations to operate FM booster stations. These are low power secondary stations that retransmit the programming of a radio station to portions of the station’s service area that the primary signal does not reach because of distance or terrain barriers. Boosters operate on the same frequency as the station being retransmitted and translators operate on a different frequency.
The AM Improvement Order implemented several rule changes impacting the technical operations of AM stations, including relaxation of the daytime community coverage requirements and elimination of the nighttime community coverage requirements for existing AM stations. In addition, in an effort to increase the number of FM translators that are available for AM stations, the FCC authorized two specialized FM translator filing windows for AM stations. During these windows an AM station was permitted to modify one FM translator to move it up to 250 miles from its authorized site and operate the translator on any non-reserved band FM channel in the AM station’s market, subject to coverage and interference rules. AM stations that received an FM translator station license pursuant to one of the windows are required to rebroadcast the paired AM station on the modified FM translator for four years. Several of our AM Stations filed applications during these windows and received licenses for translators. Following the conclusion of the two windows permitting existing translators to be modified, the FCC announced that it would open two windows for AM stations that did not participate in the modification windows to apply for new translators. The first window, which was reserved for Class C and D AM stations closed on August 2, 2016. The second window, which was open to all AM stations that did not acquire a translator in a previous window, closed on January 31, 2018. We acquired a translator for one of our AM stations during the first window. Because translators are secondary to full power stations, it is possible that translators we operate could be displaced by full power stations.
The FCC has adopted rules establishing a low power radio service. Low power FM stations operate in the existing FM radio band with a maximum operating power of 100 watts. FCC regulations regarding eligibility for and licensing of low power FM radio stations have expanded licensing opportunities for low power FM radio stations. Implementation of a low power radio service provides an additional audio programming service that could compete with our radio stations for listeners.
Indecency Regulation. The FCC’s rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time and indecent material between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm. Broadcasters’ risk of violating the prohibition on the broadcast of indecent material is increased by the vagueness of the FCC’s definition of indecent material, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming. The FCC has expanded the breadth of indecency regulation to include material that could be considered “blasphemy,” “personally reviling epithets,” “profanity” and vulgar or coarse words, amounting to a nuisance. The maximum permitted fine for an indecency violation is $397,251 per incident and $3,666,930 for any continuing violation arising from a single act or failure to act. Because the FCC may investigate indecency complaints prior to notifying a licensee of the existence of a complaint, a licensee may not have knowledge of a complaint unless and until the complaint results in the issuance of a formal FCC letter of inquiry or notice of apparent liability for forfeiture. In July 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a decision finding that the FCC’s indecency standard was too vague for broadcasters to interpret and therefore inconsistent with the First Amendment. In June 2012, the Supreme Court issued a decision which held that the FCC could not fine ABC and FOX for the specific broadcasts at issue in the case because the FCC had not provided them with sufficient notice of its intent to issue fines for the use of fleeting expletives. However, the Court did not make any substantive ruling regarding the FCC’s indecency standards. In April 2013, the FCC requested comments on its indecency policy, including whether it should ban the use of fleeting expletives or whether it should only impose fines for broadcasts that involve repeated and deliberate use of expletives. The FCC has advised that it will continue to pursue enforcement actions in egregious cases while it conducts its review of its indecency policies generally and in March 2015 issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for the then maximum forfeiture amount of $325,000 against a television station for violation of its indecency policy. We cannot predict whether Congress will consider or adopt further legislation in this area.
Transfers or Assignment of License. The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of broadcast licenses or the transfer of control of a broadcast licensee without the prior approval of the FCC. In determining whether to grant such approval, the FCC considers, among other things:
| • | compliance with the various rules limiting common ownership of media properties in a given market; |
| • | the character of the proposed licensee and those persons holding attributable interests in the licensee; and |
5
| • | compliance with the Communications Act’s limitations on alien ownership as well as compliance with other FCC regulations and policies. |
To obtain FCC consent to assign or transfer control of a broadcast license, appropriate applications must be filed with the FCC. Interested parties, including members of the public, have the opportunity to file objections against assignment and transfer of control applications.
Multiple and Cross-Ownership Rules. The Communications Act and FCC rules impose specific limits on the number of commercial radio stations an entity can own, directly or by attribution, in a single market and the combination of radio stations, television stations and newspapers that any entity can own, directly or by attribution, in a single market. Digital radio channels authorized for AM and FM stations do not count as separate “stations” for purposes of the ownership limits. The radio multiple-ownership rules may preclude us from acquiring certain radio stations we might otherwise seek to acquire. The ownership rules also effectively prevent us from selling radio stations in a market to a buyer that has reached its ownership limit in the market unless that buyer divests other radio stations. The FCC’s ownership rules that are currently in effect are briefly summarized below.
Local Radio Ownership Rule. The local radio ownership rule establishes the following limits:
| • | in markets with 45 or more radio stations, ownership is limited to eight commercial radio stations, no more than five of which can be either AM or FM; |
| • | in markets with 30 to 44 radio stations, ownership is limited to seven commercial radio stations, no more than four of which can be either AM or FM; |
| • | in markets with 15 to 29 radio stations, ownership is limited to six commercial radio stations, no more than four of which can be either AM or FM; and |
| • | in markets with 14 or fewer radio stations, ownership is limited to five commercial radio stations or no more than 50% of the market’s total, whichever is lower, and no more than three of which can be either AM or FM. |
For stations located in a market in which the Nielsen Audio ratings service provides ratings, the definition of “radio market” is based on the radio market to which BIA Kelsey reports assign the affected radio stations. For stations that are not in a Nielsen Audio market, the market definition is based on technical service areas, pending a further FCC rulemaking. The FCC’s rules also provide that parties which own groups of radio stations that comply with the previous multiple ownership rules, but do not comply with the new limits, will be allowed to retain those groups on a “grandfathered” basis, but will not be allowed to transfer or assign those groups intact. Under these rules, our ability to transfer or assign our radio stations as a group to a single buyer in one of our current markets may be limited.
Ownership Attribution. The FCC generally applies its ownership limits to attributable interests held by an individual, corporation, partnership or other entity. An “attributable” interest for purposes of the FCC’s broadcast ownership rules generally includes: (i) equity and debt interests which combined exceed 33% of a licensee’s total assets, if the interest holder supplies more than 15% of the licensee’s total weekly programming, or has an attributable same-market media interest, whether television, radio, cable or newspaper; (ii) a 5% or greater direct or indirect voting stock interest, including certain interests held in trust, unless the holder is a qualified passive investor in which case the threshold is a 20% or greater voting stock interest; (iii) any equity interest in a limited liability company or a partnership, including a limited partnership, unless properly “insulated” from management activities; and (iv) any position as an officer or director of a licensee or its direct or indirect parent. In addition, the interests of minority shareholders in a corporation generally are not attributable if a single entity or individual controls 50% or more of that corporation’s voting stock.
Foreign Ownership Rules. The Communications Act prohibits the issuance or holding of broadcast licenses by persons who are not U.S. citizens, whom the FCC rules refer to as “aliens,” including any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country or of which more than 20% of its capital stock is owned or voted by aliens. In addition, the FCC may prohibit any corporation from holding a broadcast license if the corporation is controlled by any other corporation of which more than 25% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens. In the past, the FCC has interpreted the 25% foreign ownership limit for holding companies as an absolute prohibition. In November 2013, however, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling clarifying that it would review situations in which foreigners own more than 25% of a holding company of an entity that holds a broadcast license on a case by case basis. In 2016, the FCC adopted streamlined rules and procedures for the filing and review of requests to permit foreigners to own more than 25% of a holding company’s equity. In acting upon a request for declaratory ruling, the FCC will coordinate with Executive Branch agencies on national security, law enforcement, foreign policy and other policy issues. The new rules also specify how public companies should monitor foreign ownership compliance and provide for remedial provisions in the event a public company determines that it has exceeded its foreign ownership limits. Broadcast licensees are required to seek approval for foreign owners that would have greater than 5% of a company’s equity or voting rights. The streamlined rules permit a broadcast licensee to file a petition with the FCC seeking approval for a proposed foreign investor to own up to 100% of the controlling parent entity and for a non-
6
controlling foreign investor identified in the petition to increase its equity and/or voting interest in a parent entity at a future time up to 49.9 percent. This change will make it easier for broadcast licensees to seek foreign investors. Our certificate of incorporation prohibits the ownership, voting and transfer of our capital stock in violation of the FCC restrictions, and prohibits the issuance of capital stock or the voting rights such capital stock represents to or for the account of aliens or corporations otherwise subject to domination or control by aliens in excess of the FCC limits. The certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to enforce these prohibitions. For example, the certificate of incorporation provides for the redemption of shares of our capital stock by action of the board of directors to the extent necessary to comply with these alien ownership restrictions.
Time Brokerage and Joint Sales Agreements. It is not uncommon for radio stations to enter into agreements under which separately owned and licensed radio stations agree to enter into cooperative arrangements of varying sorts, subject to compliance with the requirements of antitrust laws and with FCC’s rules and policies. Under these arrangements, separately-owned radio stations could agree to function cooperatively in programming, advertising sales and similar matters, subject to the requirement that the licensee of each radio station maintain independent control over the programming and operations of its own radio station.
The FCC’s rules provide that a radio station that brokers more than 15% of the weekly broadcast time on another radio station serving the same market or sells more than 15% of the other station’s advertising time per week will be considered to have an attributable ownership interest in the other radio station for purposes of the FCC’s local radio ownership limits.
FCC rules also prohibit a broadcast station from duplicating more than 25% of its programming on another radio station in the same broadcast service, that is AM-AM or FM-FM, either through common ownership of the two radio stations or through a time brokerage agreement, where the brokered and brokering radio stations which it owns or programs serve substantially the same area.
Quadrennial Review of Ownership Rules. The FCC is required to review quadrennially the media ownership rules to modify, repeal, or retain any rules as it determines to be in the public interest. In August 2016, the FCC released an Order in a proceeding that combined the 2010 and 2014 quadrennial reviews which retained most of the existing multiple ownership rules. The Order readopted an Order the FCC released in 2014 which confirmed that Joint Sales Agreements (“JSAs”) between separately owned television stations in the same market would be attributable to a station selling more than 15% of the other station’s advertising time. The FCC adopted one change that applies to radio stations in “embedded” markets – smaller markets within the boundaries of larger markets. Previously, such stations had to comply with the local radio multiple ownership rules in both the smaller and larger markets. Under the revised rules, such stations can request that application of the rules to the larger market be waived if the larger market does not accurately reflect the competition faced by stations in the embedded market. Several parties filed petitions requesting the FCC to reconsider its August 2016 Order. In November 2017, the FCC released an Order on Reconsideration that eliminated the newspaper-broadcast and television-radio cross ownership rules, relaxed the local television ownership rule and eliminated the attribution of JSAs between television stations, but did not make any changes to the local radio rules other than with respect to stations in embedded markets. The rule changes went into effect on February 7, 2018. However, several public interest organizations have filed petitions for review with the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and have filed emergency petitions for writ of mandamus requesting that the FCC’s Order on Reconsideration be stayed while the Court considers requests for review. On February 7, 2018, the Third Circuit denied the emergency mandamus petition and requested the FCC to update the record regarding the appeal in August 2018. The Commission has announced that it will launch its 2018 quadrennial review of multiple ownership rules prior to the end of 2018. We cannot predict whether the FCC will propose changes to the local radio ownership rule that would impact our holdings.
Programming and Operations. The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the public interest. The FCC gradually has relaxed or eliminated many of the more formalized procedures it had developed in the past to promote the broadcast of certain types of programming responsive to the needs of a radio station’s community of license. Under the currently effective rules, a licensee is required to present programming that is responsive to issues of the radio station’s community of license and to maintain records demonstrating this responsiveness. Under changes to the FCC rules implemented in 2016 most of our radio stations located in the 50 largest markets are required to maintain their public inspection files online on an FCC maintained website rather than in their physical studios, and all of our stations will be required to do so by March 1, 2018. This means that the materials in these stations’ public files are more widely accessible. Radio stations also must pay regulatory and application fees and follow various rules promulgated under the Communications Act. Those rules regulate, among other things, political advertising, sponsorship identifications, the advertisement of contests and lotteries, employment practices, broadcast of obscene and indecent content, and technical operations, including limits on human exposure to radio frequency radiation.
The FCC’s rules on equal employment opportunities prohibit employment discrimination by radio stations on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, and gender; and require broadcasters to implement programs to promote equal employment opportunities at their radio stations. The rules generally require broadcasters to widely disseminate information about full-time job openings to all segments of the community to ensure that all qualified applicants have sufficient opportunity to apply for the job, to send job vacancy announcements to recruitment organizations and others in the community indicating an interest in all or some vacancies at the radio station, and to implement a number of specific longer-term recruitment outreach efforts, such as job fairs, internship programs, and interaction with educational and community groups from among a menu of approaches itemized by the FCC. In April 2017, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling permitting broadcast stations to use online job postings as their sole means of recruiting, as long as online postings reach all segments of a broadcaster’s community.
7
Proposed and Recent Changes. Congress and the FCC are considering or may in the future consider and adopt new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could affect, directly or indirectly, the operation, ownership and profitability of our radio stations, including the loss of audience share and advertising revenues for our radio stations, and an inability to acquire additional radio stations or to finance those acquisitions. Such matters may include:
| • | changes in the FCC’s multiple-ownership, cross-ownership and attribution policies; |
| • | regulatory fees, spectrum use fees or other fees on FCC licenses; |
| • | changes in laws with respect to foreign ownership of broadcast licenses; |
| • | revisions to the FCC’s rules relating to political broadcasting, including free airtime to candidates; |
| • | technical and frequency allocation matters; |
| • | proposals to restrict or prohibit the advertising of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages on radio; |
| • | proposals to restrict or prohibit the advertising of online casinos, online sports betting services and fantasy sports services; |
| • | proposals to require radio broadcasters to pay royalties to musicians and record labels for the performance of music played on the stations; |
| • | proposals to limit the tax deductibility of or impose sales tax on advertising expenses by advertisers; |
| • | proposals to regulate or prohibit payments to stations by independent record promoters, record labels and others for the inclusion of specific content in broadcast programming; and |
| • | proposals in legislation to strengthen protections against online infringement of intellectual property that would impose criminal penalties on content providers, including broadcasters, that fail to comply with legal requirements to file reports regarding internet streaming in a timely manner. |
The FCC has also adopted procedures for the auction of broadcast spectrum in circumstances where two or more parties have filed for new or major change applications that are mutually exclusive. Such procedures may limit our efforts to modify or expand the broadcast signals of our radio stations.
Federal legislation was enacted in February 2012 that, among other things, authorizes the FCC to conduct voluntary “incentive auctions” in order to reallocate certain spectrum currently occupied by television broadcast stations to mobile wireless broadband services, to “repack” television stations into a smaller portion of the existing television spectrum band, and to require certain television stations that do not relinquish spectrum in the auction to modify their transmission facilities, subject to reimbursement for reasonable relocation costs up to an industry-wide total of $1.75 billion.
The FCC has adopted rules concerning the incentive auction for broadcast television spectrum and the repacking of the television band. Under the auction rules implemented by the FCC, television stations were given an opportunity to offer spectrum for sale to the government in a “reverse” auction while wireless providers bid to acquire spectrum from the government in a related “forward” auction. The incentive auction concluded in April 2017 when the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the television stations that had relinquished spectrum in the auction and the stations that are being repacked to different channels and establishing deadlines for stations being repacked to file applications to modify their facilities and complete construction of authorized repacked facilities. The FCC will reimburse stations for reasonable relocation costs up to a total across all stations of $1.75 billion. The repacking process could impact radio stations that operate on the same towers as television stations which are required to modify their facilities. Such radio stations could be required to modify their facilities on a temporary or permanent basis to accommodate the modifications that television stations being repacked are required to make to their transmission facilities. Any radio stations that are impacted are not eligible for reimbursement of the costs incurred in connection with modification of their facilities.
We cannot predict what other matters might be considered in the future by the FCC or Congress, nor can we judge in advance what impact, if any, the implementation of any of these proposals or changes might have on our business.
8
Federal Antitrust Laws. The agencies responsible for enforcing the federal antitrust laws, the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice, may investigate certain acquisitions. We cannot predict the outcome of any specific FTC or Department of Justice investigation. Any decision by the FTC or the Department of Justice to challenge a proposed acquisition could affect our ability to consummate the acquisition or to consummate it on the proposed terms.
For an acquisition meeting certain size thresholds, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 requires the parties to file Notification and Report Forms concerning antitrust issues with the FTC and the Department of Justice and to observe specified waiting period requirements before consummating the acquisition.
HD Radio
The FCC selected In-Band On-Channel technology as the exclusive technology for introduction of terrestrial digital operations by AM and FM radio stations. The technology is also known as “HD Radio.” The advantages of digital audio broadcasting over traditional analog broadcasting technology include improved sound quality, the ability to broadcast additional channels, and the ability to offer a greater variety of auxiliary services. We currently utilize HD Radio digital technology on most of our stations.
Seasonality
Seasonal revenue fluctuations are common in the radio broadcasting industry and are due primarily to fluctuations in advertising expenditures. Our net revenues are typically lowest in the first calendar quarter of the year.
Employees
As of February 12, 2018, we had a staff of 813 full-time employees and 671 part-time employees. We are a party to a collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. This agreement applies only to certain of our employees at one radio station in Philadelphia. The collective bargaining agreement automatically renews for successive one-year periods unless either party gives a notice of proposed termination at least sixty days before the termination date. We are also a party to a collective bargaining agreement with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 262. This agreement applies only to certain of our employees at one radio station in Boston. The collective bargaining agreement expired in December 2017 but was renewed through March 2018 as negotiations continue to extend the agreement. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Environmental
As the owner, lessee or operator of various real properties and facilities, we are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Historically, compliance with these laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our business. There can be no assurance, however, that compliance with existing or new environmental laws and regulations will not require us to make significant expenditures in the future.
Available Information
Our internet address is www.bbgi.com. You may obtain through our internet website, free of charge, copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These reports will be available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”).
You may also read and copy any materials we file with the Commission at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission, www.sec.gov.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Our disclosure and analysis in this annual report on Form 10-K concerning our operations, cash flows and financial position, including, in particular, the likelihood of our success in developing and expanding our business, include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements.
9
Although these statements are based upon assumptions we consider reasonable, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that are described more fully below. Accordingly, we can give no assurance that we will achieve the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements.
The radio broadcasting industry faces many unpredictable business risks and is sensitive to external economic forces that could have a material adverse effect on our advertising revenues and results of operations.
Our future operations are subject to many business risks, including those risks that specifically influence the radio broadcasting industry, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. These risks include, but are not limited to:
| • | shifts in population, demographics or audience preferences; |
| • | increased competition for advertising revenues with other radio stations, broadcast and cable television, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising, direct mail, internet radio, satellite radio, smart phones, tablets, and other wireless media, the internet, social media, smart speakers and other forms of advertising; and |
| • | changes in government regulations and policies and actions of federal regulatory bodies, including the Federal Communications Commission, Internal Revenue Service, United States Department of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission. |
The main source of our revenue is the sale of advertising. Our ability to sell advertising can be affected by, among other things:
| • | economic conditions in the areas where our stations are located and in the nation as a whole; |
| • | the popularity of the programming offered by our stations; |
| • | changes in population, demographics or audience preferences in the areas where our stations are located; |
| • | local and national advertising price fluctuations, which can be affected by the availability of programming, the popularity of programming, and the relative supply of and demand for commercial advertising; |
| • | our competitors’ activities, including increased competition from other advertising-based mediums and new technologies; |
| • | decisions by advertisers to withdraw or delay planned advertising expenditures for any reason; and |
| • | other factors beyond our control. |
In addition, we believe that for most businesses, advertising is a discretionary business expense, meaning that spending on advertising tends to decline disproportionately during an economic recession or downturn as compared to other types of business spending.
Further, our operations and revenues also tend to be seasonal in nature, with generally lower revenue generated in the first quarter of the year and generally higher revenue generated in the second and fourth quarters of the year. The seasonality of our business reflects the adult orientation of our formats and relationship between advertising purchases on these formats and the retail cycle. This seasonality causes, and will likely continue to cause a variation in our quarterly operating results. Such variations could have a material effect on the timing of our cash flows. In addition, our revenues tend to fluctuate between years, consistent with, among other things, increased advertising expenditures in even-numbered years by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups. This political spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter of such years.
Additionally, unfavorable changes in economic conditions as well as declining consumer confidence, recession and other factors could lead to decreased demand for advertising and negatively impact our advertising revenues and our results of operations. We cannot predict with accuracy the timing or duration of any economic downturn generally, or in the markets in which our advertisers operate. If the economic environment does worsen, there can be no assurance that we will not experience a decline in revenues, which may negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Our radio stations may not be able to compete effectively in their respective markets for advertising revenues, which could adversely affect our revenue and cash flows.
We operate in a highly competitive business. A decline in our audience share or advertising rates in a particular market may cause a decline in the revenue and cash flows of our stations located in that market. Our radio stations compete for audiences and advertising revenues within their respective markets directly with other radio stations, as well as with other media outlets. These other media outlets include broadcast and cable television, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising, direct mail, internet radio, satellite radio, smart phones, tablets, and other wireless media, the internet, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and other forms of advertising.
10
Our radio stations could suffer a reduction in audience ratings or advertising revenue and could incur increased promotional and other expenses if:
| • | another radio station in a market was to convert its programming to a format similar to, and thereby compete more directly with, one of our radio stations; |
| • | a new radio station was to adopt a comparable format or if an existing competitor were to improve its audience share; or |
| • | a current or new advertising alternative increased its share of local and national advertising revenue. |
Other radio broadcasting companies may enter into markets in which we operate or may operate in the future. These companies may be larger and have more financial resources than we have. As a result, our radio stations may not be able to maintain or increase their current audience ratings and advertising revenues.
Further, advertising revenue may vary from even- to odd-numbered years based on the volatility and unpredictability of political advertising revenue. Political advertising revenue from elections, which is generally greater in even-numbered years, has the potential to create fluctuations in our operating results on a year-to-year basis. In addition, political advertising revenue is dependent on the level of political advertising expenditures and competitiveness of elections within each local market.
We may not remain competitive if we do not respond to changes in technology, standards and services that affect our industry.
The radio broadcasting industry is subject to technological change, evolving industry standards and the emergence of alternate media platforms, technologies and services. We may not have the resources to acquire and deploy other technologies or to introduce new services that could compete with these other technologies. Competition arising from other technologies or regulatory change may have an adverse effect on the radio broadcasting industry or on our Company. Various other audio technologies and services that have been developed and introduced include:
| • | home and personal digital audio devices (e.g. smart phones, tablets, smart speakers); |
| • | satellite delivered digital audio radio services that offer numerous programming channels; |
| • | internet-based audio music services; |
| • | audio programming by internet content providers, internet radio stations, cable systems, direct broadcast satellite systems, personal communications services and other digital audio broadcast formats; |
| • | HD Radio, which provides multi-channel, multi-format digital radio services in the same bandwidth currently occupied by traditional AM and FM radio services; |
| • | low power FM radio stations, which are non-commercial FM radio broadcast outlets that serve small, localized areas; |
| • | portable digital devices and systems that permit users to listen to programming on a time-delayed basis and to fast-forward through programming and/or advertisements; and |
| • | vehicles equipped with internet connectivity that increase the number of audio platforms available in vehicles. |
These and other new technologies have the potential to change the means by which advertisers can reach target audiences most effectively. We cannot predict the effect, if any, that competition arising from other technologies or regulatory change may have on the radio broadcasting industry or on our financial condition and results of operations.
Such new media and technology has resulted in increased fragmentation in the advertising market, and we cannot predict the effect, if any, that additional competition arising from new technologies may have across any of our business segments or our financial condition and results of operations, which may be adversely affected if we are not able to adapt successfully to these new media technologies or distribution platforms. The continuing growth and evolution of channels and platforms has increased our challenges in differentiating ourselves from other media platforms. We continually seek to develop and enhance our content offerings and distribution platforms/methodologies. Failure to effectively execute in these efforts, actions by our competitors, or other failures to deliver content effectively could hurt our ability to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and, as a result, have adverse effects across our business.
Our success is dependent upon audience acceptance of our content, particularly our radio programs, which is difficult to predict.
Media and radio content production and distribution are inherently risky businesses because the revenues derived from the production and distribution of media content or a radio program, and the licensing of rights to the intellectual property associated with the content or program, depend primarily upon their acceptance and perceptions by the public, which are difficult to predict. The commercial
11
success of content or a program also depends upon the quality and acceptance of other competing programs released into the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure time activities, general economic conditions, and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which are difficult to predict.
Ratings for broadcast stations and traffic on a particular website are also factors that are weighed when advertisers determine which outlets to use and in determining the advertising rates that the outlet receives. Poor ratings or traffic levels can lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising revenues. For example, if there is an event causing a change of programming at one of our stations, there could be no assurance that any replacement programming would generate the same level of ratings, revenues, or profitability as the previous programming. In addition, changes in ratings methodology and technology could adversely impact our ratings and negatively affect our advertising revenues.
Finally, the costs of developing and distributing content and programming most popular with the public may change significantly if new performance royalties (such as those that have been proposed by members of Congress from time to time) are imposed upon radio broadcasters or internet operators, and such changes could have a material impact upon our business.
We have substantial debt that could have important consequences to you.
We have debt that is substantial in relation to our stockholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2017, we had long-term debt of $225.0 million and stockholders’ equity of $286.2 million. Our long-term debt is substantial in amount and could have an impact on you. For example, it could:
| • | require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to debt service, thereby reducing the availability of cash flows for other purposes, including ongoing capital expenditures and future acquisitions; |
| • | impair our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes; |
| • | limit our ability to compete, expand and make capital improvements; |
| • | increase our vulnerability to economic downturns, limit our ability to withstand competitive pressures and reduce our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions; and |
| • | limit or prohibit our ability to pay dividends and make other distributions. |
Our ability to reduce our total leverage ratio by increasing operating cash flows and/or decreasing long-term debt will determine how much, if any, of the remaining commitments under our New Credit Facility will be available to us in the future. Poor financial results or unanticipated expenses could result in our failure to maintain or lower our total leverage ratio and we may not be permitted to make any additional borrowings under our New Credit Facility. Any additional borrowings would further increase the amount of our debt and the associated risks. In addition, there can be no assurances that additional financing will be available or on terms that will be acceptable to us.
We are subject to restrictive debt covenants, which may restrict our operational flexibility.
Our New Credit Facility contains various financial and operating covenants, including, among other things, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, subject our assets to additional liens, enter into certain investments, consolidate, merge or effect asset sales, enter into sale and lease-back transactions, sell or discount accounts receivable, enter into transactions with our affiliates or stockholders, change the nature of our business, pay dividends on and redeem or repurchase capital stock, or make other restricted payments. These restrictions could limit our ability to take actions that require funds in excess of those available to us.
Our New Credit Facility also requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and to satisfy financial condition tests. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and tests may be affected by events beyond our control and we cannot assure you that we will meet those ratios and tests. If our revenues were to decrease significantly, it may become increasingly difficult for us to meet these financial covenants. Our breach of any of these covenants, ratios, tests or restrictions could result in an event of default under our New Credit Facility. If an event of default exists under our New Credit Facility, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding thereunder to be immediately due and payable. If the lenders accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full that indebtedness which could force us to seek protection under federal bankruptcy laws and could significantly or entirely reduce the value of our equity.
We may also incur future debt obligations in addition to, or in lieu of, our New Credit Facility. Such future debt obligations might subject us to additional and different restrictive covenants that could further limit our operational flexibility or subject us to other events of default.
12
Our ability to pay regular dividends on our common stock is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and may be limited by our structure, statutory restrictions and restrictions imposed by our credit agreement as well as any future agreements.
We intend to pay a regular quarterly cash dividend, however future payments, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Future quarterly dividend payments can also be changed or discontinued at any time and will be subject to limitations under the terms of any existing credit agreements. The payment and timing of any future quarterly dividends will also depend upon, among other things, our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.
We are dependent on federally-issued licenses to operate our radio stations and are subject to extensive federal regulation.
The radio broadcasting industry is subject to extensive regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act. We are required to obtain licenses from the FCC to operate our radio stations. Our business depends upon maintaining our broadcast licenses, which are issued by the FCC for a term of eight years and are renewable. Although the vast majority of FCC radio station licenses are routinely renewed, we cannot assure you that the FCC will approve our future renewal applications or that the renewals will be for full eight-year terms or will not include conditions or qualifications that could adversely affect our operations. The non-renewal, or renewal with substantial conditions or modifications, of one or more of our licenses could have a material adverse effect on us.
We must comply with extensive FCC regulations and policies regarding the ownership and operation of our radio stations. FCC regulations limit the number of radio stations that a licensee can own in a market, which could restrict our ability to consummate any future transactions and in certain circumstances could require us to divest one or more radio stations. Online music services such as Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music are not regulated by the FCC; therefore they are not subject to any ownership restrictions or FCC regulations governing their operations. Our ability to compete with online music services may be impeded because of the extensive FCC regulations to which we are subject. The FCC also requires radio stations to comply with certain technical requirements to limit interference between two or more radio stations. Possible changes in interference protections, spectrum allocations and other technical rules may negatively affect the operation of our stations. If the FCC relaxes certain technical requirements, it could impair the signals transmitted by our radio stations and could have a material adverse effect on us. Moreover, these FCC regulations and others may change over time and we cannot assure you that those changes would not have a material adverse effect on us.
The FCC regulates FM translator stations as a secondary service, and in the event that an FM translator station causes actual interference to the signal of a radio or television station, FCC rules require the FM translator station to eliminate the interference and to suspend operations if the interference cannot be eliminated. If the FCC requires any FM translator station that we operate to modify its facilities to eliminate interference caused to another station or to cease broadcasting, it could materially impair the operations of the station that the FM translator rebroadcasts which could have a material adverse effect on us.
A future impairment of our FCC broadcasting licenses and/or goodwill could adversely affect our operating results.
As of December 31, 2017, our FCC broadcasting licenses and goodwill represented 77.1% of our total assets. We are required to test our FCC broadcasting licenses and goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that our FCC broadcasting licenses and goodwill might be impaired which may result in future impairment losses. The valuation of our FCC broadcasting licenses and goodwill is based on estimates rather than precise calculations. The fair value measurements for both our FCC broadcasting licenses and goodwill use significant unobservable inputs which reflect our own assumptions about the estimates that market participants would use in measuring fair value including assumptions about risk. If actual future results are not consistent with the assumptions and estimates used, we may be exposed to impairment charges in the future, which could be material and could adversely affect our results of operations. For further discussion, see “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Estimates” of this report.
Our corporate offices and several of our radio stations are located in areas that could be affected by hurricanes.
Florida is susceptible to hurricanes and we have our corporate offices and 14 radio stations located there. These radio stations contributed 16.5% of our net revenue in 2017. Although the 2017 hurricane season did not have a material impact on our operations, our corporate offices and our radio stations located in Florida and other radio stations located along the east coast of the United States could be materially affected by hurricanes in the future, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We carry property damage insurance on all of our properties and business interruption insurance on some of our properties, but there can be no assurance that such insurance would be adequate to cover all of our hurricane-related losses.
13
The failure or destruction of the internet, satellite systems and transmitter facilities that we depend upon to distribute our programming could adversely affect our operating results.
We use studios, satellite systems, transmitter facilities and the internet to originate and/or distribute our station programs and commercials. We rely on third-party contracts and services to operate our origination and distribution facilities. These third-party contracts and services include, but are not limited to, electrical power, satellite transponders, uplinks and downlinks and telecom circuits. Distribution may be disrupted due to one or more third parties losing their ability to provide particular services to us, which could adversely affect our distribution capabilities. A disruption can be caused as a result of any number of events such as local disasters (accidental or environmental), various acts of terrorism, power outages, cyber-attacks, major telecom connectivity failures or satellite failures. Our ability to distribute programming to station audiences may be disrupted for an undetermined period of time until alternate facilities are engaged and put on-line. Furthermore, until third-party services resume, the inability to originate or distribute programming could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Disruptions or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure could interfere with our operations, compromise client information and expose us to liability, possibly causing our business and reputation to suffer.
Any internal technology error or failure impacting systems hosted internally or externally, or any large scale external interruption in technology infrastructure we depend on, such as power, telecommunications or the internet, may disrupt our technology network. Any individual, sustained or repeated failure of technology could impact our customer service and result in increased costs or reduced revenues. Our technology systems and related data also may be vulnerable to a variety of sources of interruption due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers and other security issues. Our technology security initiatives, disaster recovery plans and other measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to prevent a business disruption and its adverse financial consequences to our reputation.
In addition, as a part of our ordinary business operations, we may collect and store sensitive data, including personal information of our clients, listeners and employees. The secure operation of the networks and systems on which this type of information is stored, processed and maintained is critical to our business operations and strategy. Any compromise of our technology systems resulting from attacks by hackers or breaches due to employee error or malfeasance could result in the loss, disclosure, misappropriation of or access to clients’, listeners’, employees’ or business partners’ information. Any such loss, disclosure, misappropriation or access could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information, disruption of our operations and damage to our reputation, any or all of which could adversely affect our business.
Our business is dependent upon the proper functioning of our internal business processes and information systems and modification or interruption of such systems may disrupt our business, processes and internal controls.
The proper functioning of our internal business processes and information systems is critical to the efficient operation and management of our business. If these information technology systems fail or are interrupted, our operations may be adversely affected and operating results could be harmed. Our business processes and information systems need to be sufficiently scalable to support the future growth of our business and may require modifications or upgrades that expose us to a number of operational risks. Our information technology systems, and those of third party providers, may also be vulnerable to damage or disruption caused by circumstances beyond our control. These include catastrophic events, power anomalies or outages, natural disasters, computer system or network failures, viruses or malware, physical or electronic intrusions, unauthorized access and cyber-attacks. Any material disruption, malfunction or similar challenges with our business processes or information systems, or disruptions or challenges relating to the transition to new processes, systems or providers, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Vigorous enforcement of the FCC’s indecency rules could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The FCC’s rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time and indecent material between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The risk of violating the prohibition on the broadcast of indecent material is increased by the vagueness of the FCC’s definition of indecent material, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming. The FCC has expanded the breadth of indecency regulation to include material that could be considered “blasphemy,” “personally reviling epithets,” “profanity” and vulgar or coarse words amounting to a nuisance. As a result, in the event that we broadcast material falling within the expanded breadth of the FCC’s regulation, we could be subject to license revocation, renewal or qualifications proceedings, which would put the licenses that we depend on for our operations in jeopardy. In 2007, the monetary penalties for broadcasting indecent programming increased substantially. The current maximum permitted fines are $397,251 per incident and $3,666,930 for any continuing violation arising from a single act or failure to act. In a decision issued in June 2012, the Supreme Court did not find that the FCC’s indecency standards were inconsistent with the First Amendment, which means the FCC may continue to enforce the standards. In April 2013, the FCC requested comments on its indecency policy. The FCC has advised that it will continue to pursue enforcement actions in egregious cases while it conducts its review of its indecency policy generally, and in March 2015, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for the then maximum forfeiture amount of $325,000 against a television station. Because the FCC may investigate indecency complaints prior to notifying a licensee of the existence of a complaint, a licensee may not have knowledge of a complaint unless and until the complaint results in the issuance of a formal FCC letter of inquiry or notice of apparent liability for forfeiture.
14
We may in the future become subject to additional inquiries or proceedings related to our radio stations’ broadcast of indecent or obscene material. To the extent that these pending inquiries or other proceedings result in the imposition of fines, revocation of any of our radio station licenses or denials of license renewal applications, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Proposed legislation could require radio broadcasters to pay royalties to record labels and recording artists.
Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would require radio broadcasters to pay a royalty to record labels and performing artists for use of their recorded songs. Currently, we pay royalties to song composers and publishers through Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”), Global Music Rights (“GMR”) and SESAC, Inc. (“SESAC”). The proposed legislation would add an additional layer of royalties to be paid directly to the record labels and artists. It is currently unknown what proposed legislation, if any, will become law, whether industry groups will enter into an agreement with respect to fees, and what significance this royalty would have on our results from operations, cash flows or financial position.
The FCC’s Proposed Incentive Auctions may result in a loss of spectrum for broadcast stations and potentially adversely impact our ability to compete by potentially increasing spectrum for use by wireless carriers.
Federal legislation was enacted in February 2012 that, among other things, authorizes the FCC to conduct voluntary “incentive auctions” in order to reallocate certain spectrum currently occupied by television broadcast stations to mobile wireless broadband services, to “repack” television stations into a smaller portion of the existing television spectrum band, and to require television stations that do not participate in the auction to modify their transmission facilities, subject to reimbursement for reasonable relocation costs up to an industry-wide total of $1.75 billion.
The FCC has adopted rules concerning the incentive auction for broadcast television spectrum and the repacking of the television band. Under the auction rules implemented by the FCC, television stations were given an opportunity to offer spectrum for sale to the government in a “reverse” auction while wireless providers bid to acquire spectrum from the government in a related “forward” auction. The incentive auction concluded in April 2017 when the FCC issued a Public Notice announcing the television stations that had relinquished spectrum in the auction and the stations that are being repacked to different channels and establishing deadlines for stations being repacked to file applications to modify their facilities and complete construction of authorized repacked facilities. The FCC will reimburse stations for reasonable relocation costs up to a total across all stations of $1.75 billion. The repacking process could impact radio stations that operate on the same towers as television stations which are required to modify their facilities. Such radio stations could be required to modify their facilities on a temporary or permanent basis to accommodate the modifications that television stations being repacked are required to make to their transmission facilities. Any radio stations that are impacted are not eligible for reimbursement from the FCC of the costs incurred in connection with modification of their facilities.
We may lose key executives and other key employees, including on-air talent, to competing radio stations or other types of media competitors.
Our business depends upon the continued efforts, abilities and expertise of our executive officers and other key employees. The unique combination of skills and experience possessed by our key executives would be difficult to replace, and the loss of a key executive could impair our ability to execute our operating and acquisition strategies.
In addition, we compete for creative and performing on-air talent with other radio stations and radio station groups, radio networks, and other providers of syndicated content and other media such as broadcast television, cable television, satellite television, the internet and satellite radio. Our ability to attract and retain key personnel is an important aspect of our competitiveness. Our employees and other on-air talent are subject to change and may be lost to competitors or for other reasons. Any adverse changes in particular programs, formats or on-air talent could have a material adverse effect on our ratings and our ability to attract advertisers, which would negatively impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our Chairman of the Board controls Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. and members of his immediate family own a substantial equity interest in Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. Their interests may conflict with yours.
George G. Beasley is generally able to control the vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Without the approval of Mr. Beasley, we will be unable to consummate transactions involving an actual or potential change in control, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares over then current market prices. Shares of Class B and Class A common stock that Mr. Beasley beneficially owns represent 59.9% of the total voting power of all classes of our common stock. Members of his immediate family also own significant amounts of Class B common stock. Mr. Beasley will be able to direct our management and policies, except with respect to those matters requiring a class vote under the provisions of our amended certificate of incorporation, third amended and restated bylaws or applicable law.
15
Historically, we have entered into certain transactions with George G. Beasley, members of his immediate family and affiliated entities that may conflict with the interests of our stockholders now or in the future. See “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Related Party Transactions” and Note 15 to the accompanying financial statements.
Future sales by George G. Beasley or members of his family of our Class A common stock could adversely affect its market price.
George G. Beasley and members of his family beneficially own the majority of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock, which is convertible to Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The market for our Class A common stock could change substantially if George G. Beasley and members of his family convert their shares of Class B common stock to shares of Class A common stock and then sell large amounts of shares of Class A common stock in the public market.
These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, could make it more difficult for us to raise capital by selling equity or equity-related securities in the future.
Future sales of our Class A common stock by the former stockholders of Greater Media could adversely affect its market price.
In connection with the Merger, after post-closing adjustments, we issued 4,084,834 shares of Class A common stock to the former stockholders of Greater Media. As of January 31, 2018, the former stockholders of Greater Media own approximately 14.8% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and approximately 37.6% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock. The market for our Class A common stock could change substantially if the former stockholders of Greater Media sell large amounts Class A common stock in the public market.
These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, could make it more difficult for us to raise capital by selling equity or equity-related securities in the future.
The difficulties associated with any attempt to gain control of our Company may adversely affect the price of our Class A common stock.
Due to his large holdings of our common stock, George G. Beasley and members of his family control the decision whether any change of control of the Company will occur. Moreover, some provisions of our amended certificate of incorporation, fourth amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if a change of control could be beneficial to you. In addition, the Communications Act and FCC rules and policies limit the number of stations that one individual or entity can own, directly or by attribution, in a market. FCC approval for transfers of control of FCC licensees and assignments of FCC licenses are also required. Because of the limitations and restrictions imposed on us by these provisions and regulations, the trading price of our Class A common stock may be adversely affected.
There may not be an active market for our Class A common stock, making it difficult for you to sell your stock.
Our stock may not be actively traded in the future. An illiquid market for our stock may result in price volatility and poor execution of buy and sell orders for investors. Our stock price and trading volume have fluctuated widely for a number of reasons, including some reasons that may be unrelated to our business or results of operations. This market volatility could depress the price of our Class A common stock without regard to our operating performance. In addition, our operating results may be below expectations of public market analysts and investors. If this were to occur, the market price of our Class A common stock could decrease, perhaps significantly.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
As of February 12, 2018, we own or lease property for our radio stations in the following locations:
| Location |
Description |
Owned/Leased | ||
| Atlanta, GA |
All radio stations in our Atlanta, GA market cluster | Third party lease | ||
| Augusta, GA |
All radio stations in our Augusta, GA market cluster | Owned | ||
| Land for radio stations | Related party lease | |||
| Boca Raton, FL |
All radio stations in our West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL market cluster | Third party lease | ||
| Boston, MA |
All radio stations in our Boston, MA market cluster | Third party lease | ||
| Detroit, MI |
All radio stations in our Detroit, MI market cluster | Owned |
16
| Camden, NJ |
One radio station in our Philadelphia, PA market cluster |
Owned | ||
| Land for radio station |
Related party lease | |||
| Charlotte, NC |
All radio stations in our Charlotte, NC market cluster |
Third party lease | ||
| Estero, FL |
All radio stations in our Ft. Myers-Naples, FL market cluster |
Related party lease | ||
| Fayetteville, NC |
All radio stations in our Fayetteville, NC market cluster |
Owned | ||
| Las Vegas, NV |
All radio stations in our Las Vegas, NV market cluster |
Related party lease | ||
| Middlesex, NJ |
Two radio stations in our New Jersey market cluster |
Owned | ||
| Monmouth, NJ |
Two radio stations in our New Jersey market cluster |
Owned | ||
| Morristown, NJ |
Two radio stations in our New Jersey market cluster |
Owned | ||
| Philadelphia, PA |
Seven radio stations in our Philadelphia, PA market cluster |
Third party lease | ||
| Tampa, FL |
All radio stations in our Tampa-Saint Petersburg, FL market cluster |
Third party lease | ||
| Wilmington, DE |
One radio station |
Third party lease |
The land in Augusta, GA is leased from GGB Augusta, LLC, which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, our CEO, Bruce G. Beasley, our President, Brian E. Beasley, our Chief Operating Officer, and other family members of George G. Beasley, our Chairman.
The land in Camden, NJ is leased from Beasley Family Towers, LLC which is partially held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley and partially owned directly by Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members.
The property in Estero, FL is leased from GGB Estero, LLC, which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley.
The property in Las Vegas, NV is leased from GGB Las Vegas, LLC, which is controlled by George G. Beasley.
In addition, we lease our principal executive offices in Naples, FL from Beasley Broadcasting Management, LLC, which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley.
No one property is material to us. We believe that our properties are generally in good condition and suitable for our operations. However, we continually look for opportunities to upgrade our properties and may do so in the future.
We currently and from time to time are involved in ordinary routine litigation incidental to the conduct of our business including indecency claims and related proceedings at the FCC, but we are not a party to any lawsuit or other proceedings that, in the opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
17
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
We have two authorized and outstanding classes of equity securities: Class A common stock, $.001 par value, and Class B common stock, $.001 par value. The only difference between the Class A and Class B common stock is that Class A is entitled to one vote per share and Class B is entitled to ten votes per share. Class B is convertible into Class A shares on a one-for-one share basis under certain circumstances. Our Class A common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “BBGI.” There is no established public trading market for our Class B common stock. Quarterly high and low prices of our Class A common stock are shown below:
| Fiscal 2017 |
High | Low | ||||||
| First Quarter |
$ | 14.25 | $ | 5.70 | ||||
| Second Quarter |
18.19 | 8.15 | ||||||
| Third Quarter |
12.25 | 8.55 | ||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
14.40 | 8.83 | ||||||
| Fiscal 2016 |
High | Low | ||||||
| First Quarter |
$ | 4.01 | $ | 3.05 | ||||
| Second Quarter |
5.00 | 3.64 | ||||||
| Third Quarter |
6.05 | 4.19 | ||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
7.70 | 4.75 | ||||||
Holders
As of February 12, 2018, there were approximately 140 holders of record of our Class A common stock and 21 holders of record of our Class B common stock. The number of Class A common stock holders does not count separately the number of beneficial holders whose shares are held of record by a broker or clearing agency.
Dividends
Our credit agreement restricts our ability to pay cash dividends and to repurchase additional shares of our common stock. The credit agreement does permit, however, (i) additional dividends of up to an aggregate amount of $7.5 million each year if our Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) is greater than 3.5x and up to an aggregate amount of $10.0 million each year if our Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.5x, (ii) an amount equal to our excess cash flow each year that is not required to prepay the credit agreement, subject to maintaining a Total Leverage Ratio of no greater than 3.75x and (iii) unlimited dividends each year if our Total Leverage Ratio is less than 3.5x and our First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than 2.5x. We paid quarterly cash dividends in an aggregate annual amount of $4.1 million in 2016 and $5.1 million in 2017. On December 4, 2017, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.045 per share on our Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend of $1.3 million in the aggregate was paid on January 5, 2018 to stockholders of record on December 29, 2017. We intend to pay quarterly cash dividends in 2018, however the declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the sole discretion of the board of directors.
Repurchases of Equity Securities
The following table presents information with respect to purchases we made of our Class A common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2017.
| Period |
Total Number of Shares Purchased |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program |
Approximate Dollar Value That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program |
||||||||||||
| October 1 – 31, 2017 |
— | — | — | $ | — | |||||||||||
| November 1 – 30, 2017 |
2,500 | $ | 9.29 | — | — | |||||||||||
| December 1 – 31, 2017 |
42,850 | 13.48 | — | — | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Total |
45,350 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
18
On March 27, 2007, our board of directors approved the Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The original ten year term of the 2007 Plan ended on March 27, 2017. Our stockholders approved an amendment to the 2007 Plan at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 8, 2017 to, among other things, extend the term of the 2007 Plan until March 27, 2027. The 2007 Plan permits us to purchase sufficient shares to fund withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock. Our credit agreement permits us to repurchase sufficient shares of our common stock to fund withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock, subject to compliance with financial covenants, up to an aggregate amount of $2.5 million per year. All shares purchased during the three months ended December 31, 2017, were purchased to fund withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not required for smaller reporting companies.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a radio broadcasting company whose primary business is operating radio stations throughout the United States. We own and operate 63 radio stations in the following radio markets: Atlanta, GA, Augusta, GA, Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Detroit, MI, Fayetteville, NC, Fort Myers-Naples, FL, Las Vegas, NV, Middlesex, NJ, Monmouth, NJ, Morristown, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Tampa-Saint Petersburg, FL, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL, and Wilmington, DE. We refer to each group of radio stations in each radio market as a market cluster.
Recent Developments
On December 19, 2017, we completed an asset exchange with CBS Radio Stations, Inc., Entercom Boston, LLC, and The Entercom Divestiture Trust under which we agreed to exchange all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WMJX-FM in Boston, MA for all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBZ-FM in Boston, MA. In addition, we also paid $12.0 million in cash, which was partially financed with $6.0 million in borrowings from our credit facility and partially funded with $6.0 million in cash from operations. The asset exchange was accounted for as a business combination. The fair value of the assets received in the asset exchange was $48.9 million. We recorded a gain on exchange of $11.8 million and incurred transaction costs of $0.2 million. The operations of the acquired radio station are included in our results of operations from the acquisition date.
On November 17, 2017, the Borrower, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a new credit agreement by and among the Company, the Borrower and U.S. Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent, providing for a term loan B facility in the amount of $225.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a revolving credit facility of $20.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”, and together with the Term Loan Facility, the “New Credit Facilities”). Proceeds from the New Credit Facilities were primarily used to repay the old credit facilities. The New Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all assets of the Company, the Borrower and their material subsidiaries. The Company and the Borrower’s material subsidiaries guarantee repayment of the New Credit Facilities. The Term Loan Facility matures on November 1, 2023 and will amortize in quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan Facility. The first amortization payment is due at the end of the first full fiscal quarter after the Closing Date and the remaining balance of the original principal amount of the Term Loan Facility outstanding at maturity will be paid in a final balloon payment. The Revolving Credit Facility terminates on November 17, 2022 and loans thereunder may be borrowed, repaid, and reborrowed up to such date. Loans under the New Credit Facilities, at the Borrower’s option, bear interest at either LIBOR plus 4.0% or base rate plus 3.0%. Solely with respect to the Term Loan Facility, LIBOR is subject to a 1% floor and base rate is subject to a 2% floor. Interest payments are, for loans based on LIBOR, due at the end of each applicable interest period unless the interest period is longer than three months, in which case they are due at the end of each three month period. Interest payments for loans based on the base rate are due quarterly. Under certain circumstances described in the new credit agreement, the Company may increase the New Credit Facilities so long as the Company does not exceed a maximum first lien leverage ratio of 4.00:1.00 plus an additional $56.8 million. The New Credit Facilities are subject to customary negative covenants as well as a financial covenant that is a maximum first lien net leverage ratio that will be tested as the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2017.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains “forward-looking statements” about the Company within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which relate to future, not past, events. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements, which address the Company’s expected business and financial performance and financial condition, among other matters, contain words such as: “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “projects,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “seek,” “forecast,” or other similar expressions.
19
Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| • | external economic forces that could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s advertising revenues and results of operations; |
| • | the ability of the Company’s radio stations to compete effectively in their respective markets for advertising revenues; |
| • | the ability of the Company to respond to changes in technology, standards and services that affect the radio industry; |
| • | audience acceptance of the Company’s content, particularly its radio programs; |
| • | the Company’s substantial debt levels and the potential effect of restrictive debt covenants on the Company’s operational flexibility and ability to pay dividends; |
| • | the Company’s dependence on federally issued licenses subject to extensive federal regulation; |
| • | the risk that the Company’s FCC broadcasting licenses and/or goodwill could become impaired; |
| • | the failure or destruction of the internet, satellite systems and transmitter facilities that the Company depends upon to distribute its programming; |
| • | disruptions or security breaches of the Company’s information technology infrastructure; |
| • | actions by the FCC or new legislation affecting the radio industry; |
| • | the loss of key personnel; |
| • | the fact that the Company is controlled by the Beasley family, which creates difficulties for any attempt to gain control of the Company; |
| • | the effect of future sales of Class A common stock by the Beasley family or the former stockholders of Greater Media; |
| • | other economic, business, competitive, and regulatory factors affecting the businesses of the Company, including those set forth in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this report and the Company’s other filings with the SEC. |
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
Financial Statement Presentation
The following discussion provides a brief description of certain key items that appear in our financial statements and general factors that impact these items.
Net Revenue. Our net revenue is primarily derived from the sale of advertising airtime to local and national advertisers. Net revenue is gross revenue less agency commissions, generally 15% of gross revenue. Local revenue generally consists of airtime sales, digital sales and event marketing for advertisers in a radio station’s local market either directly to the advertiser or through the advertiser’s agency. National revenue generally consists of advertising airtime and digital sales to agencies purchasing advertising for multiple markets. National sales are generally facilitated by our national representation firm, which serves as our agent in these transactions.
20
Our net revenue is generally determined by the advertising rates that we are able to charge and the number of advertisements that we can broadcast without jeopardizing listener levels. Advertising rates are primarily based on the following factors:
| • | a radio station’s audience share in the demographic groups targeted by advertisers as measured principally by periodic reports issued by Nielson Audio; |
| • | the number of radio stations, as well as other forms of media, in the market competing for the attention of the same demographic groups; |
| • | the supply of, and demand for, radio advertising time; and |
| • | the size of the market. |
Our net revenue is affected by general economic conditions, competition and our ability to improve operations at our market clusters. Seasonal revenue fluctuations are also common in the radio broadcasting industry and are primarily due to variations in advertising expenditures by local and national advertisers. Our revenues are typically lowest in the first calendar quarter of the year.
We also continue to invest in digital support services to develop and promote our radio station websites. We derive revenue from our websites through the sale of advertiser promotions and advertising on our websites and the sale of advertising airtime during audio streaming of our radio stations over the internet. We also generate revenue from selling other digital products.
Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses consist primarily of (1) programming, engineering, sales, advertising and promotion, and general and administrative expenses incurred at our radio stations, (2) general and administrative expenses, including compensation and other expenses, incurred at our corporate offices, and (3) depreciation and amortization. We strive to control our operating expenses by centralizing certain functions at our corporate offices and consolidating certain functions in each of our market clusters.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if:
| • | it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made; and |
| • | changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. |
Accounts Receivable. We continually evaluate our ability to collect our accounts receivable. Our ongoing evaluation includes review of specific accounts at our radio stations, the current financial condition of our customers and our historical write-off experience. This ongoing evaluation requires management judgment and if we had made different assumptions about these factors, the allowance for doubtful accounts could have been materially different.
Property and Equipment. We are required to assess the recoverability of our property and equipment whenever an event has occurred that may result in an impairment loss. If such an event occurs, we will compare estimates of related future undiscounted cash flows to the carrying amount of the asset. If the future undiscounted cash flow estimates are less than the carrying amount of the asset, we will reduce the carrying amount to the estimated fair value. The determination of when an event has occurred and estimates of future cash flows and fair value all require management judgment. The use of different assumptions or estimates may result in alternative assessments that could be materially different. We did not identify any events that may have resulted in an impairment loss on our property and equipment in 2017. However, there can be no assurance that impairments of our property and equipment will not occur in future periods.
FCC Broadcasting Licenses. As of December 31, 2017, FCC broadcasting licenses with an aggregate carrying amount of $489.2 million represented 74.7% of our total assets. We are required to test our licenses for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that our licenses might be impaired. In 2017, we elected to perform the quantitative impairment test for our licenses in all markets. The quantitative impairment test, performed as of November 30, 2017, compares the fair value of our licenses with their carrying amounts. If the carrying amounts of the licenses exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. For the purpose of testing our licenses for impairment, we combine our licenses into reporting units based on our market clusters.
21
We estimate the fair value of our licenses using an income approach. The income approach measures the expected economic benefits the licenses provide and discounts these future benefits using discounted cash flow analyses. The discounted cash flow analyses assume that each license is held by a hypothetical start-up radio station and the value yielded by the discounted cash flow analyses represents the portion of the radio station’s value attributable solely to its license. The discounted cash flow model incorporates variables such as radio market revenues; the projected growth rate for radio market revenues; projected radio market revenue share; projected radio station operating income margins; and a discount rate appropriate for the radio broadcasting industry. The variables used in the analyses reflect historical radio station and market growth trends, as well as anticipated radio station performance, industry standards, and market conditions. The discounted cash flow projection period of ten years was determined to be an appropriate time horizon for the analyses. Stable market revenue share and operating margins are expected at the end of year three (maturity).
As of November 30, 2017, the key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analyses are as follows:
| Revenue growth rates |
(0.4)% - 2.3% | |
| Market revenue shares at maturity |
1.1% - 47.7% | |
| Operating income margins at maturity |
18.5% - 39.4% | |
| Discount rate |
9.0% |
If we had made different assumptions or used different estimates, the fair value of our licenses could have been materially different. If actual results are different from assumptions or estimates used in the discounted cash flow analyses, we may incur impairment losses in the future and they may be material.
Cash flows and operating income are dependent on advertising revenues. Advertising revenues are influenced by competition from other radio stations and media, demographic changes, and changes in government rules and regulations. In addition, advertising is generally considered a discretionary expense meaning advertising expenditures tend to decline disproportionately during economic downturns as compared to other types of business expenditures. If actual results are lower, we may incur impairment losses in the future and they may be material.
The carrying amount of our FCC broadcasting licenses for each reporting unit and the percentage by which fair value exceeded the carrying amount are as follows:
| Market cluster |
FCC broadcasting licenses |
Excess | ||||||
| Atlanta, GA |
$ | 4,802,000 | 24.1 | % | ||||
| Augusta, GA |
6,113,075 | 82.1 | ||||||
| Boston, MA |
126,672,200 | 27.9 | ||||||
| Charlotte, NC |
58,434,376 | 22.4 | ||||||
| Detroit, MI |
16,822,600 | 58.5 | ||||||
| Fayetteville, NC |
8,974,679 | 53.1 | ||||||
| Fort Myers-Naples, FL |
9,555,146 | 59.4 | ||||||
| Las Vegas, NV |
37,321,712 | 8.6 | ||||||
| Middlesex, Monmouth, Morristown, NJ |
23,533,900 | 5.9 | ||||||
| Philadelphia, PA |
92,327,992 | 7.2 | ||||||
| Tampa-Saint Petersburg, PA |
61,787,351 | 23.6 | ||||||
| West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL |
12,161,688 | 8.6 | ||||||
| Wilmington, DE |
19,496,000 | 4.6 | ||||||
As a result of the quantitative impairment test performed as of November 30, 2017, we recorded no impairment losses related to our FCC broadcasting licenses for these reporting units. However, there can be no assurance that impairments of our FCC broadcasting licenses will not occur in future periods.
Defined Benefit Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits. The costs and liabilities of the defined benefit plan and other postretirement benefits are determined using actuarial valuations. An actuarial valuation involves making various assumptions that include the discount rate, rate of return on plan assets, and mortality rates. The discount rate is based on matching the cash flows of the plan to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The long-term rate of return on plan assets was selected based on input from the investment advisor and publicly available survey information on expected returns by asset class. The mortality assumptions are based on the mortality tables and mortality improvement scales which are selected based on the most recent study of the Society of
22
Actuaries. The pension plan and SERP are both frozen so future employment does not change the benefit amounts. The postretirement medical and life insurance benefits were not impacted by the healthcare cost trend assumption because the reimbursements to retirees are fixed amounts. Actual results will differ from results which are estimated based on assumptions. Effective May 31, 2017, the Company terminated the pension plan and postretirement medical and life insurance benefits. See Note 10 to the accompanying financial statements.
Asset Exchange. On December 19, 2017, we completed an asset exchange with CBS Radio Stations, Inc., Entercom Boston, LLC, and The Entercom Divestiture Trust under which we agreed to exchange all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WMJX-FM in Boston, MA for all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBZ-FM in Boston, MA. In addition, we also paid $12.0 million in cash which was partially financed with $6.0 million in borrowings from our credit facility and partially funded with $6.0 million in cash from operations. The asset exchange was accounted for as a business combination.
The fair value of the property and equipment was estimated using cost and market approaches. Property and equipment for which there are comparable current replacements available were valued on the basis of a cost approach. The cost approach allowed for factors such as physical depreciation as well as functional and economic obsolescence. Property and equipment for which an active used market exists, including property for which there is no longer comparable current replacements available but for which there remains an active used market were valued using a market approach. The market approach is based on the selling prices of similar assets on the used market. As few sales reflect identical assets, the selling prices of similar assets was utilized with adjustments made for any differences such as age, condition, and options. If different assumptions or estimates had been used in the cost and market approaches, the fair value of the property and equipment could have been materially different.
The fair value of the FCC broadcasting licenses were estimated using an income approach. The income approach measures the expected economic benefits the licenses provide and discounts these future benefits using discounted cash flow analyses. The discounted cash flow analyses assume that each license is held by a hypothetical start-up radio station and the value yielded by each discounted cash flow analysis represents the portion of the radio station’s value attributable solely to its license. The discounted cash flow models incorporate variables such as radio market revenues; the projected growth rate for radio market revenues; projected radio market revenue share; projected radio station operating income margins; and a discount rate appropriate for the radio broadcasting industry. The variables used in the analyses reflect historical radio station and market growth trends, as well as anticipated radio station performance, industry standards, and market conditions. The discounted cash flow projection period of ten years was determined to be an appropriate time horizon for the analyses. Stable market revenue share and operating margins are expected at the end of year three (maturity). If different assumptions or estimates had been used in the income approach, the fair value of the FCC broadcasting licenses could have been materially different. If actual results are different from assumptions or estimates used in the discounted cash flow analyses, we may incur impairment losses in the future and they may be material.
The key assumptions used in the valuation of the FCC broadcasting licenses are as follows:
| Revenue growth rates |
(0.5)% - 2.4% | |
| Market revenue shares at maturity |
5.3% | |
| Operating income margins at maturity |
36.0% | |
| Discount rate |
9.0% |
Goodwill was equal to the amount the purchase price exceeded the values allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets. The $11.9 million allocated to goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements are described in Note 2 to the accompanying financial statements.
23
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2016
The following summary table presents a comparison of our results of continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 with respect to certain of our key financial measures. These changes illustrated in the table are discussed in greater detail below. This section should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
| Year ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Net revenue |
$ | 136,665,344 | $ | 232,179,463 | $ | 95,514,119 | 69.9 | % | ||||||||
| Station operating expenses |
96,705,989 | 174,822,164 | 78,116,175 | 80.8 | ||||||||||||
| Corporate general and administrative expenses |
10,303,503 | 15,832,406 | 5,528,903 | 53.7 | ||||||||||||
| Transaction expenses |
6,381,198 | 963,979 | (5,417,219 | ) | (84.9 | ) | ||||||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration |
1,266,394 | 10,053,754 | 8,787,360 | 693.9 | ||||||||||||
| Gain on dispositions, net |
— | 3,707,993 | 3,707,993 | — | ||||||||||||
| Gain on exchange |
— | 11,803,585 | 11,803,585 | — | ||||||||||||
| Termination of postretirement benefits plan |
— | 1,812,448 | 1,812,448 | — | ||||||||||||
| Gain on merger |
44,281,066 | — | (44,281,066 | ) | (100.0 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest expense |
6,597,738 | 18,430,072 | 11,832,334 | 179.3 | ||||||||||||
| Loss on modification of long-term debt |
769,819 | 3,954,035 | 3,184,216 | 413.6 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) |
8,297,802 | (48,228,290 | ) | (56,526,092 | ) | (681.2 | ) | |||||||||
| Net income |
47,488,413 | 87,131,169 | 39,642,756 | 83.5 |
Net Revenue. Net revenue increased $95.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. Significant factors affecting net revenue included $41.3 million in additional advertising revenue from the Boston radio stations, $35.5 million from the Philadelphia radio stations, $19.1 million from the Detroit radio stations, and $14.2 million from the New Jersey radio stations acquired from Greater Media on November 1, 2016, partially offset by a $4.8 million decrease due to the disposition of our Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville market cluster on May 1, 2017, a $4.6 million decrease in advertising revenue from our Charlotte market cluster primarily due to the disposition of WFNZ-AM on January 6, 2017, and a $3.4 million decrease in advertising revenue from our Tampa-Saint Petersburg market cluster. Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016 also included $4.9 million of political advertising from the 2016 elections compared to $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 was comparable to net revenue for the same period in 2016 at our remaining market clusters.
Station Operating Expenses. Station operating expenses increased $78.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. Significant factors affecting station operating expenses included $30.9 million in additional expenses from the Boston radio stations, $28.5 million from the Philadelphia radio stations, $17.3 million from the Detroit radio stations, and $10.7 million from the New Jersey radio stations acquired from Greater Media, partially offset by a $3.8 million decrease in station operating expenses due to the disposition of our Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville market cluster, a $3.2 million decrease in station operating expenses at our Charlotte market cluster primarily due to the disposition of WFNZ-AM, and a $2.7 million decrease in station operating expenses at our Tampa-Saint Petersburg market cluster. Station operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were comparable to station operating expenses for the same period in 2016 at our remaining market clusters.
Corporate General and Administrative Expenses. Corporate general and administrative expenses increased $5.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. Significant factors affecting corporate general and administrative expenses included a $2.7 million increase in cash compensation expense, which was primarily due to an increase in the number of employees at our corporate offices and new employment agreements with our executive officers and Chairman, including retroactive compensation, a $1.0 million increase in stock-based compensation expense and a $1.0 million increase in contract services.
Transaction Expenses. In connection with the acquisition of Greater Media, we incurred transaction expenses, primarily consisting of legal fees, of $6.4 million in 2016. In 2017, we incurred transaction expenses in connection with the station exchange on December 19, 2017, the disposition of our Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville market cluster on May 1, 2017, and the disposition of WFNZ-AM on January 6, 2017.
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration. In connection with the acquisition of Greater Media, a number of shares of our Class A common stock will be returned to us by the former stockholders of Greater Media based on certain proceeds from the sale of Greater Media’s tower assets. The fair value of the number of shares to be returned increased $7.4 million due to an increase in our stock price over the year ended December 31, 2017. In addition, a certain number of shares of our Class A common stock placed in escrow on the acquisition date will be forfeited based on a working capital adjustment. The fair value of the shares to be forfeited increased $2.6 million due to an increase in our stock price over the year ended December 31, 2017. These increases were recognized as a change in fair value of contingent consideration during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Gain on Dispositions, Net. On May 1, 2017, we completed the disposition of our Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville market cluster. As a result of the disposition we recorded a gain of $4.0 million during the second quarter of 2017. On January 6, 2017, we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBT-AM, WBT-FM, WFNZ-AM and WLNK-FM in Charlotte, NC. As a result of the disposition we recorded a $0.3 million loss during the first quarter of 2017.
Gain on Exchange. On December 19, 2017, we completed an asset exchange with CBS Radio Stations, Inc., Entercom Boston, LLC, and The Entercom Divestiture Trust under which we agreed to exchange all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WMJX-FM in Boston, MA for all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBZ-FM in Boston, MA. In addition, we also paid $12.0 million in cash. As a result of the exchange, we recorded a gain on exchange of $11.8 million in 2017.
24
Termination of Postretirement Benefits Plan. Effective May 31, 2017, we terminated the Greater Media postretirement medical and life insurance benefits plan. As a result of the plan termination, we reversed the accrued liability of $1.8 million during the second quarter of 2017.
Gain on Merger. On November 1, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Greater Media, Inc. As a result of the Merger, we recorded a gain on merger of $44.3 million in 2016.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $11.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The primary factors affecting interest expense were the increase in long-term debt outstanding and the increase in the applicable interest rate.
Loss on Modification of Long-Term Debt. We recorded a loss on modification of long-term debt of $4.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, resulting from entering into a new credit agreement on November 17, 2017. Due to the entry into a new credit agreement on November 1, 2016 in connection with the Merger, we recorded a loss on modification of long-term debt of $0.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Our effective tax rate was approximately (124.0)% for the year ended December 31, 2017. This rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% due to the effect of state income taxes and certain expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017 also reflects a $59.7 million decrease primarily due to a change in the federal tax rate from 35% to 21% under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and a revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities using the new rate and a $4.0 million decrease due to the change in fair value of contingent consideration. Our effective tax rate was approximately 14.9% for the year ended December 31, 2016. This rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% due to the effect of state income taxes and certain expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 also reflects a $15.9 million decrease due to the gain on merger and a $2.9 million increase from a change to our effective state tax rate.
Net Income. Net income during the year ended December 31, 2017 increased $39.6 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2016 as a result of the factors described above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview. Our primary sources of liquidity are internally generated cash flow and our Revolving Credit Facility. Our primary liquidity needs have been, and for the next twelve months and thereafter, are expected to continue to be, for working capital, debt service, and other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and radio station acquisitions. Historically, our capital expenditures have not been significant. In addition to property and equipment associated with radio station acquisitions, our capital expenditures have generally been, and are expected to continue to be, related to the maintenance of our studio and office space and the technological improvement, including upgrades necessary to broadcast HD Radio, and maintenance of our broadcasting towers and equipment. We have also purchased or constructed office and studio space in some of our markets to facilitate the consolidation of our operations.
Our credit agreement permits us to repurchase sufficient shares of our common stock to fund withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock, subject to compliance with financial covenants, up to an aggregate amount of $2.5 million per year. We paid $1.1 million to repurchase 94,753 shares during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Our credit agreement restricts our ability to pay cash dividends and to repurchase additional shares of our common stock. The credit agreement does permit, however, (i) additional dividends of up to an aggregate amount of $7.5 million each year if our Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.5x and up to an aggregate amount of $10.0 million each year if our Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.5x, (ii) an amount equal to our excess cash flow each year that is not required to prepay the credit agreement, subject to maintaining a Total Leverage Ratio of no greater than 3.75x and (iii) unlimited dividends each year if our Total Leverage Ratio is less than 3.5x and our First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than 2.5x. We paid cash dividends of $5.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. Also, on December 4, 2017, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.045 per share on our Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend of $1.3 million in the aggregate was paid on January 5, 2018, to stockholders of record on December 29, 2017.
We expect to provide for future liquidity needs through one or a combination of the following sources of liquidity:
| • | internally generated cash flow; |
25
| • | our Revolving Credit Facility; |
| • | additional borrowings, other than under our Revolving Credit Facility, to the extent permitted under our New Credit Facility; and |
| • | additional equity offerings. |
We believe that we will have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to permit us to provide for our liquidity requirements and meet our financial obligations for the next twelve months. However, poor financial results or unanticipated expenses could give rise to defaults under our New Credit Facility, additional debt servicing requirements or other additional financing or liquidity requirements sooner than we expect, and we may not secure financing when needed or on acceptable terms.
Our ability to reduce our total leverage ratio, as defined by our credit agreement, by increasing operating cash flow and/or decreasing long-term debt will determine how much, if any, of the remaining commitments under our Revolving Credit Facility will be available to us in the future. Poor financial results or unanticipated expenses could result in our failure to maintain or lower our total leverage ratio and we may not be permitted to make any additional borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.
Cash Flows. The following summary table presents a comparison of our capital resources for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 with respect to certain of our key measures affecting our liquidity. The changes set forth in the table are discussed in greater detail below. This section should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ | 17,151,100 | $ | 28,021,057 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
(89,619,502 | ) | 17,523,283 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
78,475,323 | (51,947,365 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 6,006,921 | $ | (6,403,025 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $10.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. Significant factors affecting this increase in net cash provided by operating activities included a $95.8 million increase in cash receipts from the sale of advertising airtime and a $5.4 million decrease in transaction expenses, partially offset by a $75.4 million increase in cash paid for station operating expenses, a $10.0 million increase in interest payments, and a $4.5 million increase in cash paid for corporate general and administrative expenses.
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities. Net cash provided by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 included proceeds of $35.0 million from the disposition of radio stations in Charlotte, NC and Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC, partially offset by a payment of $12.0 million to complete the station exchange in Boston, MA, payments of $4.2 million for capital expenditures, and payments of $1.1 million for translator licenses. Net cash used in investing activities during the same period in 2016 included payments of $86.8 million for the acquisition of Greater Media, payments of $2.9 million for capital expenditures, and payments of $0.5 million for translator licenses, partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in restricted cash from the release of unused radio tower sales proceeds from a qualified intermediary.
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 included proceeds of $9.0 million from the issuance of indebtedness under our New Credit Facility offset by repayments of $52.1 million under our old credit facility, payments of $5.1 million for cash dividends, payments of $2.6 million for debt issuance costs related to the new credit agreement, and payments of $1.1 million for repurchases of our Class A common stock. Net cash provided by financing activities during the same period in 2016 included proceeds of $187.3 million from the issuance of indebtedness partially offset by repayments of $82.2 million under the Greater Media credit facility and $8.3 million under our old credit facility, payments of $13.9 million for debt issuance costs related to the old credit facility, and payments of $4.1 million for cash dividends.
Credit Facility. On November 17, 2017, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Beasley Mezzanine Holdings, LLC, entered into a new credit agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions. Proceeds from the New Credit Facility were primarily used to repay the old credit facility. In connection with the new credit agreement, we recorded a loss on modification of long-term debt of $4.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2017.
As of December 31, 2017, the credit facility consisted of a Term Loan Facility with a remaining balance of $225.0 million and a Revolving Credit Facility with a maximum commitment of $20.0 million. As of December 31, 2017, we had $20.0 million in available commitments under our Revolving Credit Facility. At our option, the New Credit Facility may bear interest at either (i) LIBOR plus a margin 4.0% or (ii) the base rate plus a margin of 3.0%. The LIBOR interest rate for the Term Loan Facility is subject to a 1% floor. Interest payments are, for loans based on LIBOR, due at the end of each applicable interest period unless the interest period is longer
26
than three months, in which case they are due at the end of each three month period. Interest payments for loans based on the base rate are due quarterly. The Revolving Credit Facility carried interest, based on LIBOR, at 5.5% as of December 31, 2017 and matures on November 17, 2022. The Term Loan Facility carried interest, based on LIBOR, at 5.5% as of December 31, 2017 and matures on November 1, 2023.
Commencing with the year ending December 31, 2018, the new credit agreement requires mandatory prepayments equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the new credit agreement) when our Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the new credit agreement) is greater than 3.5x; mandatory prepayments equal to 25% of Excess Cash Flow when our Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.5x but greater than 3.0x; and no mandatory prepayments when our Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.0x. Mandatory prepayments of consolidated Excess Cash Flow are due 95 days after year end. The new credit agreement also requires mandatory prepayments for defined amounts from net proceeds of asset sales, net insurance proceeds, and net proceeds of debt issuances.
The new credit agreement requires us to comply with certain financial covenants which are defined in the new credit agreement. These financial covenants include a First Lien Leverage Ratio that will be tested at the end of each quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2017. For the period from December 31, 2017 through March 31, 2018, the maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 6.25x. For the period from June 30, 2018 through December 31, 2018, the maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 6.0x. For the period from March 31, 2019 through December 31, 2019, the maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 5.75x. The maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 5.25x for March 31, 2020 and thereafter.
The New Credit Facility is secured by substantially all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and is guaranteed jointly and severally by the Company and its subsidiaries. If we default under the terms of the new credit agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries may be required to perform under their guarantees. As of December 31, 2017, the maximum amount of undiscounted payments the Company and its applicable subsidiaries would have been required to make in the event of default was $225.0 million. The guarantees for the New Credit Facility expire on November 17, 2022 for the Revolving Credit Facility and on November 1, 2023 for the Term Loan Facility.
Failure to comply with financial covenants, scheduled interest payments, scheduled principal repayments, or any other terms of our new credit agreement could result in the acceleration of the maturity of our outstanding debt, which could have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations. As of December 31, 2017, we were in compliance with all applicable financial covenants under our credit agreement.
The aggregate scheduled principal repayments of the New Credit Facility and capital lease obligations for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
| 2018 |
$ | 2,314,020 | ||
| 2019 |
2,317,101 | |||
| 2020 |
2,320,326 | |||
| 2021 |
2,323,700 | |||
| 2022 |
2,253,332 | |||
| Thereafter |
214,102,395 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 225,630,874 | ||
|
|
|
Related Party Transactions
Beasley Family Towers, LLC
On December 31, 2015, we sold the tower for one radio station in Augusta, GA to Beasley Family Towers, LLC (“BFT”), which is partially held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley and partially owned directly by Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members, for $1.3 million then leased the tower back under an agreement which expires on December 31, 2025 with four automatic renewal terms of five years each. The lease met the criteria to be recorded as a capital lease, however based on the terms of the lease agreement the $0.8 million gain on sale was deferred and will be recognized as the capital lease property is depreciated. Rental expense was approximately $12,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.
On August 4, 2006, we entered into an agreement to lease several radio towers for one radio station in Boca Raton, FL from BFT. The lease agreement expires on April 30, 2021. On November 17, 2015, two of the towers were sold to an unrelated party and BFT prepaid rent of $0.7 million on our behalf to the unrelated party. Repayments of prepaid rent to BFT were approximately $66,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Lease payments for the remaining towers are currently offset by the partial recognition of a deferred gain on sale from the sale of these towers to BFT in 2006, therefore no rental expense was reported for the towers for the year ended December 31, 2017.
27
GGB Augusta, LLC
We lease land for our radio stations in Augusta, GA from GGB Augusta, LLC which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley, and other family members of George G. Beasley. The lease agreement expires on November 1, 2023. Rental expense was approximately $42,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.
GGB Las Vegas, LLC
We lease property for our radio stations in Las Vegas, NV from GGB Las Vegas, LLC which is controlled by George G. Beasley. The lease agreement expires on December 31, 2018. Rental expense was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.
LN2 DB, LLC
On March 25, 2011, we contributed $250,000 to Digital PowerRadio, LLC (now LN2 DB, LLC) in exchange for 25,000 units or approximately 20% of the outstanding units. We contributed an additional $62,500 on February 14, 2012, $104,167 on July 31, 2012, $104,167 on April 10, 2013, $104,167 on April 4, 2014, $166,667 on April 3, 2015, and $166,667 on May 3, 2016 which maintained our ownership interest at approximately 20% of the outstanding units. We may be called upon to make additional pro rata cash contributions to LN2 DB, LLC in the future. On February 22, 2017, we contributed $150,000 to LN2 DB, LLC in exchange for a note bearing interest at 18% per annum. Principal and accrued interest are due on the maturity date of December 31, 2019. LN2 DB, LLC is managed by Fowler Radio Group, LLC which is partially-owned by Mark S. Fowler, an independent director of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc.
Wintersrun Communications, LLC
On December 31, 2015, we sold the tower for one radio station in Charlotte, NC to Wintersrun Communications, LLC, which is partially held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley and partially owned directly by Bruce G. Beasley and Brian E. Beasley, for $0.4 million then leased the tower back under an agreement which expires on December 31, 2025 with four automatic renewal terms of five years each. The lease met the criteria to be recorded as a capital lease, however based on the terms of the lease agreement the $0.3 million gain on sale was deferred and will be recognized as the capital lease property is depreciated. Rental expense was approximately $62,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The following related party transactions are based on agreements entered into prior to our initial public offering in 2000 at which time we did not have an Audit Committee. However, these agreements were evaluated by our board of directors at the time of entering the agreements and we believe that they are on terms at least as favorable to us as could have been obtained from a third party.
Beasley Broadcasting Management, LLC
We lease our principal executive offices in Naples, FL from Beasley Broadcasting Management, LLC, which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley, and other family members of George G. Beasley. Rental expense was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Beasley Family Towers, LLC
We lease radio towers for 19 radio stations in various markets from BFT. The lease agreements expire on various dates through December 28, 2020. Rental expense was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.
GGB Estero, LLC
We lease property for our radio stations in Ft. Myers, FL from GGB Estero, LLC which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley, and other family members of George G. Beasley. The lease agreement expires on August 31, 2019. Rental expense was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Wintersrun Communications, LLC
We leased a radio tower for one radio station in Augusta, GA from Wintersrun. On October 16, 2015, the tower was sold to an unrelated party and Wintersrun prepaid rent of $0.3 million on our behalf to the unrelated party. Repayments of prepaid rent to Wintersrun were approximately $31,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017.
28
As of December 31, 2017, future minimum payments to related parties for the next five years and thereafter are summarized as follows:
| 2018 |
$ | 902,801 | ||
| 2019 |
639,859 | |||
| 2020 |
508,317 | |||
| 2021 |
225,974 | |||
| 2022 |
229,478 | |||
| Thereafter |
614,027 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 3,120,456 | ||
|
|
|
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2017.
Inflation
For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, inflation has affected our performance in terms of higher costs for radio station operating expenses, however the exact impact cannot be reasonably determined.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
Not required for smaller reporting companies.
29
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
30
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc.
Naples, Florida
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes and consolidated financial statement schedule (collectively referred to as the “ financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Crowe Horwath LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
February 20, 2018
31
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
| December 31, 2016 |
December 31, 2017 |
|||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: |
||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 20,325,415 | $ | 13,922,390 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,537,353 in 2016 and $1,623,408 in 2017 |
48,186,463 | 42,669,351 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
4,909,799 | 6,001,996 | ||||||
| Merger consideration receivable |
7,877,577 | 17,931,331 | ||||||
| Beneficial interest in trust |
19,947,261 | — | ||||||
| Other current assets |
2,172,892 | 4,135,905 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total current assets |
103,419,407 | 84,660,973 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net |
59,789,619 | 59,318,933 | ||||||
| FCC broadcasting licenses |
451,811,500 | 489,186,679 | ||||||
| Goodwill |
3,393,234 | 15,275,264 | ||||||
| Other intangibles, net |
535,582 | 550,058 | ||||||
| Assets held for sale |
36,457,119 | — | ||||||
| Other assets |
6,263,587 | 5,726,874 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total assets |
$ | 661,670,048 | $ | 654,718,781 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: |
||||||||
| Current installments of long-term debt |
$ | 6,686,077 | $ | 2,314,020 | ||||
| Accounts payable |
6,087,436 | 7,847,829 | ||||||
| Other current liabilities |
21,173,419 | 18,799,195 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total current liabilities |
33,946,932 | 28,961,044 | ||||||
| Due to related parties |
855,753 | 759,041 | ||||||
| Long-term debt, net of current installments and unamortized debt issuance costs |
247,692,171 | 212,465,882 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities |
160,539,268 | 115,282,931 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities |
16,144,301 | 11,083,683 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities |
459,178,425 | 368,552,581 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: |
||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued |
— | — | ||||||
| Class A common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 15,112,529 issued and 12,174,542 outstanding in 2016; 15,222,738 issued and 12,189,998 outstanding in 2017 |
15,113 | 15,223 | ||||||
| Class B common stock, $0.001 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized; 16,662,743 issued and outstanding in 2016 and 2017 |
16,662 | 16,662 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital |
146,339,925 | 147,987,332 | ||||||
| Treasury stock, Class A common stock; 2,937,987 shares in 2016; 3,032,740 shares in 2017 |
(15,560,021 | ) | (16,667,085 | ) | ||||
| Retained earnings |
72,401,766 | 154,389,494 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(721,822 | ) | 424,574 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total stockholders’ equity |
202,491,623 | 286,166,200 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ | 661,670,048 | $ | 654,718,781 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
32
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2017 |
|||||||
| Net revenue |
$ | 136,665,344 | $ | 232,179,463 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||
| Station operating expenses (including stock-based compensation of $112,327 in 2016 and $54,163 in 2017 and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
96,705,989 | 174,822,164 | ||||||
| Corporate general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation of $697,044 in 2016 and $1,690,971 in 2017) |
10,303,503 | 15,832,406 | ||||||
| Transaction expenses |
6,381,198 | 963,979 | ||||||
| Other operating expenses |
— | 968,603 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
6,232,572 | 6,133,812 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration |
(1,266,394 | ) | (10,053,754 | ) | ||||
| Gain on dispositions, net |
— | (3,707,993 | ) | |||||
| Gain on exchange |
— | (11,803,585 | ) | |||||
| Termination of postretirement benefits plan |
— | (1,812,448 | ) | |||||
| Gain on merger |
(44,281,066 | ) | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total operating expenses |
74,075,802 | 171,343,184 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Operating income |
62,589,542 | 60,836,279 | ||||||
| Non-operating income (expense): |
||||||||
| Interest expense |
(6,597,738 | ) | (18,430,072 | ) | ||||
| Loss on modification of long-term debt |
(769,819 | ) | (3,954,035 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense), net |
564,230 | 450,707 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Income before income taxes |
55,786,215 | 38,902,879 | ||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) |
8,297,802 | (48,228,290 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income |
47,488,413 | 87,131,169 | ||||||
| Other comprehensive income: |
||||||||
| Unrealized losses on securities (net of income tax benefit of $23,214 in 2016 and $21,527 in 2017) |
(39,983 | ) | (31,521 | ) | ||||
| Unrecognized actuarial gains (losses) on postretirement plans (net of income tax benefit of $491,248 in 2016 and income tax expense of $641,789 in 2017) |
(756,998 | ) | 1,177,917 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Comprehensive income |
$ | 46,691,432 | $ | 88,277,565 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income per Class A and B common share: |
||||||||
| Basic |
$ | 2.00 | $ | 3.15 | ||||
| Diluted |
$ | 1.98 | $ | 3.14 | ||||
| Dividends declared per common share |
$ | 0.18 | $ | 0.18 | ||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: |
||||||||
| Basic |
23,787,485 | 27,696,790 | ||||||
| Diluted |
23,950,958 | 27,792,702 | ||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
33
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
| Common Stock | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A | Class B | Additional Paid-In Capital |
Treasury Stock | Total Stockholders’ Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Retained Earnings |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of January 1, 2016 |
9,449,956 | $ | 9,450 | 16,662,743 | $ | 16,662 | $ | 119,495,619 | (2,882,179 | ) | $ | (15,361,869 | ) | $ | 29,302,054 | $ | 75,159 | $ | 133,537,075 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock |
5,422,993 | 5,423 | — | — | 26,024,943 | — | — | — | — | 26,030,366 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
239,580 |
|
240 |
|
— | — | 809,131 | — | — | — | — | 809,371 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment from related party acquisition |
— | — | — | — | 10,232 | — | — | — | — | 10,232 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock |
— | — | — | — | — | (55,808 | ) | (198,152 | ) | — | — | (198,152 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47,488,413 | — | 47,488,413 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends, $0.18 per common share |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | (4,388,701 | ) | — | (4,388,701 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (796,981 | ) | (796,981 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2016 |
15,112,529 | 15,113 | 16,662,743 | 16,662 | 146,339,925 | (2,937,987 | ) | (15,560,021 | ) | 72,401,766 | (721,822 | ) | 202,491,623 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
110,209 | 110 | — | — | 1,745,024 | — | — | — | — | 1,745,134 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment from related party acquisition |
— | — | — | — | (97,617 | ) | — | — | — | — | (97,617 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock |
— | — | — | — | — | (94,753 | ) | (1,107,064 | ) | — | — | (1,107,064 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 87,131,169 | — | 87,131,169 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends, $0.18 per common share |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | (5,143,441 | ) | — | (5,143,441 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,146,396 | 1,146,396 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Balances as of December 31, 2017 |
15,222,738 | $ | 15,223 | 16,662,743 | $ | 16,662 | $ | 147,987,332 | (3,032,740 | ) | $ | (16,667,085 | ) | $ | 154,389,494 | $ | 424,574 | $ | 286,166,200 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
34
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2017 |
|||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
| Net income |
$ | 47,488,413 | $ | 87,131,169 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
809,371 | 1,745,134 | ||||||
| Provision for bad debts |
2,061,553 | 1,471,875 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
6,232,572 | 6,133,812 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration |
(1,266,394 | ) | (10,053,754 | ) | ||||
| Gain on dispositions, net |
— | (3,707,993 | ) | |||||
| Gain on exchange |
— | (11,803,585 | ) | |||||
| Termination of postretirement benefits plan |
— | (1,812,448 | ) | |||||
| Gain on merger |
(44,281,066 | ) | — | |||||
| Amortization of loan fees |
670,369 | 2,150,450 | ||||||
| Loss on modification of long-term debt |
769,819 | 3,954,035 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes |
5,963,207 | (46,051,371 | ) | |||||
| Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition: |
||||||||
| Accounts receivable |
(510,803 | ) | 4,045,237 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses |
(1,302,384 | ) | (1,092,197 | ) | ||||
| Other assets |
(458,055 | ) | (1,289,585 | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable |
3,831,391 | 1,760,393 | ||||||
| Other liabilities |
(2,767,609 | ) | (4,608,589 | ) | ||||
| Other operating activities |
(89,284 | ) | 48,474 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
17,151,100 | 28,021,057 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||
| Change in restricted cash |
743,195 | — | ||||||
| Acquisition, net of cash acquired |
(86,760,198 | ) | — | |||||
| Payment for exchange of radio station |
— | (12,000,000 | ) | |||||
| Capital expenditures |
(2,940,757 | ) | (4,192,614 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from dispositions of radio stations |
— | 35,000,000 | ||||||
| Payments for translator licenses |
(495,075 | ) | (1,134,103 | ) | ||||
| Payments for investments |
(166,667 | ) | — | |||||
| Loan to related party |
— | (150,000 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
(89,619,502 | ) | 17,523,283 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
| Issuance of debt |
187,300,000 | 9,000,000 | ||||||
| Payments on debt |
(90,536,160 | ) | (52,061,077 | ) | ||||
| Payments of debt issuance costs |
(13,949,501 | ) | (2,641,754 | ) | ||||
| Dividends paid |
(4,140,864 | ) | (5,137,470 | ) | ||||
| Purchase of treasury stock |
(198,152 | ) | (1,107,064 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
78,475,323 | (51,947,365 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
6,006,921 | (6,403,025 | ) | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
14,318,494 | 20,325,415 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 20,325,415 | $ | 13,922,390 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash paid for interest |
$ | 5,849,271 | $ | 15,890,835 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Cash paid for income taxes |
$ | 2,651,400 | $ | 2,021,125 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Supplement disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||
| Dividends declared but unpaid |
$ | 1,280,410 | $ | 1,286,381 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Translator license and equipment received as consideration |
$ | — | $ | 332,000 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Common stock issued for acquisition |
$ | 26,030,366 | $ | — | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
35
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) Nature of Business
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is a radio broadcasting company operating one reportable business segment whose primary business is operating radio stations throughout the United States. The Company owns and operates 63 radio stations in the following radio markets: Atlanta, GA, Augusta, GA, Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Detroit, MI, Fayetteville, NC, Fort Myers-Naples, FL, Las Vegas, NV, Middlesex, NJ, Monmouth, NJ, Morristown, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Tampa-Saint Petersburg, FL, West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL, and Wilmington, DE.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates
Preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Such estimates include (i) the amount of allowance for doubtful accounts; (ii) estimates used to determine the merger consideration receivable; (iii) future cash flows used for testing recoverability of property and equipment; (iv) fair values used for testing FCC broadcasting licenses and goodwill for impairment; (v) fair value of assets acquired and given up in the radio station exchange in Boston, MA; (vi) the realization of deferred tax assets, and (vii) actuarial assumptions related to the pension plan, SERP and other postretirement benefits. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts previously reported in the 2016 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist primarily of uncollected amounts due from advertisers for the sale of advertising airtime. The amounts are net of advertising agency commissions and an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects management’s estimate of probable losses in accounts receivable. Management determines the allowance based on historical information, relative improvements or deteriorations in the age of the accounts receivable and changes in current economic conditions. Interest is not accrued on accounts receivable.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at fair value in a business combination or otherwise at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. If an event or change in circumstances were to indicate that the carrying amount of property and equipment is not recoverable, the carrying amount will be reduced to the estimated fair value. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
FCC Broadcasting Licenses
FCC broadcasting licenses, including translator licenses, are generally granted for renewable terms of eight years. Renewal costs are generally minor and expensed as incurred. Licenses are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the Company’s licenses might be impaired. The Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that its licenses are impaired. If the Company determines it is more likely than not that its licenses are impaired then the Company is required to perform the quantitative impairment test. The quantitative impairment test compares the fair value of the Company’s licenses with their carrying amounts. If the carrying amounts of the licenses exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. For the purpose of testing its licenses for impairment, the Company combines its licenses into reporting units based on its market clusters. See Note 5 for changes in the carrying amount of FCC broadcasting licenses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017. The weighted-average period before the next renewal of the Company’s FCC broadcasting licenses is 3.0 years.
36
Goodwill
Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the Company’s goodwill might be impaired. The Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative assessment for each reporting unit. If the quantitative assessment is necessary, the Company will determine the fair value of each reporting unit. If the fair value of any reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, the Company will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. For the purpose of testing its goodwill for impairment, the Company has identified its market clusters as its reporting units. See Note 6 for changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
Other Intangibles
Other intangibles include acquired advertising contracts and advertiser relationships and are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives. If an event or change in circumstances were to indicate that the carrying amount of other intangibles is not recoverable, the carrying amount will be reduced to the estimated fair value.
Investments
Other assets include noncontrolling interests in LN2 DB, LLC and Quu, Inc. which are accounted for under the cost method of accounting. Under the cost method of accounting, investments are carried at cost and only adjusted for distributions received in excess of earnings and other-than-temporary declines in fair value. The Company evaluates the investments on a quarterly basis and recognizes an impairment loss if a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary. Such impairment evaluations include the current business environment, the investee’s competition, and the investee’s ability to obtain additional financing to achieve its business plan. If the Company has not identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment, then the fair value of the investments are not estimated, as it is impracticable to do so. As of December 31, 2016 and 2017, the carrying value of the investment in LN2 DB, LLC is $1.0 million and the carrying value of the investment in Quu, Inc. is $0.9 million.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized over the life of the related debt as interest expense on a straight-line basis which approximates the effective interest method. Unamortized debt issuance costs are reported as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt.
Defined Benefit Plan and Other Postretirement Benefits
The costs and liabilities of the defined benefit plan and other postretirement benefits are determined using actuarial valuations. An actuarial valuation involves making various assumptions that include the discount rate, rate of return on plan assets, and mortality rates. The discount rate is based on matching the cash flows of the plan to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The long-term rate of return on plan assets was selected based on input from the investment advisor and publicly available survey information on expected returns by asset class. The mortality assumptions are based on the mortality tables and mortality improvement scales which are selected based on the most recent study of the Society of Actuaries. The pension plan and SERP are both frozen so future employment does not change the benefit amounts. The postretirement medical and life insurance benefits are not impacted by the healthcare cost trend assumption because the reimbursements to retirees are fixed amounts. Actual results will differ from results which are estimated based on assumptions.
Treasury Stock
Treasury stock is accounted for using the cost method whereby the entire cost of the acquired stock is recorded as treasury stock.
Revenue
Revenue from the sale of advertising airtime is recognized when commercials are broadcast and collection is reasonably assured. Revenues are reported net of advertising agency commissions, generally 15% of gross revenue, in the financial statements. An estimated allowance is recorded for uncollectible accounts. Payments received before commercials are broadcast are recorded as deferred revenue. Trade sales are recorded at the estimated fair value of the goods or services received. Revenue from trade sales is recognized when commercials are broadcast. Goods or services are recorded when received. If commercials are broadcast before the goods or services are received then a trade sales receivable is recorded. If goods or services are received before the broadcast of commercials then a trade sales payable is recorded. Trade sales revenue was $5.3 million and $9.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Trade sales expenses were $5.1 million and $9.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively.
37
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The cost is recognized in earnings over the period during which an employee is required to provide service. No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render the requisite services.
Income Taxes
The Company recorded income taxes under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for all temporary differences between tax and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Tax benefits from an uncertain tax position are only recognized if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded as incurred as a component of income tax expense.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting stockholders’ equity that, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America are excluded from net income, including unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and unrecognized net actuarial gains (losses) related to the pension plan, SERP and other postretirement benefits.
Earnings per Share
Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Common shares outstanding include shares of both Class A and Class B common stock, which have equal rights and privileges except with respect to voting. Diluted net income per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if stock options, restricted stock or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and were not anti-dilutive.
Concentrations of Risk
Certain cash deposits with financial institutions may at times exceed FDIC insurance limits.
The radio stations located in Boston, MA and Philadelphia, PA contributed 41.1% of the Company’s net revenue in 2017. The radio stations located in Charlotte, NC and Tampa-Saint Petersburg, FL, contributed 43.5% and 22.1% of the Company’s net revenue in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s own assumptions based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:
Level 1 – Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, as of the reporting date.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability that reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability as of the reporting date.
38
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 with no material impact on its financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to simplify goodwill impairment testing by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, an entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment of a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. Under the new guidance an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis in the first quarter of 2017 with no current impact on its financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 with no material impact on its financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance to improve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2017 with no material impact on its financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. There continues to be a differentiation between finance leases and operating leases, however lease assets and lease liabilities arising from operating leases should now be recognized in the statement of financial position. New disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company continues to review the new guidance and is currently researching lease management software. The Company expects the new guidance to result in a significant impact on the balance sheet, however that impact will not be quantified until closer to the adoption date. The Company’s initial assessment, which is subject to change, is that the new guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the statement of comprehensive income.
In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that changes how entities measure equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities. The new guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income unless the investments qualify for the new practicality exception. A practicality exception will apply to those equity investments that do not have a readily determinable fair value and do not qualify for the practical expedient to estimate fair value, and as such, these investments may be measured at cost. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 with no material impact on its financial statements.
In September 2015, the FASB issued guidance that modified accounting for business combinations to reflect measurement period adjustments to be recorded prospectively rather than retroactively to the assets and liabilities initially recorded under purchase price accounting. The guidance, which was effective as of January 1, 2016, did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements at the time of adoption. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company accounted for measurement period adjustments on a prospective basis. See Note 3 for further information.
In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a comprehensive framework for revenue recognition that supersedes current general revenue guidance and most industry-specific guidance. In addition, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. In 2016, the FASB issued several updates to address implementation issues and to clarify guidance for principal versus agent considerations and identifying performance obligations and licensing. The
39
Company adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method, with no impact on its 2017 financial statements. The cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance had no impact on the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. The Company does not expect the new guidance to have a material impact on its financial statements in future periods. However, additional disclosures will be included in future reporting periods in accordance with requirements of the new guidance.
| (3) | Acquisitions and Dispositions |
Greater Media Merger
On November 1, 2016, (the “Acquisition Date”), the Company completed the acquisition of Greater Media, Inc. (“Greater Media”), pursuant to the merger agreement, dated as of July 19, 2016 by and among the Company, Greater Media, Beasley Media Group 2, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), and Peter A. Bordes, Jr., as the Stockholders’ Representative (the “Merger Agreement”). On the Acquisition Date, Merger Sub was merged with and into Greater Media, with Greater Media surviving the merger as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, the Company added 21 radio stations in the Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, Charlotte, NC, Middlesex, NJ, Monmouth, NJ, Morristown, NJ and Philadelphia, PA markets.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Greater Media for an aggregate purchase price of $239,875,000, subject to a purchase price adjustment related to the sale of Greater Media’s tower assets and other customary post-closing purchase price adjustments and inclusive of the repayment of $82.2 million of Greater Media’s outstanding debt and the payment of certain transaction expenses. The proceeds paid to the stockholders of Greater Media consisted of (i) $94.4 million in cash and (ii) $25.0 million in shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, which equaled 5,422,993 shares at a fixed value of $4.61 per share (the “Merger Shares”). The 5,422,993 shares of Class A common stock were recorded at a fair value of $4.80 per share or $26.0 million on the Acquisition Date. The Merger consideration was subject to adjustment for changes in working capital of Greater Media, outstanding debt of Greater Media and its subsidiaries as of the Acquisition Date and certain other payments and expenses. In addition, the stockholders of Greater Media were to receive the net cash proceeds from the sale of Greater Media’s tower assets, originally estimated to be approximately $24.0 million. The Company incurred transaction expenses of $6.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.
The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination. The purchase price allocations were based on a valuation of assets and liabilities and the estimates and assumptions were revised as the Company obtained additional information during the measurement period, which was up to one year from the Acquisition Date.
On the Acquisition Date, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Company placed 867,679 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock with a fair value of $4.2 million in escrow. These escrow shares were to be distributed either to the Company for cancellation or to Greater Media based upon a working capital adjustment. As of the Acquisition Date based on the estimated working capital adjustment, the Company estimated that 189,915 shares of Class A common stock would be released to Greater Media and the remainder would be forfeited to the Company for cancellation. The estimated number of shares to be released to greater Media had a fair value of $0.9 million as of the Acquisition Date and were included in the purchase price. The estimated shares to be forfeited were not indexed to the Company’s stock price and therefore were adjusted to fair value based on the Company’s closing stock price on each reporting date with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. The estimated number of shares to be forfeited had a fair value of $3.3 million as of the Acquisition Date and were reported as merger consideration receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The estimated number of shares to be forfeited had a fair value of $4.2 million as of December 31, 2016.
Also, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the purchase price was to be adjusted by certain proceeds from the sale of Greater Media’s towers assets. Based on the proceeds from the tower sale, the former stockholders of Greater Media were required to return a certain number of shares of Class A common stock to the Company for cancellation. The Company accounted for this arrangement as contingent consideration subject to the ultimate sale of the tower assets. As of the Acquisition Date, the Company estimated the sales price of the towers to be $28.0 million which resulted in the expected return of 650,759 shares. As of the Acquisition Date, the estimated number of shares to be returned had a fair value of $3.4 million and were reported as merger consideration receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The estimated number of shares to be returned had a fair value of $3.7 million as of December 31, 2016. On February 27, 2017, the former stockholders of Greater Media entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell the towers for $28.0 million.
On December 29, 2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Greater Media regarding the working capital adjustment and proceeds from the tower sale. As a result, all 867,679 shares held in escrow for the working capital adjustment will be forfeited to the Company and canceled during the first quarter of 2018 and the former stockholders of Greater Media will return 470,480 shares related to the tower sale proceeds to the Company which will also be canceled during the first quarter of 2018. The shares held in escrow that will be forfeited had a fair value of $11.6 million as of December 31, 2017 and the shares to be returned had a fair value of $6.3 million as of December 31, 2017.
40
The Company has engaged a third party to evaluate certain net operating loss carryforwards related to Greater Media, Inc. and several of its subsidiaries to determine the amount of net operating loss carryforwards that may be utilized by the Company in future tax returns. These evaluations have not been finalized, therefore an estimate of $3.6 million for net operating loss carryforwards has been included in the purchase price. The accounting for this item was not finalized before the end of the measurement period and any adjustment will now be recognized in current operations during the period in which the accounting is finalized.
The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation as of the Acquisition Date:
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 7,683,950 | ||
| Accounts receivable |
29,889,677 | |||
| Prepaid expenses |
1,710,924 | |||
| Other current assets |
541,460 | |||
| Property and equipment |
40,642,648 | |||
| FCC broadcasting licenses |
263,260,200 | |||
| Other intangibles, net |
2,790,524 | |||
| Other assets |
676,632 | |||
| Accounts payable |
(429,042 | ) | ||
| Other current liabilities |
(16,685,309 | ) | ||
| Long-term debt |
(82,177,895 | ) | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities |
(76,050,112 | ) | ||
| Other long-term liabilities |
(13,709,261 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Net assets acquired |
158,144,396 | |||
| Gain on merger |
(44,281,066 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Purchase price |
$ | 113,863,330 | ||
|
|
|
The following table summarizes the components of the purchase price:
| Cash |
$ | 94,444,148 | ||
| Stock issued |
21,865,506 | |||
| Estimated tower sale adjustment |
(3,357,916 | ) | ||
| Stock issued in escrow |
4,164,859 | |||
| Estimated working capital adjustment |
(3,253,267 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Purchase price |
$ | 113,863,330 | ||
|
|
|
The fair value of the property and equipment acquired in the Merger was estimated using cost and market approaches. Property and equipment for which there are comparable current replacements available, such as radio towers, antenna systems, transmitter equipment, and studio equipment, were valued on the basis of a cost approach. The cost approach allowed for factors such as physical depreciation as well as functional and economic obsolescence. Property and equipment for which an active used market exists, including property for which there is no longer comparable current replacements available but for which there remains an active used market, such as furniture, computer equipment, and vehicles, were valued using a market approach. The market approach is based on the selling prices of similar assets on the used market. As few sales reflect identical assets, the selling prices of similar assets was utilized with adjustments made for any differences such as age, condition, and options.
The fair value of the FCC broadcasting licenses acquired in the Merger was estimated using an income approach. The income approach measures the expected economic benefits the licenses provide and discounts these future benefits using discounted cash flow analyses. The discounted cash flow analyses assume that each license is held by a hypothetical start-up radio station and the value yielded by each discounted cash flow analysis represents the portion of the hypothetical start-up radio station’s value attributable solely to its license. The discounted cash flow model incorporates variables such as radio market revenues; the projected growth rate for radio market revenues; projected radio market revenue share; projected radio station operating income margins; and a discount rate appropriate for the radio broadcasting industry. The variables used in the analyses reflect historical radio station and market growth trends, as well as anticipated radio station performance, industry standards, and market conditions. The discounted cash flow projection period of ten years was determined to be an appropriate time horizon for the analyses. Stable market revenue share and operating margins are expected at the end of year three (maturity). The key assumptions used in the valuation of the FCC broadcasting licenses are as follows:
| Revenue growth rates |
0.3% - 1.3% | |
| Market revenue shares at maturity |
12.6% - 48.0% | |
| Operating income margins at maturity |
15.0% - 31.3% | |
| Discount rate |
9% |
Effective on the Acquisition Date, the Company entered into an agreement with the former CEO of Greater Media to provide consulting services for a period of one year. The costs associated with this agreement are reported in other operating expenses in the accompanying statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Dispositions
On January 6, 2017, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBT-AM, WBT-FM, WFNZ-AM and WLNK-FM in Charlotte, NC to Entercom Communications Corp. for $24.0 million in cash. On November 1, 2016, the assets of WBT-AM, WBT-FM and WLNK-FM were contributed to a trust following completion of the Company’s acquisition of Greater Media and were operated by Entercom under a local marketing agreement until completion of the sale. The assets of WBT-AM, WBT-FM and WLNK-FM were reported as a beneficial interest in trust as of December 31, 2016 that was realized upon completion of the sale. The Company repaid a portion of the outstanding balance under its credit facility with the sales proceeds. The Company recorded a $0.3 million loss on disposition during the first quarter of 2017.
On May 1, 2017, the Company completed the sale of substantially all of the assets used in the operations of WIKS-FM, WMGV-FM, WNCT-AM, WNCT-FM, WSFL-FM and WXNR-FM in its Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC market cluster to CMG Coastal Carolina, LLC for $11.0 million in cash and a translator license and equipment with a fair value of $0.3 million. The Company repaid a portion of the outstanding balance under its credit facility with the cash sales proceeds. The Company no longer has operations in the Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC market after completion of the disposition. However management determined that the disposition did not represent a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results, therefore the operations in the Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC market were not reported as discontinued operations. Income before taxes for the radio stations in the Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC market was $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Income before the gain on disposition of $4.0 million, other disposition related expenses of $0.3 million, and taxes for the radio stations in the Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC market was $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The assets of WIKS-FM, WMGV-FM, WNCT-AM, WNCT-FM, WSFL-FM and WXNR-FM were reported as held for sale as of December 31, 2016. The Company recorded a $4.0 million gain on disposition during the second quarter of 2017.
41
Asset Exchange
On December 19, 2017, the Company completed an asset exchange with CBS Radio Stations, Inc., Entercom Boston, LLC, and The Entercom Divestiture Trust under which the Company agreed to exchange all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WMJX-FM in Boston, MA for all of the assets used or useful in the operations of WBZ-FM in Boston, MA. In addition, the Company also paid $12.0 million in cash, which was partially financed with $6.0 million in borrowings from our credit facility and partially funded with $6.0 million in cash from operations. The asset exchange broadened and diversified the Company’s local radio broadcasting platform and revenue base in the Boston radio market.
The asset exchange was accounted for as a business combination. The fair value of the assets received in the asset exchange was $48.9 million. The fair value of the assets given up in the asset exchange was $48.9 million which includes the FCC broadcasting license with a fair value of $35.9 million, property and equipment with a fair value of $0.7 million, and a cash payment of $12.0 million. The assets of WMJX-FM were reported as held for sale as of December 31, 2016. The Company recorded a gain on exchange of $11.8 million and incurred transaction expenses of $0.2 million.
The asset allocation is summarized as follows:
| Property and equipment |
$ | 806,970 | ||
| FCC broadcasting license |
35,943,600 | |||
| Goodwill |
11,882,030 | |||
| Other intangibles |
267,400 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Fair value of assets received |
48,900,000 | |||
| Less cash consideration |
(12,000,000 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| 36,900,000 | ||||
| Carrying amount of assets of exchanged radio station |
(25,096,415 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Gain on exchange |
$ | 11,803,585 | ||
|
|
|
The fair value of the property and equipment was estimated using cost and market approaches. Property and equipment for which there are comparable current replacements available were valued on the basis of a cost approach. The cost approach allowed for factors such as physical depreciation as well as functional and economic obsolescence. Property and equipment for which an active used market exists, including property for which there is no longer comparable current replacements available but for which there remains an active used market were valued using a market approach. The market approach is based on the selling prices of similar assets on the used market. As few sales reflect identical assets, the selling prices of similar assets was utilized with adjustments made for any differences such as age, condition, and options. If different assumptions or estimates had been used in the cost and market approaches, the fair value of the property and equipment could have been materially different.
The fair value of the FCC broadcasting licenses were estimated using an income approach. The income approach measures the expected economic benefits the licenses provide and discounts these future benefits using discounted cash flow analyses. The discounted cash flow analyses assume that each license is held by a hypothetical start-up radio station and the value yielded by the discounted cash flow analyses represents the portion of the radio station’s value attributable solely to its license. The discounted cash flow model incorporates variables such as radio market revenues; the projected growth rate for radio market revenues; projected radio market revenue share; projected radio station operating income margins; and a discount rate appropriate for the radio broadcasting industry. The variables used in the analyses reflect historical radio station and market growth trends, as well as anticipated radio station performance, industry standards, and market conditions. The discounted cash flow projection period of ten years was determined to be an appropriate time horizon for the analyses. Stable market revenue share and operating margins are expected at the end of year three (maturity). If different assumptions or estimates had been used in the income approach, the fair value of the FCC broadcasting licenses could have been materially different. If actual results are different from assumptions or estimates used in the discounted cash flow analyses, the Company may incur impairment losses in the future and they may be material.
The key assumptions used in the valuation of the FCC broadcasting licenses are as follows:
| Revenue growth rates |
(0.5)% - 2.4% | |
| Market revenue shares at maturity |
5.3% | |
| Operating income margins at maturity |
36.0% | |
| Discount rate |
9.0% |
Goodwill was equal to the amount the purchase price exceeded the values allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets. The $11.9 million allocated to goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.
Other intangibles include a sports rights agreement of $0.3 million which will be amortized over its estimated useful life of 3 years.
42
A summary of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
| WFNZ-AM | Greenville- New Bern- Jacksonville |
WMJX | Total | |||||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net |
$ | 1,702,847 | $ | 1,400,615 | $ | 377,193 | $ | 3,480,655 | ||||||||
| FCC broadcasting licenses |
2,166,400 | 3,998,940 | 24,759,640 | 30,924,980 | ||||||||||||
| Goodwill |
— | 1,943,349 | — | 1,943,349 | ||||||||||||
| Other intangibles |
108,135 | — | — | 108,135 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 3,977,382 | $ | 7,342,904 | $ | 25,136,833 | $ | 36,457,119 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The following unaudited pro forma information for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 assumes that the acquisitions and dispositions had occurred on January 1, 2016. The significant pro forma adjustments are depreciation and interest expense. This unaudited pro forma information has been prepared based on estimates and assumptions, which management believes are reasonable, and is not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisition been completed on January 1, 2016 or of results that may occur in the future.
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Net revenue |
$ | 259,709,074 | $ | 250,610,142 | ||||
| Operating income |
37,821,011 | 38,161,964 | ||||||
| Net income |
11,042,102 | 9,459,797 | ||||||
| Basic and diluted net income per share |
0.39 | 0.34 | ||||||
| (4) | Property and Equipment |
Property and equipment is comprised of the following:
| December 31, | Estimated useful lives (years) |
|||||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||||||
| Land |
$ | 18,789,852 | $ | 18,904,830 | — | |||||||
| Buildings and improvements |
19,602,568 | 20,299,377 | 15-30 | |||||||||
| Broadcast equipment |
33,450,365 | 35,748,619 | 5-15 | |||||||||
| Transportation equipment |
1,883,038 | 2,043,463 | 5 | |||||||||
| Office equipment |
5,201,349 | 5,696,843 | 5-10 | |||||||||
| Construction in progress |
1,579,022 | 3,496,229 | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| 80,506,194 | 86,189,361 | |||||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(20,716,575 | ) | (26,870,428 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 59,789,619 | $ | 59,318,933 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Broadcast equipment includes capital leases for two radio towers totaling $0.7 million and $0.6 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The Company recorded depreciation and amortization expense of $6.2 million and $6.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively.
| (5) | FCC Broadcasting Licenses |
The changes in the carrying amount of FCC broadcasting licenses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 are as follows:
| Balance as of January 1, 2016 |
$ | 228,554,165 | ||
| Acquisitions of translator licenses |
495,075 | |||
| Acquisition of Greater Media radio stations (see Note 3) |
263,260,200 | |||
| Assets held for sale reclassification |
(24,759,640 | ) | ||
| Beneficial interest in trust reclassification |
(15,738,300 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Balance as of December 31, 2016 |
451,811,500 | |||
| Acquisitions of translator licenses |
1,431,579 | |||
| Asset exchange (see Note 3) |
35,943,600 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Balance as of December 31, 2017 |
$ | 489,186,679 | ||
|
|
|
43
FCC broadcasting licenses related to the disposition of radio stations in Charlotte, NC on January 6, 2017, Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville, NC on May 1, 2017, and WMJX in Boston, MA on December 19, 2017 were reported in assets held for sale as of December 31, 2016.
| (6) | Goodwill |
There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2016. The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2017 is as follows:
| Balance as of January 1, 2017 |
3,393,234 | |||
| Assets exchange (see Note 3) |
11,882,030 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Balance as of December 31, 2017 |
$ | 15,275,264 | ||
|
|
|
| (7) | Other Intangibles |
Other intangibles are comprised of the following:
| December 31, 2016 |
December 31, 2017 |
|||||||
| Advertiser relationships |
$ | 1,355,879 | $ | 1,355,879 | ||||
| Advertiser lists |
16,251 | 16,251 | ||||||
| Sports program rights |
— | 267,400 | ||||||
| Other intangibles |
25,641 | 25,641 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 1,397,771 | 1,665,171 | |||||||
| Less accumulated amortization |
(862,189 | ) | (1,115,113 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 535,582 | $ | 550,058 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
The Company recorded amortization expense of $2.7 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization for the next four years is as follows:
| 2018 |
$ | 224,493 | ||
| 2019 |
162,768 | |||
| 2020 |
126,195 | |||
| 2021 |
10,961 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 524,417 | ||
|
|
|
| (8) | Other Current Liabilities |
Other current liabilities are comprised of the following:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Accrued payroll expenses |
$ | 10,667,203 | $ | 7,032,508 | ||||
| Deferred revenue |
1,798,443 | 1,893,508 | ||||||
| Dividends payable |
1,280,410 | 1,286,381 | ||||||
| Trade sales payable |
1,082,702 | 1,276,170 | ||||||
| Deferred rent |
1,164,609 | 1,349,515 | ||||||
| Other accrued expenses |
5,180,052 | 5,961,113 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 21,173,419 | $ | 18,799,195 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
44
| (9) | Long-Term Debt |
Long-term debt is comprised of the following:
| December 31, 2016 |
December 31, 2017 |
|||||||
| Term loan |
$ | 265,000,000 | $ | 225,000,000 | ||||
| Revolving credit facility |
3,000,000 | — | ||||||
| Capital lease obligations |
691,951 | 630,874 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 268,691,951 | 225,630,874 | |||||||
| Less unamortized debt issuance costs |
(14,313,703 | ) | (10,850,972 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 254,378,248 | 214,779,902 | |||||||
| Less current installments |
(6,686,077 | ) | (2,314,020 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 247,692,171 | $ | 212,465,882 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
As of December 31, 2016, the previous credit facility consisted of a term loan with a remaining balance of $265.0 million and a revolving credit facility with a maximum commitment of $20.0 million. The previous revolving credit facility carried interest, based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), at 6.8% as of December 31, 2016. The term loan carried interest, based on LIBOR, at 7.0% as of December 31, 2016.
On November 17, 2017, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Beasley Mezzanine Holdings, LLC, entered into a new credit agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions. Proceeds from the new credit facility were primarily used to repay the previous credit facility. In connection with the new credit agreement, the Company recorded a loss on modification of long-term debt of $4.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2017.
As of December 31, 2017, the credit facility consisted of a term loan with a remaining balance of $225.0 million and a revolving credit facility with a maximum commitment of $20.0 million. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $20.0 million in available commitments under its revolving credit facility. At the Company’s option, the credit facility may bear interest at either (i) LIBOR plus a margin 4.0% or (ii) the base rate plus a margin of 3.0%. The LIBOR interest rate for the term loan is subject to a 1% floor. Interest payments are, for loans based on LIBOR, due at the end of each applicable interest period unless the interest period is longer than three months, in which case they are due at the end of each three month period. Interest payments for loans based on the base rate are due quarterly. The revolving credit facility carried interest, based on LIBOR, at 5.5% as of December 31, 2017 and matures on November 17, 2022. The term loan carried interest, based on LIBOR, at 5.5% as of December 31, 2017 and matures on November 1, 2023.
Commencing with the year ending December 31, 2018, the credit agreement requires mandatory prepayments equal to 50% of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the credit agreement) when the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) is greater than 3.5x; mandatory prepayments equal to 25% of Excess Cash Flow when the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.5x but greater than 3.0x; and no mandatory prepayments when the Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.0x. Mandatory prepayments of consolidated Excess Cash Flow are due 95 days after year end. The credit agreement also requires mandatory prepayments for defined amounts from net proceeds of asset sales, net insurance proceeds, and net proceeds of debt issuances.
The credit agreement requires us to comply with certain financial covenants which are defined in the credit agreement. These financial covenants include a First Lien Leverage Ratio that will be tested at the end of each quarter beginning with the quarter ending December 31, 2017. For the period from December 31, 2017 through March 31, 2018, the maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 6.25x. For the period from June 30, 2018 through December 31, 2018, the maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 6.0x. For the period from March 31, 2019 through December 31, 2019, the maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 5.75x. The maximum First Lien Leverage Ratio is 5.25x for March 31, 2020 and thereafter.
The credit facility is secured by substantially all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and is guaranteed jointly and severally by the Company and its subsidiaries. If the Company defaults under the terms of the credit agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries may be required to perform under their guarantees. As of December 31, 2017, the maximum amount of undiscounted payments the Company and its applicable subsidiaries would have been required to make in the event of default was $225.0 million. The guarantees for the credit facility expire on November 17, 2022 for the revolving credit facility and on November 1, 2023 for the term loan.
Failure to comply with financial covenants, scheduled interest payments, scheduled principal repayments, or any other terms of the credit agreement could result in the acceleration of the maturity of the Company’s outstanding debt, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or results of operations. As of December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all applicable financial covenants under the credit agreement.
45
The aggregate scheduled principal repayments of the credit facility and capital lease obligations for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
| 2018 |
$ | 2,314,020 | ||
| 2019 |
2,317,101 | |||
| 2020 |
2,320,326 | |||
| 2021 |
2,323,700 | |||
| 2022 |
2,253,332 | |||
| Thereafter |
214,102,395 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 225,630,874 | ||
|
|
|
| (10) | Employee Benefit Plans |
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company has a defined contribution plan that conforms to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under this plan, employees may contribute a minimum of 1% of their compensation (no maximum) to the Plan. However, the Internal Revenue Code limited contributions to $18,000 (or $24,000 if aged 50 years or older) in 2016 and 2017. No employer matching contributions have been made to the defined contribution plan in 2016 and 2017. On November 1, 2016, the Company merged the Greater Media defined contribution plan into the Company’s defined contribution plan.
Defined Benefit Plan
On November 1, 2016, the Company assumed the frozen Greater Media defined benefit plan (”Pension Plan”). The projected benefit obligation in excess of the fair value of plan assets of $4.0 million is reported in other long-term liabilities in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2016. The discount rate is based on matching the projected cash flows of the plan to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The mortality assumptions are based on the RP-2014 Mortality Tables using the MP-2014 and MP-2016 Mortality Improvement Scales for 2016 and 2017. Effective May 31, 2017, the Company terminated the Pension Plan. The investment policy is to maximize the expected return on plan assets while maintaining an acceptable level of risk. The target asset allocation for the pension plan is currently set as follows: 65% fixed income, 35% cash. Plan assets are invested in mutual funds and fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical funds (Level 1). The long-term rate of return on plan assets was selected based on input from the investment advisor and publicly available survey information on expected returns by asset class. No contributions were made to the Pension Plan in 2016 or 2017. In December 2017, lump sum payments were made from the trust to participants who elected to receive a lump sum payment. In January 2018, a payment of $52.0 million was made from the trust to an insurance company to purchase annuities for the remaining participants who elected to receive annuity payments. The Company contributed $0.2 million to the Pension Plan in January 2018.
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan
On November 1, 2016, the Company assumed the frozen Greater Media supplemental employee retirement plan (“SERP”). The $8.8 million and $9.6 million benefit obligations related to the SERP are reported in other long-term liabilities in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The discount rate is based on matching the projected cash flows of the plan to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The mortality assumptions are based on the RP-2014 Mortality Tables using the MP-2014 and MP-2016 Mortality Improvement Scales for 2016 and 2017. The Company contributed $0.3 million to the SERP in 2017.
Postretirement Medical and Life Insurance Benefits
On November 1, 2016, the Company assumed the frozen Greater Media postretirement medical and life insurance benefits plan (“Postretirement Benefits”). The $1.8 million benefit obligation related to Postretirement Benefits is reported in other long-term liabilities in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2016. The discount rate is based on matching the projected cash flows of the plan to the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve. The mortality assumptions are based on the RP-2014 Mortality Tables using the MP-2014 and MP-2016 Mortality Improvement Scales for 2016 and 2017. The plan was not impacted by the healthcare cost trend assumption because the reimbursements to retirees are fixed amounts. Effective May 31, 2017, the Company terminated the Postretirement Benefits and reversed the accrued liability of $1.8 million which is reported on a separate line in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The following tables summarize the Pension Plan, SERP and Postretirement Benefits as of December 31, 2017:
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Change in Projected Benefit Obligation |
||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation at beginning of year |
$ | 87,861,806 | $ | 8,751,848 | $ | 1,756,423 | ||||||
| Service cost |
— | — | 11,860 | |||||||||
| Interest cost |
2,958,903 | 340,262 | 26,269 | |||||||||
| Amendments |
— | — | (1,678,920 | ) | ||||||||
| Actuarial (gain) loss |
(2,426,328 | ) | 836,680 | (67,772 | ) | |||||||
| Settlements |
(33,447,301 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Benefits paid |
(2,749,560 | ) | (312,088 | ) | (47,860 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Benefit obligation at end of year |
$ | 52,197,520 | $ | 9,616,702 | $ | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
46
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Change in Plan Assets |
||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |
$ | 83,868,508 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Actual return on plan assets |
4,531,725 | — | — | |||||||||
| Employer contribution |
— | 312,088 | 47,860 | |||||||||
| Settlements |
(33,447,301 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Benefits paid |
(2,749,560 | ) | (312,088 | ) | (47,860 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at end of year |
$ | 52,203,372 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Funded Status |
$ | 5,852 | $ | (9,616,702 | ) | $ | — | |||||
| Unrecognized net actuarial (gain) loss |
(992,724 | ) | 421,264 | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Cumulative employer contributions in excess of the net periodic pension cost |
$ | (986,872 | ) | $ | (9,195,438 | ) | $ | — | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Amounts Recognized in the Statement of Financial Position |
||||||||||||
| Noncurrent assets |
$ | 5,852 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Current liabilities |
— | (505,169 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Noncurrent liabilities |
— | (9,111,533 | ) | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net amount recognized |
$ | 5,852 | $ | (9,616,702 | ) | $ | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) |
$ | (992,724 | ) | $ | 421,264 | $ | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total (before tax effects) |
$ | (992,724 | ) | $ | 421,264 | $ | — | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Information for Pension Plans with an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in excess of Plan Assets |
||||||||||||
| Projected benefit obligation |
$ | 52,197,520 | $ | 9,616,702 | $ | — | ||||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation |
$ | 52,197,520 | $ | 9,616,702 | $ | — | ||||||
| Fair value of plan assets |
$ | 52,203,372 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Weighted-average assumptions for Disclosure |
||||||||||||
| Discount rate |
1.80 | % | 3.35 | % | 3.75 | % | ||||||
| Rate of compensation increase |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
47
| Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income | ||||||||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost |
||||||||||||
| Service cost |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 11,860 | ||||||
| Interest cost |
2,958,903 | 340,262 | 26,269 | |||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets |
(3,562,150 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Recognized actuarial (gain) loss |
— | — | (2,079 | ) | ||||||||
| Curtailment charge (credit) |
— | — | (1,678,920 | ) | ||||||||
| Recognized actuarial (gain) loss due to settlements |
(636,121 | ) | — | (169,089 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | (1,239,368 | ) | $ | 340,262 | $ | (1,811,959 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income |
||||||||||||
| Net actuarial (gain) loss |
$ | (3,395,903 | ) | $ | 836,680 | $ | (67,772 | ) | ||||
| Recognized actuarial (gain) loss |
— | — | 2,079 | |||||||||
| Prior service cost (credit) |
— | — | (1,678,920 | ) | ||||||||
| Prior service cost (credit) due to curtailment |
— | — | 1,678,920 | |||||||||
| Recognized actuarial (gain) loss due to settlements |
636,121 | — | 169,089 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total recognized in other comprehensive income (before tax effects) |
$ | (2,759,782 | ) | $ | 836,680 | $ | 103,396 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total recognized in net benefit cost and other comprehensive income (before tax effects) |
$ | (3,999,150 | ) | $ | 1,176,942 | $ | (1,708,563 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Amounts Expected to be Recognized in Net Periodic Cost in the Coming Year |
||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss recognition |
$ | (992,724 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | |||||
| Prior service cost recognition |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Net initial obligation (asset) recognition |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Weighted-average assumptions used to determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost |
||||||||||||
| Discount rate |
3.59 | % | 3.80 | % | 4.00 | % | ||||||
| Expected return on plan assets |
7.00 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Rate of compensation increase |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Corridor |
10.00 | % | 10.00 | % | 10.00 | % | ||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Weighted-Average Assets Allocation |
||||||||||||
| Fixed income |
65.40 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Cash equivalents |
34.60 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total |
100.00 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Asset Category (all Level 1) |
||||||||||||
| Fixed income funds |
34,141,339 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Money market funds |
18,062,033 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total |
52,203,372 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Estimated Future Benefit Payments |
||||||||||||
| 2018 |
$ | 52,237,000 | $ | 505,169 | $ | — | ||||||
| 2019 |
$ | — | $ | 515,688 | $ | — | ||||||
| 2020 |
$ | — | $ | 511,503 | $ | — | ||||||
| 2021 |
$ | — | $ | 536,062 | $ | — | ||||||
| 2022 |
$ | — | $ | 532,639 | $ | — | ||||||
| 2023-2027 |
$ | — | $ | 2,825,601 | $ | — | ||||||
48
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Contributions |
||||||||||||
| Estimated contributions for 2018 |
$ | 200,000 | $ | 505,169 | $ | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
The following tables summarize the Pension Plan, SERP and Postretirement Benefits as of December 31, 2016:
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Change in Projected Benefit Obligation |
||||||||||||
| Benefit obligation at beginning of year |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Service cost |
— | — | 8,169 | |||||||||
| Interest cost |
530,839 | 51,696 | 11,097 | |||||||||
| Plan participants’ contributions |
— | — | 1,939 | |||||||||
| Actuarial (gain) loss |
(965,046 | ) | (415,416 | ) | (103,396 | ) | ||||||
| Business combinations |
88,705,097 | 9,154,118 | 1,859,010 | |||||||||
| Benefits paid |
(409,084 | ) | (38,550 | ) | (20,396 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Benefit obligation at end of year |
$ | 87,861,806 | $ | 8,751,848 | $ | 1,756,423 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Change in Plan Assets |
||||||||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Actual return on plan assets |
(1,731,372 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Employer contribution |
— | 38,550 | 18,457 | |||||||||
| Business combinations |
86,008,964 | — | — | |||||||||
| Plan participants’ contributions |
— | — | 1,939 | |||||||||
| Benefits paid |
(409,084 | ) | (38,550 | ) | (20,396 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Fair value of plan assets at end of year |
$ | 83,868,508 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Funded Status |
$ | (3,993,298 | ) | $ | (8,751,848 | ) | $ | (1,756,423 | ) | |||
| Unrecognized net actuarial (gain) loss |
1,767,058 | (415,416 | ) | (103,396 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Cumulative employer contributions in excess of the net periodic pension cost |
$ | (2,226,240 | ) | $ | (9,167,264 | ) | $ | (1,859,819 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Amounts Recognized in the Statement of Financial Position |
||||||||||||
| Noncurrent assets |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Current liabilities |
— | (422,656 | ) | (113,268 | ) | |||||||
| Noncurrent liabilities |
(3,993,298 | ) | (8,329,192 | ) | (1,643,155 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net amount recognized |
$ | (3,993,298 | ) | $ | (8,751,848 | ) | $ | (1,756,423 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income |
||||||||||||
| Net actuarial loss (gain) |
$ | 1,767,058 | $ | (415,416 | ) | $ | (103,396 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total (before tax effects) |
$ | 1,767,058 | $ | (415,416 | ) | $ | (103,396 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
49
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Information for Pension Plans with an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in excess of Plan Assets |
||||||||||||
| Projected benefit obligation |
$ | 87,861,806 | $ | 8,751,848 | $ | — | ||||||
| Accumulated benefit obligation |
$ | 87,861,806 | $ | 8,751,848 | $ | — | ||||||
| Fair value of plan assets |
$ | 83,868,508 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Weighted-average assumptions for Disclosure |
||||||||||||
| Discount rate |
3.62 | % | 3.80 | % | 4.00 | % | ||||||
| Rate of compensation increase |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income | ||||||||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost |
||||||||||||
| Service cost |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 8,169 | ||||||
| Interest cost |
530,839 | 51,696 | 11,097 | |||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets |
(1,000,732 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | (469,893 | ) | $ | 51,696 | $ | 19,266 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income |
||||||||||||
| Net actuarial (gain) loss |
$ | 1,767,058 | $ | (415,416 | ) | $ | (103,396 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total recognized in other comprehensive income (before tax effects) |
$ | 1,767,058 | $ | (415,416 | ) | $ | (103,396 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total recognized in net benefit cost and other comprehensive income (before tax effects) |
$ | 1,297,165 | $ | (363,720 | ) | $ | (84,130 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Amounts Expected to be Recognized in Net Periodic Cost in the Coming Year |
||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss recognition |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Prior service cost recognition |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Net initial obligation (asset) recognition |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Weighted-average assumptions used to determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost |
||||||||||||
| Discount rate |
3.60 | % | 3.40 | % | 3.60 | % | ||||||
| Expected return on plan assets |
7.00 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Rate of compensation increase |
N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Corridor |
10.00 | % | 10.00 | % | 10.00 | % | ||||||
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Weighted-Average Assets Allocation |
||||||||||||
| Equity securities |
28.92 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
| Fixed income |
71.08 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total |
100.00 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
50
| Pension Plan | SERP | Postretirement Benefits |
||||||||||
| Asset Category (all Level 1) |
||||||||||||
| U.S. equity funds |
8,764,507 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| International equity funds |
15,489,743 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
| Fixed income funds |
59,614,258 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total |
83,868,508 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (11) | Stockholders’ Equity |
The Company has two classes of common stock: Class A common stock and Class B common stock. In the election of directors, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled by class vote, exclusive of other stockholders, to elect two of the Company’s directors, with each Class A share being entitled to one vote. In the election of the other six directors and all other matters submitted to the stockholders for a vote, the holders of Class A shares and Class B shares shall vote as a single class, with each Class A share being entitled to one vote and each Class B share entitled to ten votes.
The Company’s credit agreement permits it to repurchase sufficient shares of its common stock to fund withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock, subject to compliance with financial covenants, up to an aggregate amount of $2.5 million per year. The Company paid $1.1 million to repurchase 94,753 shares in 2017.
The Company’s credit agreement restricts its ability to pay cash dividends and to repurchase additional shares of its common stock. The credit agreement does permit, however, (i) additional dividends of up to an aggregate amount of $7.5 million each year if its Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.5x and up to an aggregate amount of $10.0 million each year if its Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.5x, (ii) an amount equal to its excess cash flow each year that is not required to prepay the credit agreement, subject to maintaining a Total Leverage Ratio of no greater than 3.75x and (iii) unlimited dividends each year if its Total Leverage Ratio is less than 3.5x and its First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than 2.5x. The Company paid cash dividends of $4.1 million and $5.1 million in 2016 and 2017, respectively. On December 4, 2017, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.045 per share on its Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend of $1.3 million in the aggregate was paid on January 5, 2018, to stockholders of record on December 29, 2017.
| (12) | Stock-Based Compensation |
The Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2007 Plan”) permits the Company to issue up to 7.5 million shares of Class A common stock. The 2007 Plan allows for eligible employees, directors and certain consultants of the Company to receive restricted stock units, shares of restricted stock, stock options or other stock-based awards. The restricted stock units and restricted stock awards that have been granted under the 2007 Plan generally vest over one to five years of service.
A summary of restricted stock unit activity is presented below:
| Shares | Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value |
|||||||
| Unvested as of January 1, 2017 |
— | — | ||||||
| Granted |
561,555 | $ | 10.75 | |||||
| Vested |
(129,792 | ) | 10.55 | |||||
| Forfeited |
(15,000 | ) | 9.35 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Unvested as of December 31, 2017 |
416,763 | $ | 10.86 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
A summary of restricted stock activity is presented below:
| Shares | Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value |
|||||||
| Unvested as of January 1, 2016 |
284,459 | $ | 5.98 | |||||
| Granted |
256,830 | 4.35 | ||||||
| Vested |
(180,526 | ) | 5.69 | |||||
| Forfeited |
(17,250 | ) | 3.70 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Unvested as of December 31, 2016 |
343,513 | 4.70 | ||||||
| Granted |
2,000 | 3.59 | ||||||
| Vested |
(143,611 | ) | 4.16 | |||||
| Forfeited |
(21,583 | ) | 6.45 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
| Unvested as of December 31, 2017 |
180,319 | $ | 5.47 | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||
51
As of December 31, 2017, there was $5.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost for restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock granted under the 2007 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years.
| (13) | Income Taxes |
Income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Current: |
||||||||
| Federal |
$ | 789,150 | $ | (2,466,482 | ) | |||
| State |
264,707 | 289,563 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 1,053,857 | (2,176,919 | ) | ||||||
| Deferred: |
||||||||
| Federal |
2,172,740 | (47,531,436 | ) | |||||
| State |
5,071,205 | 1,480,065 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| 7,243,945 | (46,051,371 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 8,297,802 | $ | (48,228,290 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income tax expense (benefit) differs from the amounts that would result from applying the federal statutory rate of 35%, effective for most of the year ended December 31, 2017, to the Company’s income before taxes as follows:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Expected tax expense |
$ | 19,525,175 | $ | 13,616,008 | ||||
| State income taxes, net of federal benefit |
552,499 | 1,150,258 | ||||||
| Gain on merger |
(15,941,611 | ) | (3,518,814 | ) | ||||
| Tax rate adjustments |
2,915,844 | (59,717,125 | ) | |||||
| Change in valuation allowance |
(65,900 | ) | 52,833 | |||||
| Non-deductible items |
1,147,565 | (110,953 | ) | |||||
| Other |
164,230 | 299,503 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| $ | 8,297,802 | $ | (48,228,290 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Temporary differences that give rise to the components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Deferred tax assets: |
||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts |
$ | 625,317 | $ | 427,484 | ||||
| Goodwill |
8,782,364 | — | ||||||
| Other assets |
(42,787 | ) | (2,047,104 | ) | ||||
| Accrued expenses |
1,497,317 | 355,361 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities |
6,353,590 | 2,918,611 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
248,046 | 107,715 | ||||||
| Net operating losses |
3,750,420 | 5,506,040 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Subtotal |
21,214,267 | 7,268,107 | ||||||
| Valuation allowance |
(528,179 | ) | (328,170 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
20,686,088 | 6,939,937 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
(874,495 | ) | (96,085 | ) | ||||
| Property and equipment |
(6,110,234 | ) | (2,743,550 | ) | ||||
| Intangibles |
(174,240,627 | ) | (119,383,233 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total |
(181,225,356 | ) | (122,222,868 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net deferred tax liabilities |
$ | (160,539,268 | ) | $ | (115,282,931 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
52
As of December 31, 2017, the Company has federal net operating losses of $5.5 million and state net operating losses of $74.3 million, which expire in various years through 2037. The valuation allowance relates to net operating losses and unrealized losses on investments which management has determined, more likely than not, that such losses will not be utilized.
As of December 31, 2016 and 2017, the Company does not have any material unrecognized tax benefits and accordingly has not recorded any interest or penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return and various state returns. These returns remain subject to examination by taxing authorities for all years after 2013.
New Tax Reform Legislation
In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted. The Tax Act makes significant change in U.S. tax law including a reduction in the corporate tax rates, changes to net operating loss carryforwards and carrybacks, and a repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax. The Tax Act reduced the U.S. corporate tax rate from the current rate of 35% to 21%. As a result of the Tax Act, the Company was required to revalue deferred tax assets and liabilities at the enacted rate. This revaluation resulted in a benefit of $59.7 million to income tax expense and a corresponding reduction in the deferred tax liability.
| (14) | Earnings Per Share |
Net income per share calculation information is as follows:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2017 | |||||||
| Net income |
$ | 47,488,413 | $ | 87,131,169 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding: |
||||||||
| Basic |
23,787,485 | 27,696,790 | ||||||
| Effect of dilutive restricted stock |
131,820 | 95,912 | ||||||
| Effect of dilutive contingently issuable shares |
31,653 | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Diluted |
23,950,958 | 27,792,702 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income per Class A and Class B common share - basic |
$ | 2.00 | $ | 3.15 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net income per Class A and Class B common share - diluted |
$ | 1.98 | $ | 3.14 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| (15) | Related Party Transactions |
Beasley Broadcasting Management, LLC
The Company leases its principal executive offices in Naples, FL from Beasley Broadcasting Management, LLC, which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley. Rental expense was $0.2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
Beasley Family Towers, LLC
On December 31, 2015, the Company sold the tower for one radio station in Augusta, GA to Beasley Family Towers, LLC (“BFT”), which is partially held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley and partially owned directly by Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members, for $1.3 million then leased the tower back under an agreement which expires on December 31, 2025 with four automatic renewal terms of five years each. The lease met the criteria to be recorded as a capital lease, however based on the terms of the lease agreement the $0.8 million gain on sale was deferred and will be recognized as the capital lease property is depreciated. Rental expense was approximately $12,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
On August 4, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement to lease several radio towers for one radio station in Boca Raton, FL from BFT. The lease agreement expires on April 30, 2021. On November 17, 2015, two of the towers were sold to an unrelated party and BFT prepaid rent of $0.7 million on behalf of the Company to the unrelated party. The prepaid rent will be repaid with monthly payments of $5,500 through November 16, 2025. Repayments of prepaid rent to BFT were approximately $66,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017. Lease payments for the remaining towers are currently offset by the partial recognition of a deferred gain on sale from the sale of these towers to BFT in 2006, therefore no rental expense was reported for these towers for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
53
The Company leases radio towers for 19 radio stations in various markets from BFT. The lease agreements expire on various dates through December 28, 2020. Rental expense was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively.
GGB Augusta, LLC
The Company leases land for its radio stations in Augusta, GA from GGB Augusta, LLC which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley. The lease agreement expires on November 1, 2023. Rental expense was approximately $42,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
GGB Estero, LLC
The Company leases property for its radio stations in Fort Myers, FL from GGB Estero, LLC which is held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley. The lease agreement expires on August 31, 2019. Rental expense was $0.2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
GGB Las Vegas, LLC
The Company leases property for its radio stations in Las Vegas, NV from GGB Las Vegas, LLC which is controlled by George G. Beasley. The lease agreement expires on December 31, 2018. Rental expense was $0.2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
LN2 DB, LLC
On March 25, 2011, the Company contributed $250,000 to Digital PowerRadio, LLC (now LN2 DB, LLC) in exchange for 25,000 units or approximately 20% of the outstanding units. The Company contributed an additional $62,500 on February 14, 2012, $104,167 on July 31, 2012, $104,167 on April 10, 2013, $104,167 on April 4, 2014, $166,667 on April 3, 2015, and $166,667 on May 3, 2016 which maintained its ownership interest at approximately 20% of the outstanding units. The Company may be called upon to make additional pro rata cash contributions to LN2 DB, LLC in the future. On February 22, 2017, the Company contributed $150,000 to LN2 DB, LLC in exchange for a note bearing interest at 18% per annum. Principal and accrued interest are due on the maturity date of December 31, 2019. LN2 DB, LLC is managed by Fowler Radio Group, LLC which is partly-owned by Mark S. Fowler, an independent director of the Company.
Wintersrun Communications, LLC
On December 31, 2015, the Company sold the tower for one radio station in Charlotte, NC to Wintersrun Communications, LLC, which is partially held by a trust for the benefit of Caroline Beasley, Bruce G. Beasley, Brian E. Beasley and other family members of George G. Beasley and partially owned directly by Bruce G. Beasley and Brian E. Beasley, for $0.4 million then leased the tower back under an agreement which expires on December 31, 2025 with four automatic renewal terms of five years each. The lease met the criteria to be recorded as a capital lease however, based on the terms of the lease agreement the $0.3 million gain on sale was deferred and will be recognized as the capital lease property is depreciated. Rental expense was $0.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
The Company leased a radio tower for one radio station in Augusta, GA from Wintersrun. On October 16, 2015, the tower was sold to an unrelated party and Wintersrun prepaid rent of $0.3 million on behalf of the Company to the unrelated party. The prepaid rent will be repaid with monthly payments of $2,559 through October 16, 2025. Repayments of prepaid rent to Wintersrun were approximately $31,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017.
As of December 31, 2017, future minimum payments to related parties for the next five years and thereafter are summarized as follows:
| 2018 |
$ | 902,801 | ||
| 2019 |
639,859 | |||
| 2020 |
508,317 | |||
| 2021 |
225,974 | |||
| 2022 |
229,478 | |||
| Thereafter |
614,027 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 3,120,456 | ||
|
|
|
| (16) | Commitments and Contingencies |
The Company leases property and equipment from third parties under five- to thirty-year operating leases. Lease expense was $4.4 million and $9.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively.
54
The Company also has various commitments for rating services, on-air personalities not employed by us, consultants and programming rights. As of December 31, 2017, future minimum payments to third parties for the next five years and thereafter are summarized as follows:
| 2018 |
$ | 28,963,773 | ||
| 2019 |
20,268,746 | |||
| 2020 |
13,597,974 | |||
| 2021 |
6,342,243 | |||
| 2022 |
4,607,611 | |||
| Thereafter |
9,010,637 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 82,790,984 | ||
|
|
|
In the normal course of business, the Company is party to various legal matters. The ultimate disposition of these matters will not, in management’s judgment, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.
| (17) | Financial Instruments |
The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short term nature of these financial instruments.
The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt, including the term loan, the revolving credit facility, capital lease obligations and current installments, as of December 31, 2017 was $225.6 million which approximated fair value based on current market interest rates. The carrying amount of the Company’s term loan as of December 31, 2016 was $265.0 million. The Company estimated the fair value of the term loan to be $268.5 million using observable inputs (Level 2). The carrying amount of the Company’s revolving credit facility and capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2016 was $3.7 million which approximated fair value based on current market interest rates.
55
BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017
| Column A Description |
Column B Balance at Beginning of Period |
Column C Charged to Costs and Expenses |
Column D Deductions |
Column E Balance at End of Period |
||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2016: |
||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from accounts receivable) |
596,380 | 2,061,553 | 1,120,580 | 1,537,353 | ||||||||||||
| Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets |
594,079 | 69,867 | 135,767 | 528,179 | ||||||||||||
| Year ended December 31, 2017: |
||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from accounts receivable) |
1,537,353 | 1,471,875 | 1,385,820 | 1,623,408 | ||||||||||||
| Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets |
528,179 | 36,794 | 236,803 | 328,170 | ||||||||||||
56
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)). Based upon the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2017, the end of the period covered by this report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that:
| (1) | Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; |
| (2) | Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of managements and directors of the Company; and |
| (3) | Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Management has used the framework set forth in the 2013 report entitled “Internal Control - Integrated Framework” published by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the most recent fiscal year.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(c) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act that permits the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
57
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
None.
58
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information relating to directors and executive officers required by this Item 10 is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors,” “The Board of Directors and its Committees” and “Named Executive Officers” in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Commission no later than April 30, 2018 (“2018 Proxy Statement”). The information relating to certain filings on Forms 3, 4 and 5 is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our 2018 Proxy Statement. The information relating to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” in our 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Executive Compensation” in our 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in our 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in our 2018 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated in this report by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accountants” in our 2018 Proxy Statement.
59
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
| (a) | Financial Statements. A list of financial statements and schedules included herein is set forth in the Index to Financial Statements appearing in “ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.” |
| (b) | Exhibits. |
60
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) (17 CFR 240.15d-14(a)). | |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) (17 CFR 240.15d-14(a)). | |
| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(b) (17 CFR 240.15d-14(b)) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. | |
| 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(b) (17 CFR 240.15d-14(b)) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. | |
| 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. | |
None.
61
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP, INC. | ||
| By: |
/s/ CAROLINE BEASLEY | |
| Caroline Beasley Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Date: | February 20, 2018 | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ GEORGE G. BEASLEY George G. Beasley |
Chairman of the Board | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ CAROLINE BEASLEY Caroline Beasley |
Chief Executive Officer and Director |
February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ BRUCE G. BEASLEY Bruce G. Beasley |
President and Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ BRIAN E. BEASLEY Brian E. Beasley |
Chief Operating Officer and Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ MARIE TEDESCO Marie Tedesco |
Chief Financial Officer |
February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ ALLEN B. SHAW Allen B. Shaw |
Vice-Chairman of the Board | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ PETER A. BORDES Peter A. Bordes |
Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ JOE B. COX Joe B. Cox |
Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ MICHAEL J. FIORILE Michael J. Fiorile |
Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ MARK S. FOWLER Mark S. Fowler |
Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
| /s/ HERBERT W. MCCORD Herbert W. McCord |
Director | February 20, 2018 | ||
62