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AUDACY, INC. - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

 

or

 

o         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:  001-14461

 

Entercom Communications Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Pennsylvania

 

23-1701044

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

401 City Avenue, Suite 809

Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(610) 660-5610

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: NONE

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o   No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes o   No x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x   No o

 

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 (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o  No o

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

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

 

As of January 31, 2011, the aggregate market value of the Class A common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $212,105,459 based on the June 30, 2010 closing price of $8.82 on the New York Stock Exchange on such date.

 

Class A common stock, $0.01 par value 30,688,784 Shares Outstanding as of January 31, 2011 (Class A Shares Outstanding includes 2,309,689 unvested and vested but deferred restricted stock units).

Class B common stock, $0.01 par value 7,367,532 Shares Outstanding as of January 31, 2011.

 

 

 



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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Certain information in the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, pursuant to Regulation 14A, is incorporated by reference in Part III of this report, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than April 29, 2011.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Business

1

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

6

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

11

Item 2.

Properties

11

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

12

Item 4.

[Reserved]

12

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

12

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

16

Item 7.

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

19

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

42

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

42

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

43

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

43

Item 9B.

Other Information

44

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

45

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

45

Item 12.

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

45

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

45

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

45

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

46

 

 

 

Signatures

 

113

 

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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

Unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this report to “Entercom,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Entercom Communications Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries, which would include any variable interest entities that are required to be consolidated under accounting guidance.

 

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains, in addition to historical information, statements by us with regard to our expectations as to financial results and other aspects of our business that involve risks and uncertainties and may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Forward-looking statements, including certain pro forma information, are presented for illustrative purposes only and reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws including, without limitation, any projections of earnings, revenues or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning proposed new services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

 

You can identify forward-looking statements by our use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continues,” “expects,” “intends,” “likely,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plans,” “potential,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions which identify forward-looking statements, whether in the negative or the affirmative.  We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve these plans, intentions or expectations.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or anticipated in such forward-looking statements.  These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, the factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

The pro forma information reflects adjustments and is presented for comparative purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of what has occurred or indicative of future operating results or financial position.

 

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our view only as of the date of this report.  We undertake no obligation to update these statements or publicly release the result of any revision(s) to these statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.                 BUSINESS

 

We are one of the five largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States with a nationwide portfolio in excess of 100 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Kansas City. Radio stations serving the same geographic area, which may be comprised of a city or combination of cities, are referred to as markets or as distinct operating segments. We aggregate these operating segments to create one reportable segment. We were organized in 1968 as a Pennsylvania corporation.

 

Our Strategy

 

Our strategy focuses on providing compelling content in the communities we serve to enable us to offer our advertisers an effective marketing platform to reach a large targeted local audience.  The principal components of our strategy are to: (i) build strongly-branded radio stations; (ii) develop market leading station clusters; (iii) focus on creating effective integrated marketing solutions for our customers that incorporate our audio, digital and experiential assets; and (iv) recruit, develop, motivate and retain superior employees.

 

Source Of Revenue

 

The primary source of revenues for our radio stations is the sale of advertising time to local, regional and national spot advertisers and national network advertisers.   A station’s local sales staff generates the majority of its local and regional advertising sales through direct solicitations of local advertising agencies and businesses. We retain a national representation firm to sell national spot commercial airtime on our stations to advertisers outside of our local markets. National spot radio advertising typically accounts for approximately 20% of a radio station’s revenues. A growing source of revenues is from station websites and streaming audio which allow for enhanced audience interaction and participation as well as integrated advertising.

 

We believe that radio is an efficient and effective means of reaching specifically identified demographic groups.  Our stations are typically classified by their format, such as news, talk, classic rock, adult contemporary, alternative and country, among others.  A station’s format enables it to target specific segments of listeners sharing certain demographics. Advertisers and stations use data published by audience measuring services to estimate how many people within particular geographical markets and demographics listen to specific stations. Our geographically and demographically diverse portfolio of radio stations allows us to deliver targeted messages to specific audiences for advertisers on a local, regional and national basis.

 

Competition

 

The radio broadcasting industry is highly competitive.  Our stations compete for listeners and advertising revenue with other radio stations within their respective markets. In addition, our stations compete for audiences and advertising revenues with other media such as: broadcast and cable television, newspapers and magazines, outdoor advertising, direct mail, yellow pages, Internet, satellite radio, wireless media alternatives, cellular phones and other forms of audio entertainment and advertisement.

 

The following are some of the factors that are important to a radio station’s competitive position: (i) audience ratings; (ii) program content; (iii) management talent and expertise; (iv) sales talent and expertise; (v) audience characteristics; (vi) signal strength; and (vii) the number and characteristics of other radio stations and other advertising media in the market area.  We work to improve our competitive position through promotional campaigns aimed at the demographic groups targeted by our stations and sales efforts designed to attract advertisers. In addition, radio station operators are subject to the possibility of another station changing programming formats to compete directly for listeners and advertisers.

 

We believe owning multiple radio stations in a market allows us to provide our listeners with a more diverse programming selection and a more efficient means for our advertisers to reach those listeners. By owning multiple stations in a market, we are also able to operate our stations with more highly skilled local management teams and eliminate duplicative operating and overhead expenses.

 

Our Radio Stations

 

We operate with a nationwide portfolio of 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Austin, Norfolk, Buffalo, New Orleans, Memphis,

 

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Providence, Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Rochester, Madison, Wichita, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Springfield (MA) and Gainesville/Ocala.

 

Federal Regulation Of Radio Broadcasting

 

Overview.  The radio broadcasting industry is subject to extensive and changing regulation of, among other things, ownership limitations, program content, advertising content, technical operations and business and employment practices. The ownership, operation and sale of radio stations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”). Among other things, the FCC: (i) assigns frequency bands for broadcasting; (ii) determines the particular frequencies, locations, operating power, and other technical parameters of stations; (iii) issues, renews, revokes and modifies station licenses; (iv) determines whether to approve changes in ownership or control of station licenses; (v) regulates equipment used by radio stations; (vi) adopts and implements regulations and policies which directly affect the ownership, operation and business and employment practices of stations; and (vii) regulates certain aspects of other electronic media which compete with the broadcast industry.

 

The following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Communications Act and of certain specific FCC regulations and policies. This 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 and rulings.

 

FCC Licenses.  The operation of a radio broadcast station requires a license from the FCC.  Certain of our subsidiaries hold the FCC licenses for our stations.  The number of radio stations that can operate in a given area or market is limited by the number of AM and FM frequencies allotted by the FCC to communities in an area or market, based upon considerations of interference to and from other operating or authorized stations. The FCC’s multiple ownership rules further limit the number of stations serving the same area that may be owned or controlled by a single individual or entity.

 

There is no national limit on the number of radio stations that a single entity may own. Radio station ownership is regulated by rules applicable to the number of stations that may be owned in common in an individual local radio market.  The FCC ownership rules define a “local radio market” as comprising all radio stations, both commercial and non-commercial, which are included within a designated Arbitron market or, for stations located outside of Arbitron markets, all stations which have certain overlapping signal contours.  Digital radio channels authorized for AM and FM stations do not count as separate “stations” for purposes of the ownership limitations. The radio ownership rules, which limit the number of radio stations that can be owned by a single individual or entity in a local radio market, include the following:

 

·                  up to eight commercial stations (in markets with 45 or more stations), no more than five of which can be in the same service (that is, AM or FM); and

 

·                  in the smallest markets, ownership is limited to the fewer of five commercial stations or not more than 50% of stations in the market, and no more than three of the stations can be in the same service.

 

Since the number of stations in a local market may fluctuate from time to time, the number of stations that can be owned by a single individual or entity in a given market can vary over time.  Once the FCC approves the ownership of a cluster of stations in a market, that owner may continue to hold those stations under the “grandfathering” policies, despite a decrease in the number of stations in the market.  Market clusters, such as our stations in Greenville, Kansas City and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which had been either licensed under the former ownership rules or the number of stations in the market has since declined and may exceed the current ownership limits when applying the Arbitron-based market standard of the present rule, are considered to be “grandfathered.” If, at the time of a proposed future transaction, a cluster does not comply with the multiple ownership limitations based upon the number of stations then present in the market, the entire cluster cannot be transferred intact to a single party unless the purchaser qualifies as an “eligible entity” under specified small business standards and meets certain control tests, or the purchaser promises to file within 12 months following consummation an application to assign the “excess” stations in the market to an eligible entity or to an irrevocable divestiture trust for ultimate assignment of such stations to an eligible entity.

 

Multiple Ownership Rules.  The Communications Act imposes specific limits on the number of commercial radio stations an individual or entity can own in a single market.  FCC rules and regulations implement these limitations.

 

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On June 2, 2003, the FCC adopted new ownership rules following a comprehensive review of its ownership regulations. The ownership rules adopted in 2003 included: (i) new cross-media limits that in certain markets eliminated the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership ban and altered the television-radio cross-ownership limitations; and (ii) regulations that revised the manner in which the radio numeric ownership limitations were to be applied, substituting, where available, geographic markets as determined by Arbitron in place of the former standard and, in areas outside of Arbitron markets, the relevant radio market for purposes of the rules remained determined by overlap of specified signal contours. These changes are the subject of various appeals and review by the current FCC Commissioners.

 

As presently applied, the FCC’s newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rules impose limitations on the circumstances under which the same party may own a broadcast station and a daily newspaper in the same geographic market, as described above.  The FCC’s radio-television cross-ownership rules limit the number of radio stations that a local owner of television stations may hold.   We own no television stations or daily newspapers, but, to the extent these limitations continue to be enforced, these cross-media rules may limit the prospective buyers in the market for any stations we may wish to sell.

 

Ownership Attribution. In the application of the ownership limitations, the FCC generally only considers “attributable” ownership interests.  Attributable interests generally include: (i) equity and debt interests which when combined exceed 33% of a licensee’s or other media’s total asset value, if the interest holder supplies more than 15% of a station’s total weekly programming or has an attributable interest in any same-market media (television, radio, cable or newspaper), with a higher threshold in the case of investments in certain “eligible entities” acquiring broadcast stations; (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 of its direct or indirect parent.  In instances, as in our case, where there is a “single majority voting shareholder,” voting stock interests held by other owners in excess of the five percent standard described above are considered to be non-attributable.  This exemption remains in effect, but has been under review by the FCC for a number of years.

 

The FCC also considers the provision by the owner of one radio station of more than 15% of hours of weekly programming or the sale of more than 15% of the weekly advertising of another radio station serving substantially the same area under agreements commonly referred to as time brokerage or joint sales agreements, to represent an attributable interest of the party providing the programming or selling the advertising even though the ownership of the station broadcasting the programming or the advertising is distinct from that of the provider.

 

Alien Ownership Rules.  The Communications Act prohibits the issuance to or holding of broadcast licenses by foreign governments or aliens, non-U.S. citizens, whether individuals or entities, including any interest in a corporation which holds a broadcast license if more than 20% of the 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 directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than 25% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens if the FCC finds that the prohibition is in the public interest. Our articles of incorporation prohibit the ownership, voting and transfer of our capital stock in violation of the FCC restrictions, and prohibit 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 control by aliens in excess of the FCC limits.

 

License RenewalThe licenses issued by the FCC for radio stations are renewable authorizations that are ordinarily granted for an eight-year term, which is standardized for all stations in a particular state.  A station may continue to operate beyond the expiration date of its license if a timely filed license renewal application is pending. During the periods when a renewal application is pending, informal objections to and petitions to deny the renewal application can be filed by interested parties, including members of the public, on a variety of grounds. The FCC is required to renew a broadcast station license if the FCC finds that the station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity; there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules and regulations; and there have been no other violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules and regulations that, taken together, constitute a pattern of abuse.  In a pending rule-making proceeding, the FCC has sought comments on the adoption of processing guidelines for renewal applications regarding a station’s locally-oriented programming performance. The effect of whether and to what extent any such requirements are ultimately adopted and become effective cannot currently be determined.

 

If a challenge is filed against a renewal application, and, as a result of an evidentiary hearing, the FCC determines that the licensee has failed to meet certain fundamental requirements and that no mitigating factors justify

 

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the imposition of a lesser sanction, the FCC may deny a license renewal application. Historically, FCC licenses have generally been renewed.  A petition to deny the renewal applications of all of our Sacramento radio stations has been filed and is pending, and the renewal applications of certain other stations remain pending due to listener complaints.  Subject to the resolution of open FCC inquiries, we believe that our licenses will be renewed, although there can be no assurance to that effect. The non-renewal of one or more of our licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Transfer Or Assignment Of Licenses.  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 a number of factors pertaining to the existing licensee and the proposed licensee, including:

 

·                  compliance with the various rules limiting common ownership of media properties in a given market;

 

·                  the “character” of the proposed licensee; and

 

·                  compliance with the Communications Act’s limitations on alien ownership as well as compliance with other FCC regulations and policies.

 

To obtain FCC consent for the assignment or transfer of control of a broadcast license, appropriate applications must be filed with the FCC. Interested parties may file objections or petitions to deny such applications. When evaluating an assignment or transfer application, the FCC is prohibited from considering whether the public interest might be served by assignment or transfer of the broadcast license to any party other than the one specified in the application.  No assignment or transfer application will be granted for any station by the FCC while a renewal application is pending for the station. Once an assignment or transfer application is granted, interested parties have 30 days following public notice of the grant to seek reconsideration of that grant.  The FCC usually has an additional ten days within which to set aside the grant on its own motion.  The Communications Act permits certain court appeals of a contested grant as well.

 

Programming And Operation.  The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the “public interest.” A licensee is required to present programming that is responsive to issues in the station’s community of license and to maintain records demonstrating this responsiveness. The FCC regulates, among other things, political advertising; sponsorship identification; the advertisement of contests and lotteries; the conduct of station-run contests; obscene, indecent and profane broadcasts; certain employment practices; and certain technical operation requirements, including limits on human exposure to radio-frequency radiation.  The FCC considers complaints from listeners concerning a station’s public service programming, employment practices, or other operational issues when processing a renewal application filed by a station, but the FCC may consider complaints at any time and may impose fines or take other action for violations of the FCC’s rules separate from its action on a renewal application.

 

In recent years, the FCC has received a substantial number of complaints alleging that broadcast stations have carried indecent programming at times when children may be in the audience, in violation of federal criminal law and the FCC’s policies which prohibit programming that is deemed to be indecent or profane under FCC decisions and is broadcast during the period between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm; the period between 10:00 pm through 6:00 am is considered to be a “safe harbor” period and less stringent standards apply to programming carried then. FCC regulations prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time. The FCC has greatly intensified its enforcement activities with respect to programming which it considers indecent or profane, including: (i) adopting rules to implement the statutory increase in the maximum fine which may be assessed for the broadcast of indecent or profane programming to $325,000 for a single violation, up to a maximum of $3,000,000 for a continuing violation; (ii) imposing fines on a per utterance basis instead of the imposition of a single fine for an entire program; and (iii) repeatedly warning broadcasters that future “serious” violations may result in the commencement of license revocation proceedings.   There are a number of outstanding indecency proceedings in which we are defending our stations’ conduct, and there may be other complaints of this nature which have been submitted to the FCC of which we have not yet been notified.

 

In April 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit involving certain aspects of the FCC’s indecency rules, upholding the FCC’s policies under standards of administrative law, but remanding the case to the Second Circuit for the development of a full record on the constitutional challenge to the rules. In a case involving a separate aspect of the FCC’s indecency rules, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the FCC’s finding of indecency and, after the FCC sought review, the

 

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U.S. Supreme Court summarily remanded that decision without opinion to the Third Circuit for reconsideration in light of the reversal and remand of the Second Circuit case. Both cases were argued in 2010 and the Second Circuit again ruled against the FCC and invalidated the enforcement of the indecency rules in that case, while the court has not yet ruled in the Third Circuit case.  For further discussion, refer to Part I, Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” and to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

The Communications Act and the FCC rules require that, when it is not evident from the content that any money, goods, services or other valuable consideration has been paid or promised to a station or an employee for the broadcast of certain programming, appropriate sponsorship identification announcement(s) must be given.  Following inquiries initiated by the FCC into sponsorship identification practices at several media companies, including us, we and other media companies entered into consent decrees pursuant to which we have adopted certain policies and procedures regarding our relationships with record labels and artists concerning the broadcast of music on our stations. We admitted no violations of any FCC rules in connection with the investigation, and the FCC found none.  This FCC consent decree expired in April 2010.  We have also entered into a consent judgment terminating a lawsuit brought by the New York Attorney General in which we agreed to adopt a number of business reforms and practices in the future and to make a payment to a non-profit organization to support music education and appreciation.  We admitted no liability in this action, and the court found none.

 

The FCC rules prohibit employment discrimination by broadcast stations on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin and gender. These rules require broadcasters generally to: (i) refrain from discrimination in hiring and promotion; (ii) widely disseminate information about all full-time job openings to all segments of the community to ensure that all qualified applicants have sufficient opportunity to apply for the job; (iii) send job vacancy announcements to recruitment organizations and others in the community indicating an interest in all or some vacancies at the station; and (iv) implement a number of specific 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.  The applicability of these policies to part-time employment opportunities is the subject of a pending further rule-making proceeding.  In addition, the FCC bars discrimination with regard to race or gender in station transactions and has other rules designed to enhance the diversification of station ownership.

 

The FCC has rules which concern the manner in which on-air contests conducted by a station are announced and conducted, requiring in general that the material rules and terms of the contest be broadcast periodically and that the contest be conducted substantially as announced.  The FCC has a pending investigation into a contest at one of our stations. See Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” for further discussion. We are cooperating in this investigation.  A civil lawsuit arising from this incident has been resolved.

 

The FCC has adopted procedures that in general require the auction of broadcast spectrum in circumstances when two or more parties have applications for new radio facilities or when applications propose major changes that are mutually exclusive. Such procedures may limit our efforts to build new stations, or to modify or expand the broadcast signals of our existing stations.

 

Enforcement Authority.  The FCC has the power to impose penalties for violations of its rules under the Communications Act, including the imposition of monetary fines, the issuance of short-term licenses, the imposition of a condition on the renewal of a license, the denial of authority to acquire new stations, and the revocation of operating authority.  The maximum fine for a single violation of the FCC’s rules (other than indecency rules) is currently $37,500.  The maximum fine for a violation of the FCC’s indecency rules is $325,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, with a maximum fine of up to $3,000,000 for a continuing violation.

 

Proposed And Recent Changes. Congress, the FCC, and other federal agencies are considering or may in the future consider and adopt new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could: (1) affect, directly or indirectly, the operation, ownership and profitability of our radio stations; (2) result in the loss of audience share and advertising revenues for our radio stations; and (3) affect our ability to acquire additional radio stations or to finance those acquisitions.  We cannot predict what other matters may be proposed or considered by the FCC or Congress, and we are unable to determine what effect, if any, the adoption of any such restrictions or limitations may have on our operations.

 

Federal Antitrust Laws.  The federal agencies responsible for enforcing the federal antitrust laws, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, may investigate certain acquisitions. 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 with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice and to observe specified waiting-period requirements before consummating the acquisition.

 

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HD Radio

 

The Federal Communications Commission selected In-Band On-Channel (“IBOC”) as the exclusive technology for introduction of terrestrial digital operations by AM and FM radio stations. The technology, developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation, is also known as “HD Radio.”  We have a minority equity interest in iBiquity.

 

HD Radio technology permits a station to transmit radio programming in both analog and digital formats. We currently utilize HD Radio digital technology on most of our FM stations. The advantages of digital audio broadcasting over traditional analog broadcasting technology include improved sound quality, additional channels and the ability to offer a greater variety of auxiliary services.

 

Employees

 

As of January 31, 2011, we had a staff of approximately 1,582 full-time employees and 790 part-time employees.  With respect to certain of our stations in our Kansas City and San Francisco markets, we are a party to collective bargaining agreements with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.  Approximately 17 employees are represented by these collective bargaining agreements.  We believe that our relations with our employees are good.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Code Of Business Conduct And Ethics.  We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to each of our employees including our principal executive officers and senior members of our finance department. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found on the “Investors” tab / “Governance” sub-page of our website located at www.entercom.com.

 

Board Committee Charters.  Each of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee has a committee charter as required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.  These committee charters can be found on the “Investors” tab / “Governance” sub-page of our website located at www.entercom.com.

 

Corporate Governance Guidelines.  New York Stock Exchange rules require our Board of Directors to establish certain Corporate Governance Guidelines.  These guidelines can be found on the “Investors” tab / “Governance” sub-page of our website located at www.entercom.com.

 

Environmental Compliance

 

As the owner, lessee or operator of various real properties and facilities, we are subject to various 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 of funds.

 

Seasonality

 

Seasonal revenue fluctuations are common in the radio broadcasting industry and are due primarily to fluctuations in advertising expenditures. Our revenues are typically lowest in the first calendar quarter.

 

Internet Address And Internet Access To Periodic And Current Reports

 

You can find more information about us at our Internet website located at www.entercom.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports are available free of charge through our Internet website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  We will also provide a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K upon any written request.

 

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

 

Many statements contained in this report are forward-looking in nature. See Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements at the beginning of this Form 10-K. These statements are based on current plans, intentions or

 

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expectations, and actual results could differ materially as we cannot guarantee that we will achieve these plans, intentions or expectations.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are the following:

 

BUSINESS RISKS

 

Weak Economic Conditions Continue To Affect Our Business And We Cannot Predict The Future Impact.

 

While economic conditions have improved in 2010 as compared to 2009, resulting in increased advertiser demand, the economy continues to be weak and plagued by high unemployment. Net revenues for us and the industry grew in the mid-single digits in 2010 as compared to the prior year.  We cannot ensure that our results of operations will not be negatively impacted by delays or reversals in the economic recovery or by future economic downturns. Expenditures by advertisers tend to be cyclical, reflecting overall economic conditions through budgeting and buying patterns. The risks associated with our business would be more acute in periods of a slowing economy or recession, which may be accompanied by a decrease in advertising.  A decrease in advertising expenditures can have an adverse effect on our net revenues, profit margins, cash flow, and liquidity, which in turn could further impair our assets.

 

If we are subject to an economic downturn, there can be no assurance that we will not experience an adverse effect on our ability to access capital, which may be material to our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, our ability to access the capital markets may be severely restricted at a time when we would like or need to do so, which could have an impact on our capacity to react to changing economic and business conditions.

 

Our Radio Stations May Be Adversely Affected By Competition For Advertising Revenues.

 

Our radio stations are in a highly competitive business. Our radio stations compete for audiences and advertising revenues within their respective markets directly with other radio stations, as well as with other media, such as broadcast and cable television, newspapers and magazines, national and local digital services, outdoor advertising and direct mail. Audience ratings and market shares are subject to change, and any change in a particular market could have a material adverse effect on the revenue of our stations located in that market. While we already compete in some of our markets with other stations with similar programming formats, if another existing or new radio station in a market were to convert its programming format to a format similar to one of our stations or if an existing competitor were to strengthen its operations, our stations could suffer a reduction in ratings and/or advertising revenue and could incur increased promotional and other expenses. We cannot be assured that any of our stations will be able to maintain or increase their current audience ratings and advertising revenues.

 

We Must Respond To The Increased Competition For Audio Distribution And The Rapid Changes In Technology, Services And Standards That Characterize Our Industry In Order To Remain Competitive.

 

The radio broadcasting industry is subject to rapid technological change, evolving industry standards and the emergence of new media technologies and services. These technologies and services, some of which are commercial free, include the following:

 

·                  personal digital audio devices (e.g., iPods, mp3 players, audio via WiFi, mobile phones and WiMAX);

 

·                  national and local digital services;

 

·                  satellite-delivered digital audio radio services;

 

·                  HD Radio, which provides multi-channel, multi-format digital radio services in the same bandwidth currently occupied by traditional AM and FM radio services; and

 

·                  low-power FM radio, which could result in additional FM radio broadcast outlets, including additional low-power FM radio signals authorized in December 2010 under the Local Community Radio Act.

 

We cannot predict the effect, if any, that competition arising from new technologies or regulatory changes may have on the radio broadcasting industry or on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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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 of 1934. See, for example, the discussion of FCC regulations contained in Part I, Item 1, “Business,” of this Form 10-K. We are required to obtain licenses from the FCC to operate our radio stations. Licenses are normally granted for a term of eight years and are renewable. Although the vast majority of FCC radio station licenses are routinely renewed, we cannot be assured that the FCC will approve our future renewal applications or that the renewals will not include conditions or qualifications. A number of our applications to renew our station licenses have been objected to by third parties and remain pending before the FCC. 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 in 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 future transactions and in certain circumstances could require us to divest some radio stations. The FCC’s rules governing our radio station operations impose costs on our operations, and changes in those rules could have an adverse effect on our business. The FCC also requires radio stations to comply with certain technical requirements to limit interference between two or more radio stations. If the FCC relaxes these 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 be assured that changes would not have a material adverse effect on us. We are currently the subject of several pending investigations by the FCC, including one involving a death following a contest at one of our stations.

 

Congress or Federal agencies that regulate us could impose new regulations or fees on our operations that could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

The FCC Has Engaged In Vigorous Enforcement Of Its Indecency Rules Against The Broadcast Industry, Which Could Have A Material Adverse Effect On Our Business.

 

FCC regulations prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time and indecent or profane material between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. In the last several years, the FCC has enhanced its enforcement efforts relating to the regulation of indecency and has threatened on more than one occasion to initiate license revocation proceedings against a broadcast licensee who commits a “serious” indecency violation. Congress has dramatically increased the penalties for broadcasting obscene, indecent or profane programming, and these penalties may potentially subject broadcasters to license revocation, renewal or qualification proceedings in the event that they broadcast such material. In addition, the FCC’s heightened focus on the indecency regulatory scheme, against the broadcast industry generally, may encourage third parties to oppose our license renewal applications or applications for consent to acquire broadcast stations. Several of our stations are currently subject to indecency-related inquiries and/or proposed fines at the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau as well as objections to our license renewals based on such inquiries and proposed fines, and we may in the future become subject to additional inquiries or proceedings related to our stations’ broadcast of obscene, indecent or profane material. To the extent that these inquiries or other proceedings result in the imposition of fines, a settlement with the FCC, revocation of any of our station licenses or denials of license renewal applications, our results of operation and business could be materially adversely affected.

 

We Depend On Selected Market Clusters Of Radio Stations.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2010, we generated approximately 50% of our net revenues in six of our 23 markets (Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle). Accordingly, we may have greater exposure to adverse events or conditions in any of these markets, such as changes in the economy, shifts in population or demographics, or changes in audience tastes, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

We Have Incurred Losses Over The Past Several Years And We May Incur Future Losses.

 

We have reported net losses in our consolidated statement of operations over the past several years, primarily as a result of recording non-cash write-downs of our broadcasting licenses and goodwill. In 2009 and 2008, we recorded impairments to our broadcasting licenses and goodwill of $67.7 million and $835.7 million (excluding impairments recorded during the first quarter of 2008 to assets held for sale), respectively. As of December 31, 2010, our broadcasting licenses and goodwill comprise 83% of our total assets. If events occur or circumstances change

 

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that would reduce the fair value of the broadcasting licenses and goodwill below the amount reflected on the balance sheet, we may be required to recognize impairment charges, which may be material, in future periods.

 

The Loss Of Key Personnel Could Have A Material Adverse Effect On Our Business.

 

Our business depends upon the continued efforts, abilities and expertise of our executive officers and other key executives. We believe that the loss of one or more of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS

 

We Must Comply With The Covenants In Our Senior Secured Credit Facility, Which Restricts Our Operational Flexibility.

 

Our senior secured credit facility (the “Bank Facility”) as amended in March 2010 contains provisions, that under certain circumstances, limit our ability to borrow money; make acquisitions, investments or restricted payments, including dividends and the repurchase of stock; swap or sell assets; or merge or consolidate with another company.  We have pledged substantially all of our assets, including the stock or equity interests of our subsidiaries, to secure the debt under our Bank Facility.

 

Our Bank Facility requires us to maintain compliance with specific financial covenants. Our ability to meet these financial covenants can be affected by operating performance or other events beyond our control, and we cannot be assured that we will meet these covenants. Our ability to maintain compliance with our covenants will be highly dependent on our results of operations as the economy recovers from the recent economic downturn. Specifically, our Bank Facility, as amended, requires us to comply with certain financial covenants which are defined terms within the agreement, including: (1) a maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated Operating Cash Flow that cannot exceed seven times in 2010 and which decreases quarterly in increments in 2011 to a ratio of six times; and (2) a minimum ratio of Consolidated Operating Cash Flow to Consolidated Interest Charges of two times.

 

Failure to comply with our financial covenants or other terms of our Bank Facility and the failure to negotiate and obtain any required relief from our lenders could result in the acceleration of the maturity of our outstanding bank debt and our lenders could proceed against our assets, including the equity interests of our subsidiaries.  Under these circumstances, the acceleration of our debt could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

We Have Substantial Indebtedness Which Could Have Important Consequences.

 

Historically, we have carried significant amounts of debt. We have outstanding indebtedness under our Bank Facility of $650.0 million (excluding a $0.7 million letter of credit) as of December 31, 2010 that could have an impact on us. For example, these obligations:

 

·                  increase our vulnerability in an economic downturn, limit our ability to withstand competitive pressures and reduce our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions;

 

·                  impair our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes;

 

·                  require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to debt service, thereby reducing the availability of cash flow for other purposes; and

 

·                  limit or prohibit our ability to pay dividends and make other distributions.

 

The undrawn amount of the Bank Facility’s revolving credit (the “Revolver”) was $284.3 million as of December 31, 2010.  The amount of the Revolver available to us is a function of covenant compliance at the time of borrowing.  Based on our financial covenant analysis as of December 31, 2010, we would be limited to borrowings significantly less than the undrawn limit unless such borrowings were used to repay indebtedness or for transactions that increase cash flow for purposes of covenant calculation.

 

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Under our Bank Facility, as amended, we have restrictions that under certain circumstances, limit our ability to borrow money; make acquisitions, investments or restricted payments, including dividends and the repurchase of our stock; swap or sell assets; or merge or consolidate with another company. If our Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds six times, then we have further restrictions on the use of the Revolver including, but not limited to, funding for dividends and share repurchases. In addition to cash flow from operations, we plan to use the Revolver to fund the amortization of the term loan (the “Term Loan”), which had $285.0 million outstanding as of December 31, 2010.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may from time to time seek to amend our existing Bank Facility or obtain other funding or additional financing, which may result in higher interest rates.  Amending our Bank Facility or obtaining other funding or additional financing prior to the expiration of the current agreement will be essential as the Revolver will be due as a balloon payment upon the expiration of the Bank Facility on June 30, 2012.  Failure to refinance upon maturity could result in default and have a material adverse impact on our Company.

 

Because Of Our Holding Company Structure, We Depend On Our Subsidiaries For Cash Flow, And Our Access To This Cash Flow Is Restricted.

 

We operate as a holding company. All of our radio stations are currently owned and operated by our subsidiaries. Entercom Radio, LLC (“Radio”), our 100% owned finance subsidiary, is the borrower under our Bank Facility and was the issuer of our Senior Subordinated Notes (“Notes”).  On March 8, 2010, we redeemed at par the remaining $6.6 million of Notes that were outstanding as of December 31, 2009. All of our station-operating subsidiaries and FCC license subsidiaries are subsidiaries of Radio. Further, we guaranteed Radio’s obligations under the Bank Facility on a senior secured basis (the Notes were guaranteed on an unsecured basis and were junior to our Bank Facility). Radio’s subsidiaries are all full and unconditional guarantors jointly and severally under the Bank Facility.

 

As a holding company, our only source of cash to pay our obligations, including corporate overhead and other accounts payable, is distributions from our subsidiaries. We currently expect that the net earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries will be retained and used by them in their operations, including servicing their debt obligations. Even if our subsidiaries elect to make distributions to us, we cannot be assured that applicable state law and contractual restrictions, including the dividend covenants contained in our Bank Facility, would permit such dividends or distributions.

 

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR COMMON STOCK

 

Our Chairman Of The Board And Our President And Chief Executive Officer Effectively Control Our Company And Own A Substantial Equity Interest In Us. Their Interests May Conflict With Your Interest.

 

As of January 31, 2011, Joseph M. Field, our Chairman of the Board, beneficially owned 2,889,096 shares of our Class A common stock and 6,318,282 shares of our Class B common stock, representing approximately 65.5% of the total voting power of all of our outstanding common stock.  As of January 31, 2011, David J. Field, our President and Chief Executive Officer, one of our directors and the son of Joseph M. Field, beneficially owned 3,154,332 shares of our Class A common stock and 749,250 shares of our outstanding Class B common stock, representing approximately 11.0% of the total voting power of all of our outstanding common stock. Collectively, Joseph M. Field and David J. Field and other members of the Field family beneficially own all of our outstanding Class B common stock. Other members of the Field family and Trusts for their benefit also own shares of Class A common stock.

 

Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only to Joseph M. Field, David J. Field, certain of their family members or trusts for any of their benefit. Upon any other transfer, shares of our Class B common stock automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. Shares of our Class B common stock are entitled to ten votes only when Joseph M. Field or David J. Field vote them, subject to certain exceptions when they are restricted to one vote. Joseph M. Field generally is able to control the vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders and, therefore, is able to direct our management and policies, except with respect to those matters when the shares of our Class B common stock are only entitled to one vote and those matters requiring a class vote under the provisions of our articles of incorporation, bylaws or applicable law, including, without limitation, the election of the two Class A directors.

 

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Future Sales By Joseph M. Field Could Adversely Affect The Price Of Our Class A Common Stock.

 

The price for our Class A common stock could fall substantially if Joseph M. Field sells in the public market or transfers large amounts of shares, including any shares of our Class B common stock (as described in the above paragraph) which are automatically converted to Class A common stock when sold.  These sales, or the possibility of such sales, 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 Could Adversely Affect The Price Of Our Class A Common Stock.

 

Joseph M. Field controls the decision as to whether a change in control will occur for our Company.  There are also provisions contained in our articles of incorporation, by-laws and Pennsylvania law that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of our Company. In addition, FCC approval for transfers of control of FCC licenses and assignments of FCC licenses are required. These restrictions and limitations could adversely affect the trading price of our Class A common stock.

 

Our Stock Price And Trading Volume Could Be Volatile.

 

Our Class A common stock has been publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) since January 29, 1999. The market price of our Class A common stock and our trading volume have been subject to fluctuations since the date of our initial public offering. The stock market has from time to time experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market prices of public equities. As a result, the market price of our Class A common stock could experience volatility, regardless of our operating performance.

 

The volatility could also cause us not to meet the NYSE continued listing requirements, which require, among other things:  (i) a minimum closing price of our common stock; (ii) a minimum market capitalization; and (iii) a minimum stockholders’ equity and market capitalization. Delisting of our stock could reduce our liquidity and market price of our common stock.

 

ITEM 1B.       UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.      PROPERTIES

 

The types of properties required to support each of our radio stations include offices, studios and transmitter/antenna sites. We typically lease our studio and office space, although we do own some of our facilities. Most of our studio and office space leases contain lease terms with expiration dates of five to 15 years. A station’s studios are generally housed with its offices in downtown or business districts. We own many of our AM main transmitter/antenna sites and several of our FM main transmitter/antenna sites. For those sites that we lease, we have entered into leases with lease terms that generally range from five to 30 years.  In addition, we also entered into a transaction that covers multiple tower sites that were treated as financing method lease obligations. For further discussion, see Note 8, Financing Method Lease Obligations, in the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

The transmitter/antenna site for each station is generally located so as to provide maximum market coverage. In general, we do not anticipate difficulties in renewing facility or transmitter/antenna site leases or in leasing additional space or sites if required. We have approximately $12.4 million in aggregate annual minimum rental commitments under real estate leases.  Many of these leases contain clauses such as defined contractual increases or cost of living adjustments.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 401 City Avenue, Suite 809, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004, in 12,475 square feet of leased office space. The lease on these premises is due to expire on October 31, 2011.

 

We own substantially all of our other equipment, consisting principally of transmitting antennae, transmitters, studio equipment and general office equipment. The towers, antennae and other transmission equipment used by our stations are generally in good condition.  We generally consider our facilities to be suitable and of adequate size for our current and intended purposes.

 

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ITEM 3.         LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We currently and from time to time are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. Management anticipates that any potential liability of ours that may arise out of or with respect to these matters will not materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In January 2010, a plaintiff acknowledged full satisfaction by our insurance carrier of a judgment against us. In connection with the satisfaction of this claim, as of December 31, 2009, we recorded an insurance claim receivable from our insurance company of $16.5 million along with a claim payable to the plaintiff of $16.5 million.

 

We could face increased costs in the form of fines and a greater risk that we could lose any one or more of our broadcasting licenses if the FCC concludes that programming broadcast by our stations was obscene, indecent or profane and such conduct warrants license revocation. The FCC’s authority to impose a fine for the broadcast of such material is $325,000 for a single incident, with a maximum fine of up to $3,000,000 for a continuing violation. In the past, the FCC has issued Notices of Apparent Liability and a Forfeiture Order with respect to several of our stations proposing fines for certain programming which the FCC deemed to have been indecent. These cases are the subject of pending administrative appeals. The FCC has also investigated other complaints from the public that some of our stations broadcast indecent programming.  These investigations remain pending.  For a further discussion, refer to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

 

Our agreements with Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) each expired as of December 31, 2009. In January 2010, the Radio Music Licensing Committee, of which we are a participant, filed motions in the New York courts against BMI and ASCAP on behalf of the radio industry, seeking interim fees and a determination of fair and reasonable industry-wide license fees. The courts approved reduced interim fees for ASCAP and BMI. The final fees, as determined by the courts, may be retroactive to the beginning of the period and may be different from these interim fees.

 

ITEM 4.         [RESERVED]

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.         MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Market Information For Our Common Stock

 

Our Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ETM.” The table below shows, for the quarters indicated, the reported high and low trading prices of our Class A common stock on The New York Stock Exchange.

 

 

 

Price Range

 

 

 

High

 

Low

 

Calendar Year 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth Quarter

 

$

11.87

 

$

7.32

 

Third Quarter

 

$

9.40

 

$

4.98

 

Second Quarter

 

$

16.00

 

$

8.76

 

First Quarter

 

$

12.25

 

$

6.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calendar Year 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Fourth Quarter

 

$

9.85

 

$

5.02

 

Third Quarter

 

$

5.58

 

$

1.36

 

Second Quarter

 

$

3.14

 

$

1.09

 

First Quarter

 

$

1.67

 

$

0.83

 

 

There is no established trading market for our Class B common stock, $0.01 par value.

 

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Holders

 

As of January 31, 2011, there were approximately 303 shareholders of record of our Class A common stock. This number does not include the number of shareholders whose shares are held of record by a broker or clearing agency but does include each such brokerage house or clearing agency as one record holder.  Based upon available information, we believe we have approximately 3,841 beneficial owners of our Class A common stock.  There are four shareholders of record of our Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, and no shareholders of record of our Class C common stock, $0.01 par value.

 

Dividends

 

Any future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based upon the relevant factors at the time of such consideration, including, without limitation, compliance with the restrictions set forth in our Bank Facility.

 

Previously, we have used a portion of our capital resources to pay dividends on a quarterly basis effective beginning with the first quarter of 2006 and ending with and including the third quarter of 2008. Our Board of Directors has not declared any dividends since that time.

 

Pursuant to our Bank Facility, as amended in March 2010, during periods when our Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds six times, we are prohibited from paying dividends. See Liquidity under Item 7, Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations, and Note 7 in the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

Deemed Repurchases Of Our Stock

 

In connection with employee tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock (unless an employee elects to pay such withholding tax in cash), we withhold enough shares to satisfy employees’ tax obligations. We are deemed to have “purchased” all such shares withheld.

 

The following table provides information on our repurchases during the quarter ended December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

Maximum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Approximate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

 

Dollar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of Shares

 

Value Of

 

 

 

(a)

 

 

 

Purchased

 

Shares That

 

 

 

Total

 

(b)

 

As Part Of

 

May Yet Be

 

 

 

Number

 

Average

 

Publicly

 

Purchased

 

 

 

Of

 

Price

 

Announced

 

Under The

 

 

 

Shares

 

Paid Per

 

Plans Or

 

Plans Or

 

Period

 

Purchased

 

Share

 

Programs

 

Programs

 

October 1, 2010 - October 31, 2010 (1) 

 

337

 

$

8.24

 

337

 

$

 

November 1, 2010 - November 30, 2010 (1) 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

December 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010 (1) 

 

233

 

$

10.30

 

233

 

$

 

Total

 

570

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

 


(1) We are deemed to have purchased the shares withheld to satisfy employees’ tax obligations of 337 shares at an average price of $8.24 per share in October 2010 and 233 shares at an average price of $10.30 per share in December 2010.  These shares are included in the table above.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2010, the number of securities outstanding under our equity compensation plans, the weighted average exercise price of such securities and the number of securities available for grant under these plans:

 

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Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

Number Of

 

 

 

Number Of

 

Weighted

 

Securities

 

 

 

Shares To Be

 

Average

 

Remaining

 

 

 

Issued Upon

 

Exercise

 

Available For

 

 

 

Exercise of

 

Price of

 

Future Issuance

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Outstanding

 

Under Equity

 

 

 

Options,

 

Options,

 

Compensation

 

 

 

Warrants

 

Warrants

 

Plans (Excluding

 

Plan Category 

 

and Rights

 

and Rights

 

Column (a))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entercom Equity Compensation Plan (1)

 

983,150

 

$

3.02

 

1,552,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

983,150

 

 

 

1,552,821

 

 


(1)   The shares authorized under the Entercom Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) increase each January 1 by 1.5 million shares (or a lesser number as may be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors).  As of December 31, 2010: (i) the maximum number of shares authorized under the Plan was 7.3 million shares (8.8 million as of January 1, 2011); and (ii) 1.6 million shares remain available for future grant under the Plan (3.1 million as of January 1, 2011).

 

For a description of our equity compensation plans, refer to Note 12, Share-Based Compensation, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Performance Graph

 

The following Comparative Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Form 10-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference.  This Comparative Stock Performance Graph is being furnished with this Form 10-K and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

 

The following line graph compares the cumulative 5-year total return provided to shareholders on our Class A common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of: (i) the S & P 500 index; and (ii) a peer group index consisting of Cumulus Media Inc., Emmis Communications Corp., Radio One, Inc. and Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc.  During the past two years, two entities dropped out of our peer group (in 2010 Citadel Broadcasting Corp. was reorganized under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and in 2009 Cox Radio, Inc. ceased to be a public company).  In order to offset these changes, the Company added Radio One, Inc. and Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. to its peer group.  An investment of $100 (with reinvestment of all dividends) is assumed to have been made in our Class A common December 31, 2010.

 

Cumulative Five-Year Return Index Of A $100 Investment

 

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Among Entercom Communications Corp., the S&P 500 Index

and a Peer Group

 

GRAPHIC

 

 

 

12/31/05

 

12/31/06

 

12/31/07

 

12/31/08

 

12/31/09

 

12/31/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entercom Communications Corp.

 

$

100.00

 

$

100.53

 

$

52.39

 

$

5.03

 

$

28.91

 

$

47.35

 

S&P 500

 

$

100.00

 

$

115.80

 

$

122.16

 

$

76.96

 

$

97.33

 

$

111.99

 

Peer Group

 

$

100.00

 

$

69.35

 

$

35.23

 

$

7.21

 

$

21.73

 

$

21.02

 

 

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ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The selected financial data below as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 through 2010 were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and balance sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 are qualified by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the corresponding audited consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere in this annual report. The selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the balance sheets as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from financial statements not included herein. Our financial results are not comparable from year to year due to our acquisitions and dispositions of radio stations. We acquired several radio stations in 2008 and 2007 (none in 2010, none in 2009 and one in 2006).  Also, in years 2009, 2008 and 2007, we incurred impairment losses of $67.7 million, $835.7 million and $84.0 million, respectively, in connection with our review of goodwill and broadcasting licenses.  See to Note 4, Intangible Assets And Goodwill, in the accompanying notes to the financial statements for further discussion of the contributing factors to the impairment loss.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

391,447

 

$

372,432

 

$

438,822

 

$

468,351

 

$

439,629

 

Operating (income) expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station operating expenses, including non-cash compensation expense

 

258,896

 

254,042

 

276,187

 

283,541

 

259,630

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,660

 

16,600

 

20,442

 

16,631

 

15,812

 

Corporate G & A expenses, including non-cash compensation expense

 

21,954

 

22,875

 

26,917

 

28,888

 

33,794

 

Impairment loss

 

 

67,676

 

835,716

 

84,037

 

 

Net time brokerage agreement fees (income)

 

 

(2

)

(233

)

14,001

 

2,766

 

Net (gain) loss on sale of assets

 

228

 

420

 

(9,899

)

(647

)

1,280

 

Total operating expenses

 

293,738

 

361,611

 

1,149,130

 

426,451

 

313,282

 

Operating income (loss)

 

97,709

 

10,821

 

(710,308

)

41,900

 

126,347

 

Other (income) expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing costs

 

30,510

 

31,229

 

45,040

 

51,183

 

44,173

 

Interest income and dividend income from investments

 

(19

)

(58

)

(323

)

(740

)

(823

)

Other income

 

(49

)

(380

)

(3,339

)

(895

)

 

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

62

 

(20,805

)

(6,949

)

458

 

 

Net (gain) loss on investments

 

174

 

966

 

469

 

(245

)

 

Net gain on derivative instruments

 

 

 

(34

)

(162

)

(446

)

Total other expense

 

30,678

 

10,952

 

34,864

 

49,599

 

42,904

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (benefit)

 

67,031

 

(131

)

(745,172

)

(7,699

)

83,443

 

Income taxes (benefit)

 

20,595

 

(5,529

)

(232,600

)

695

 

35,596

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

46,436

 

5,398

 

(512,572

)

(8,394

)

47,847

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (benefit)

 

 

 

(4,079

)

37

 

134

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(516,651

)

$

(8,357

)

$

47,981

 

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

Operating Data (continued):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

1.30

 

$

0.15

 

$

(13.94

)

$

(0.22

)

$

1.20

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

 

 

(0.11

)

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share - basic

 

$

1.30

 

$

0.15

 

$

(14.05

)

$

(0.22

)

$

1.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

1.23

 

$

0.15

 

$

(13.94

)

$

(0.22

)

$

1.19

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

 

 

(0.11

)

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share - diluted

 

$

1.23

 

$

0.15

 

$

(14.05

)

$

(0.22

)

$

1.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares - basic

 

35,712

 

35,321

 

36,782

 

38,230

 

39,973

 

Weighted average shares - diluted

 

37,679

 

36,403

 

36,782

 

38,230

 

40,205

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

90,410

 

$

73,902

 

$

130,617

 

$

93,492

 

$

101,583

 

Investing activities

 

(4,262

)

(2,062

)

31,944

 

(273,876

)

(45,146

)

Financing activities

 

(93,131

)

(65,373

)

(169,222

)

180,534

 

(61,713

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared and paid per Class A and Class B common share

 

$

 

$

 

$

0.58

 

$

1.52

 

$

1.52

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,768

 

$

10,751

 

$

4,284

 

$

10,945

 

$

10,795

 

Intangibles and other assets

 

756,583

 

754,506

 

825,404

 

1,452,598

 

1,524,018

 

Investment in deconsolidated subsidiaries and assets held for sale

 

 

 

 

250,936

 

 

Total assets

 

901,025

 

935,186

 

996,734

 

1,919,352

 

1,733,258

 

Senior debt, including current portion

 

650,148

 

729,173

 

750,197

 

823,718

 

526,239

 

Senior subordinated notes and other

 

12,610

 

19,189

 

83,500

 

150,000

 

150,000

 

Deferred tax liabilities and other long-term liabilities

 

42,378

 

30,065

 

30,489

 

249,499

 

237,621

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

170,667

 

113,952

 

100,257

 

660,767

 

777,092

 

 

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ITEM 7.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

We are one of the five largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States, with a nationwide portfolio in excess of 100 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Kansas City.

 

A radio broadcasting company derives its revenues primarily from the sale of broadcasting time to local and national advertisers. Net revenues are gross revenues less advertising agency commissions. The revenues are determined by the advertising rates charged and the number of advertisements broadcast. We maximize our revenues by managing the inventory of advertising spots available for broadcast, which can vary throughout the day but is consistent over time. Advertising rates are primarily based on four factors:

 

·      a station’s audience share in the demographic groups targeted by advertisers as measured principally by periodic reports issued by The Arbitron Ratings Company;

 

·      the number of radio stations in the market competing for the same demographic groups;

 

·      the supply of, and demand for, radio advertising time, both nationally and in the regions in which the station operates; and

 

·      the market’s size based upon available radio advertising revenue.

 

In 2010, we generated 71% of our net revenues from local advertising, which is sold primarily by each individual local radio station’s sales staff, and 25% from national advertising, which is sold by an independent advertising sales representative. Local and national revenues include advertising on our stations, websites, the sale of advertising during audio streaming of our radio stations over the Internet, promotional activities and e-commerce. We generated the balance of our 2010 revenues principally from network compensation.

 

Our most significant station operating expenses are employee compensation, programming and promotional expenses. Other significant expenses that impact our profitability are interest and depreciation and amortization expense.

 

Our performance is based upon the aggregate performance of our radio stations.  The following are some of the factors that impact a radio station’s performance at any given time: (i) audience ratings; (ii) program content; (iii) management talent and expertise; (iv) sales talent and expertise; (v) audience characteristics; (vi) signal strength; and (vii) the number and characteristics of other radio stations and other advertising media in the market area.

 

In the radio broadcasting industry, seasonal revenue fluctuations are common and are due primarily to variations in advertising expenditures by local and national advertisers. Typically, revenues are lowest in the first calendar quarter of the year.

 

As opportunities arise, we may, on a selective basis, change or modify a station’s format due to changes in listeners’ tastes or changes in a competitor’s format. This could have an immediate negative impact on a station’s ratings and/or revenues, and there are no guarantees that the modification or change will be beneficial at some future time. Our management is continually focused on these opportunities as well as the associated risks and uncertainties. We strive to develop compelling content and strong brand images to maximize audience ratings that are crucial to our stations’ financial success.

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. The following results of operations include a discussion of the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 and a discussion of the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2008.  Our results of operations for the relevant periods represent the operations of the radio stations: (1) owned and operated by us; or (2) operated by us pursuant to time brokerage agreements (“TBAs”); and exclude those owned by us but operated by others pursuant to TBAs.

 

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Under the heading “Same Station Considerations,” we evaluate net revenues, station operating expenses and operating income by comparing the performance of stations owned or operated by us throughout a relevant year to the performance of those same stations in the prior year whether or not owned or operated by us. In addition, another party commenced operation of a number of our tower sites as part of our plan to exit the operation of certain non-strategic tower sites, which also impacted same station considerations when comparing the years 2010 with 2009 and 2009 with 2008. We use these comparisons to assess the effect of acquisitions and dispositions on our operations throughout the periods measured.

 

Results Of Operations

 

Year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009

 

The following significant factors affected our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the prior year:

 

Financing

 

·      During March 2010, we amended our Bank Facility that increased our interest expense due to an increase in the amortization of deferred financing expense of $5.2 million and an increase in the on-going fees we pay under our Bank Facility.

 

·      During March 2010, we repurchased the remaining $6.6 million of our then outstanding Notes at par and recognized a net loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.1 million due to the write-off of deferred financing expenses.

 

·      During the year ended December 31, 2009, we repurchased $76.9 million of our Notes and recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $20.8 million.

 

·      During the fourth quarter of 2009, another party commenced operating certain of our tower facilities and we received $12.6 million in cash that was reflected as financing method lease obligations due to our ability to participate in future profits from these towers.

 

Dispositions

 

·      During 2009, another party commenced operation of certain tower sites as part of our plan to exit the operation of non-strategic tower sites, which decreased net revenues (tower rental income) and station operating expenses for same station considerations, but had a marginal impact on our reported results of operations.

 

Other

 

·      During the year ended 2009, we recorded an impairment loss of $67.7 million in connection with our review of goodwill and broadcasting licenses. See Note 4 in the accompanying notes to the financial statements for further discussion of the contributing factors to the impairment loss.

 

·      The income tax benefit in 2009 was favorably impacted by the passage of federal tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed us to carryback our 2008 net operating loss for five years rather than for two years. As a result, we reversed the federal portion of our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets associated with a net operating loss carryforward and recovered $6.8 million in 2010.

 

Same Station Considerations:

 

During the fourth quarter of 2009, another party commenced the operation of certain of our tower sites. For purposes of reporting same station information, the operation of these tower sites was eliminated from our reported results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

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·      Net revenues would have been lower by $1.0 million if we had adjusted net revenues for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

·      Station operating expenses would have been lower by $0.2 million if we had adjusted station operating expenses for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

·      Operating income would have been lower by $0.8 million if we had adjusted operating income for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

Net Revenues

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Net Revenues

 

$

391.4

 

$

372.4

 

Amount of Change

 

$

19.0

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

5.1

%

 

 

 

Based upon our improved results for the current period as well as other indicators, we expect revenues to continue to grow into 2011.  Poor economic conditions in 2009 led to lower demand for radio advertising.  In 2010, our revenues were favorably impacted by the strengthening of the economy and improving business conditions for both the industry and us.

 

Net revenues in the current period increased in the majority of our markets.  Our net revenues increased the most for those radio stations located in our Denver, New Orleans, Rochester and San Francisco markets.

 

Station Operating Expenses

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Station Operating Expenses

 

$

258.9

 

$

254.0

 

Amount of Change

 

$

4.9

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

1.9

%

 

 

 

The increase in station operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in net revenues as described above as certain variable expenses increase with a corresponding increase in net revenues.

 

Depreciation And Amortization Expense

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Depreciation And Amortization Expense

 

$

12.7

 

$

16.6

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(3.9

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(23.5

)%

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2010 primarily due to the decrease over the past several years in: (i) capital expenditures; (ii) deferred charges and other assets; and (iii) acquisitions.

 

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Corporate General And Administrative Expenses

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Corporate General And Administrative Expenses

 

$

22.0

 

$

22.9

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(0.9

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(3.9

)%

 

 

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased primarily due to the decrease in non-cash compensation expense, as: (1) the equity compensation awards that were granted in 2010 were granted late in the year with minimal expense impact; and (2) certain previously granted awards did not affect 2010 as they were fully amortized in 2009.

 

Operating Income

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Operating Income

 

$

97.7

 

$

10.8

 

Amount of Change

 

$

86.9

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

804.6

%

 

 

 

The increase in operating income was primarily due to: (1) the absence of an impairment loss in the current period as compared to an impairment loss of $67.7 million that was recorded in the second quarter of the prior year; and (2) an increase in net revenues for the reasons described above under Net Revenues, net of an increase in station operating expenses for the reasons described under Station Operating Expenses.

 

Interest Expense

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Interest Expense

 

$

30.5

 

$

31.2

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(0.7

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(2.2

)%

 

 

 

The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to: (1) a decline in outstanding debt; (2) the repurchase of our Notes, which had a higher interest rate than the funds borrowed to repurchase such Notes; and (3) a reduction in January 2010 of $75.0 million in notional value of an existing 3.03% fixed interest rate swap agreement. Interest rates on outstanding debt remained relatively flat during the year ended December 31, 2010 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

The decrease in interest expense was offset by: (1) an increase in the amortization of deferred financing expense of $2.4 million, primarily from the amortization of the bank fees associated with the March 2010 amendment to our Bank Facility; and (2) an increase in our Bank Facility fees that correlates to an increase in our Leverage Ratio during most of the third quarter of 2010 and into the fourth quarter of 2010.

 

Interest expense in 2011 could be favorably impacted by: (1) the expected reduction in outstanding debt in 2011; and (2) the expiration in 2011 of three existing fixed rate interest hedging transactions in the aggregate notional value of $375.0 million. This favorable impact could be offset by an increase in interest rates and fees associated with the Amendment to our Bank Facility in the first quarter of 2010.

 

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Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Benefit)

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Benefit)

 

$

67.0

 

$

(0.1

)

Amount of Change

 

$

67.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

NMF

 

 

 

 

The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in operating income for the reasons as described above under Operating Income, which was partially offset by a $20.9 million decrease in the gain on the retirement of our Senior Subordinated Notes as we repurchased our Notes at a discount in 2009.

 

Income Taxes (Benefit)

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Income Taxes (Benefit)

 

$

20.6

 

$

(5.5

)

Amount of Change

 

$

26.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

474.5

%

 

 

 

Income tax expense for 2010 was primarily due to the recording of net deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill. These deferred tax liabilities cannot be used to offset deferred tax assets.  Our income tax expense for the current period was offset by the reduction in liabilities from uncertain tax positions associated with the finalization of an audit by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

As a result of cumulative losses incurred by the Company since 2006, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance was established due to the uncertainty that the deferred tax assets would be realized in future years (after excluding deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets).  We have reported cumulative income since 2009. If we were to continue to report cumulative income in 2011, we expect that it is reasonably possible that the valuation allowance would significantly decrease in 2011.

 

The income tax benefit in 2009 was favorably impacted by the passage of tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed us to carryback our 2008 net operating loss for five years rather than for two years. As a result, in 2009 we reversed in excess of $7.0 million of our valuation allowance for the federal portion of our deferred tax assets.

 

The Company’s income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 30.7% and for the year ended December 31, 2009 was not a meaningful number. The tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 were impacted by a decrease in the valuation allowance of $4.7 million and $6.7 million, respectively.

 

We estimate that our annual tax rate for 2011, which may fluctuate from quarter to quarter, will be in the low 40% range (excluding the impact of a valuation allowance or liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets). We anticipate that our rate in 2011 could be affected primarily by: (1) changes in the level of income in any of our taxing jurisdictions; (2) adding facilities in states that on average have different income tax rates from states in which we currently operate and the resulting effect on previously reported temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of our assets and liabilities; (3) the effect of recording changes in our liabilities for uncertain tax positions; (4) taxes in certain states that are dependent on factors other than taxable income; and (5) the limitations on the deduction of cash and certain non-cash compensation expense for certain key employees.  Our annual effective tax rate may also be materially impacted by: (i) regulatory changes in certain states in which we operate; (ii) changes in the expected outcome of tax audits; (iii) changes in the estimate of expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes; and (iv) changes in the deferred tax valuation allowance.

 

Deferred tax liabilities primarily relate to differences between book and tax bases of certain of our indefinite-lived intangibles (broadcasting licenses and goodwill). Under accounting guidance, we do not amortize our

 

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indefinite-lived intangibles for financial statement purposes, but instead test them annually for impairment. The amortization of our indefinite-lived assets for tax purposes but not for book purposes creates deferred tax liabilities.  A reversal of deferred tax liabilities may occur when indefinite-lived intangibles: (1) become impaired; or (2) are sold for cash, which would typically only occur in connection with the sale of the assets of a station or groups of stations or the entire company in a taxable transaction.  Due to the amortization for tax purposes and not book purposes of our indefinite-lived intangible assets, we expect to continue to generate deferred tax liabilities in future periods (without consideration for any impairment loss in future periods).

 

Net Income

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Net Income

 

$

46.4

 

$

5.4

 

Amount of Change

 

$

41.0

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

759.3

%

 

 

 

The net change was primarily attributable to the reasons described above under Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes (Benefit) and under Income Taxes (Benefit).

 

Results Of Operations

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008

 

The following significant factors affected our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the prior year:

 

Financing

 

·      During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we repurchased $76.9 million and $66.5 million, respectively, of Notes and recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $20.8 million and $6.9 million, respectively.

 

·      Our interest expense decreased due to: (i) a decrease in interest rates; (ii) a decrease in our outstanding debt; and (iii) the redemption of a portion of our Notes that had a higher interest rate than the average rate under our senior debt.

 

·      During the fourth quarter of 2009, another party commenced operating certain of our tower facilities and we received $12.6 million in cash that was reflected as financing method lease obligations due to our ability to participate in future profits from these towers.

 

Acquisition

 

·      On March 14, 2008, we acquired through an exchange agreement three radio stations in San Francisco, California, that in 2008 increased our depreciation and amortization expense as we acquired certain intangible assets with lives of a short duration.

 

Dispositions

 

·      During 2009, another party commenced operation of certain tower sites as part of our plan to exit the operation of non-strategic tower sites, which decreased net revenues (tower rental income) and station operating expenses for same station considerations, but had a marginal impact on our reported results of operations.

 

·      On July 14, 2008, we sold three of our eight Rochester, New York, radio stations for net cash proceeds of $12.2 million, which the buyer began operating on May 1, 2008 under a TBA. The results for these stations were reflected in discontinued operations.

 

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·      On March 14, 2008, we sold, through an exchange agreement, three of our seven Seattle, Washington, radio stations that in 2008 resulted in a $10.0 million gain on sale of assets.

 

·      On January 15, 2008, we sold an Austin, Texas, radio station for $20.0 million in cash.

 

Other

 

·      The income tax benefit in 2009 was favorably impacted by the passage of federal tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed us to carryback our 2008 net operating loss for five years rather than for two years. As a result, in 2009 we reversed the federal portion of our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets associated with a net operating loss carryforward and recovered $6.8 million in 2010.

 

·      During the years ended 2009 and 2008, we recorded an impairment loss of $67.7 million and $835.7 million, respectively, in connection with our review of goodwill and broadcasting licenses. See Note 4 in the accompanying notes to the financial statements for further discussion of the contributing factors to the impairment loss.

 

·      In 2008, our income tax benefit on loss from continuing operations was negatively impacted by an increase to our valuation allowance of $59.4 million to fully reserve our net deferred tax assets. Our deferred tax assets were also fully reserved in 2009. The increase in the valuation allowance was primarily due to the cumulative losses incurred by us since 2006, which caused uncertainty as to the realization of the deferred tax assets in future years.

 

·      During 2008, we recovered $3.6 million from our insurance company for damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina.

 

·      During the first quarter of 2008, we reviewed our carrying amount for the Rochester assets then held for sale and determined that an impairment loss of $6.7 million was necessary as a result of the status of our then ongoing divestiture process.

 

Same Station Considerations:

 

During the fourth quarter of 2009, another party commenced the operation of certain of our tower sites. For purposes of reporting same station information, the operation of these tower sites was eliminated from our reported results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

·      Net revenues would have been lower by $1.0 million if we had adjusted net revenues for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

·      Station operating expenses would have been lower by $0.2 million if we had adjusted station operating expenses for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

·      Operating income would have been lower by $0.8 million if we had adjusted operating income for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008:

 

·      Net revenues would have been lower by $0.9 million if we had adjusted net revenues for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

·      Station operating expenses would have been lower by $0.2 million if we had adjusted station operating expenses for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

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·      Operating income would have been lower by $0.7 million if we had adjusted operating income for the transfer of tower operations to a third party as of the beginning of the period.

 

Net Revenues

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Net Revenues

 

$

372.4

 

$

438.8

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(66.4

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(15.1

)%

 

 

 

The economic downturn reduced demand for advertising in general, including advertising on our radio stations during 2009.  Net revenues declined in most of the markets where we operate stations.  Those markets that were impacted the most by the decline in radio station net revenue dollars were the Boston, Seattle, Sacramento, San Francisco and Portland markets.

 

Economic conditions sequentially improved throughout 2009 primarily due to the strengthening of advertiser demand.

 

Station Operating Expenses

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Station Operating Expenses

 

$

254.0

 

$

276.2

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(22.2

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(8.0

)%

 

 

 

The decrease in station operating expenses was primarily due to: (1) a decrease in net revenues as described under Net Revenues as certain variable expenses decrease with a corresponding decrease in net revenues; and (2) cost reduction initiatives that commenced during the fourth quarter of 2008, including but not limited to reductions in workforce, the elimination of the 401(k) employer matching contribution and other cost reduction actions.  Most of the cost-cutting measures were fully realized in early 2009.

 

Depreciation And Amortization Expense

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Depreciation And Amortization Expense

 

$

16.6

 

$

20.4

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(3.8

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(18.6

)%

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2009 as the expense in 2008 was higher due to acquisitions during the first quarter of 2008 and fourth quarter of 2007, which included certain amortizable assets with lives of a short duration.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Corporate General And Administrative Expenses

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Corporate General And Administrative Expenses

 

$

22.9

 

$

26.9

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(4.0

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(14.9

)%

 

 

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased primarily due to: (1) a decrease in non-cash compensation expense of $2.5 million as a result of a decrease in the fair value of equity awards issued; and (2) a decrease in legal expense of $1.3 million associated with certain legal proceedings during 2008 which did not recur in 2009. The decrease in corporate general and administrative expense was offset by an increase in deferred compensation expense of $1.6 million as our deferred compensation liability generally tracks movements in the stock market.

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

$

10.8

 

$

(710.3

)

Amount of Change

 

$

721.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

101.5

%

 

 

 

The increase in operating income was primarily due to a decrease in impairment loss of $768.0 million in connection with our review of broadcasting licenses and goodwill in 2009 as compared to 2008. The increase was partially offset by: (1) a decrease in net revenues for the reasons described above under Net Revenues, net of a decrease in station operating expenses for the reasons described under Station Operating Expenses; and (2) a decrease in net gain on sale or disposal of assets of $10.0 million as a result of the sale in 2008 of three of our Seattle stations.

 

Interest Expense

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Interest Expense

 

$

31.2

 

$

45.0

 

Amount of Change

 

$

(13.8

)

 

 

Percentage Change

 

(30.7

)%

 

 

 

The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to: (1) a decrease in interest rates on outstanding debt in 2009 as compared to 2008; (2) a decline in outstanding debt; and (3) the repurchase of our Notes, which have a higher interest rate than the interest rate on the borrowings under our Bank Facility used to repurchase our Notes.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax Benefit

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax Benefit

 

$

(0.1

)

$

(745.2

)

Amount of Change

 

$

745.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

The net change was primarily attributable to: (1) an increase in operating income for the reasons as described above under Operating Income (Loss); (2) a $13.9 million increase in gain on the retirement of our Notes; and (3) a decrease in our interest expense of $13.8 million for the reasons described above under Interest Expense.

 

Income Tax Benefit

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Income Tax Benefit

 

$

(5.5

)

$

(232.6

)

Amount of Change

 

$

227.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

97.6

%

 

 

 

The income tax benefit in 2009 was favorably impacted by the passage of tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed us to carryback our 2008 net operating loss for five years rather than for two years. As a result, in 2009 we reversed in excess of $7.0 million of our valuation allowance for the federal portion of our deferred tax assets.

 

The income tax benefit in 2008 primarily resulted from the elimination of deferred tax liabilities associated with intangible assets due to the recording of an impairment loss in 2008 of $835.7 million. The income tax benefit was offset by an increase to our valuation allowance to fully reserve our net deferred tax assets, as the cumulative losses incurred by us over the past several years caused uncertainty about our ability to realize our deferred tax assets.

 

The Company’s income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2009 was not numerically relevant. For the year ended December 31, 2008, our income tax rate was 31.2%. The tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were impacted by a decrease to the valuation allowance of $6.7 million and an increase to the valuation allowance of $59.4 million, respectively.

 

Deferred tax liabilities primarily relate to differences between book and tax bases of certain of our indefinite-lived intangibles (broadcasting licenses and goodwill). Under accounting guidance, we do not amortize our indefinite-lived intangibles for financial statement purposes, but instead test them annually for impairment. The amortization of our indefinite-lived assets for tax purposes but not for book purposes creates deferred tax liabilities.  A reversal of deferred tax liabilities may occur when indefinite-lived intangibles: (1) become impaired; or (2) are sold for cash, which would typically only occur in connection with the sale of the assets of a station or groups of stations or the entire company in a taxable transaction.  Due to the amortization for tax purposes of our indefinite-lived intangible assets, we expect to generate deferred tax liabilities in future periods (without consideration for any impairment loss in future periods).

 

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Table of Contents

 

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations

 

$

5.4

 

$

(512.6

)

Amount of Change

 

$

518.0

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

101.1

%

 

 

 

The change is primarily due to the reasons described above under Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax Benefit, net of income tax benefit.

 

Loss From Discontinued Operations, Net Of Tax Benefit

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Loss From Discontinued Operations, Net Of Tax Benefit

 

$

 

$

(4.1

)

Amount of Change

 

$

4.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

The net change was primarily due to a non-cash impairment loss of $4.6 million (net of an income tax benefit of $2.1 million) in the first quarter of 2008 for the Rochester assets which were then held for sale and were subsequently disposed of during the third quarter of 2008.

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

5.4

 

$

(516.7

)

Amount of Change

 

$

522.1

 

 

 

Percentage Change

 

101.0

%

 

 

 

The net change was primarily attributable to the reasons described above under Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Tax Benefit and under Income Tax Benefit.

 

Future Impairments

 

We may determine that it will be necessary to take impairment charges in future periods for various reasons. Our annual impairment test of our broadcasting licenses and goodwill was performed in the second quarter of 2010.  We may be required to retest prior to our next annual evaluation, which could result in a material impairment.  As of December 31, 2010, no interim impairment test was required during 2010 for our broadcasting licenses and goodwill.

 

Liquidity And Capital Resources

 

Liquidity

 

We have used a significant portion of our capital resources to: (i) reduce the indebtedness under our Bank Facility; (ii) repurchase our Notes; (iii) repurchase shares of our Class A common stock; and (iv) pay dividends to our shareholders. Generally, our cash requirements are funded from one or a combination of the following sources: (1) internally generated cash flow; (2) borrowings under our credit agreement; and (3) sales of assets.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Historically, we have carried significant amounts of debt. As of December 31, 2010, we had $650.0 million outstanding under our Bank Facility. In addition, we have outstanding financing method lease obligations of $12.6 million and $0.7 million in a letter of credit. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we decreased our outstanding debt by $85.6 million and, during the year ended 2009, we decreased our outstanding debt by $85.3 million (which included a discount of $21.6 million on the repurchase of our Notes). As of December 31, 2010, we had $3.8 million in cash and cash equivalents.

 

The Term Loan reduces in quarterly amounts, which payments started at $15 million, are currently at $25 million and ultimately increase to $60 million. We plan to fund the amortization of the Term Loan with cash flow from operations and our available Revolver capacity.

 

Our Credit Agreement

 

Our Bank Facility, with a syndicate of more than 50 lenders as of December 31, 2010, is comprised of: (i) a Revolver of $650 million, of which $365 million is drawn and outstanding as of December 31, 2010; and (ii) a Term Loan of $400 million, of which $285 million is outstanding as of December 31, 2010.  The Revolver provides us with funds for working capital and general corporate purposes including capital expenditures, and, except as limited under the Amendment, any one or more of the following: repurchases of Class A common stock, investments, dividends and acquisitions. The Bank Facility is secured by a pledge of 100% of the capital stock and other equity interest in all of our wholly owned subsidiaries. In addition, the Bank Facility, as amended, is secured by a lien on all of our assets, other than our real property.

 

The undrawn amount of the Revolver was $284.3 million as of December 31, 2010. The amount available under the Revolver is a function of covenant compliance at the time of borrowing. Based on our financial covenant analysis as of December 31, 2010, we would be limited to borrowings significantly less than the undrawn limit unless such borrowings were used to repay indebtedness or for transactions that increase cash flow for purposes of covenant calculation.

 

On March 11, 2010, we amended our Bank Facility (the “Amendment”). In connection with the Amendment, certain key terms, as defined within the Bank Facility, were revised as follows:

 

·                  The Consolidated Leverage Ratio could not exceed seven times in 2010 and decreases quarterly to a ratio of six times as of December 31, 2011;

·                  Depending on the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated Operating Cash Flow), we may elect an interest rate equal to: (1) the Eurodollar Rate plus fees that can range from 0.5% to 2.5%; or (2) the Base Rate plus fees that can range from 0.0% to 1.5%, where the Base Rate is the highest of: (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%; (b) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.0%; and (c) the Prime Rate; and

·                  During periods when the Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds six times (defined in the Bank Facility as a “Restricted Period”), we are: (a) restricted in our ability to take certain actions including, but not limited to, the payment of dividends and the repurchase of our stock; and (b) subject to additional limitations on acquisitions and investments.

 

The Bank Facility requires us to comply with certain financial covenants which are defined terms within the agreement, including: (1) a maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio that decreases quarterly in 2011 from a ratio of 6.75 times as of March 31, 2011 to a ratio that will not exceed six times as of December 31, 2011 and thereafter (prior to the Amendment, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio could not exceed six times); and (2) a minimum ratio of Consolidated Operating Cash Flow to Consolidated Interest Charges of two times.  Management believes we are in compliance with all financial covenants and all other terms of the Bank Facility as of December 31, 2010.

 

As of December 31, 2010, our Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 5.6 times and our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio was 4.4 times.

 

The following table presents the computations (in thousands, other than the ratios) of our Consolidated Leverage Ratio and Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as defined under our Bank Facility as of December 31, 2010:

 

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Table of Contents

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio Computations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator: Consolidated Funded Indebtedness

 

 

 

Senior debt outstanding

 

$

650,148

 

Letter of credit outstanding

 

670

 

Total debt outstanding

 

650,818

 

Less cash available in excess of $3 million, not to exceed $10 million

 

(768

)

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness

 

$

650,050

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator: Consolidated Operating Cash Flow

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

46,436

 

Income taxes

 

20,595

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,660

 

Interest expense

 

30,510

 

Non-cash compensation expense

 

5,528

 

Deferred non-cash charges

 

376

 

Investment loss

 

174

 

Legal fees in connection with amendment

 

48

 

Pro forma effect of tower transaction as if the towers were sold as of the beginning of the period

 

(708

)

Consolidated Operating Cash Flow

 

$

115,619

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio

 

5.6

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio Computations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator: Consolidated Operating Cash Flow

 

$

115,619

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator: Consolidated Interest Charges

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

$

30,510

 

Less: interest income and certain deferred financing expense

 

(3,931

)

Consolidated Interest Charges

 

$

26,579

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio

 

4.4

 

 

Our ability to maintain compliance with our covenants is highly dependent on our results of operations as the economy continues to recover from the recent economic downturn and, to the extent necessary, on our ability to implement remedial measures such as further reductions in operating costs.  If we were to enter into an agreement with our lenders for covenant compliance relief, such relief could result in higher interest expense.

 

We believe that over the next 12 months we can continue to maintain our compliance with these covenants. We believe that cash on hand and cash from operating activities, together with available borrowings under the Revolver, will be sufficient to permit us to meet our liquidity requirements over the next 12 months, including our debt repayments.  Our operating cash flow remains positive, and we believe that it is adequate to fund our operating needs.  As a result, we have not been required to rely upon, and we do not anticipate being required to rely upon, the Revolver to fund our operations. We plan to continue to use the Revolver and cash flow from operations to fund the amortization of the Term Loan.

 

Failure to comply with our financial covenants or other terms of our Bank Facility and the failure to negotiate and obtain any required relief from our lenders could result in the acceleration of the maturity of all outstanding debt.  Under these circumstances, the acceleration of our debt could have a material adverse effect on our business.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may seek from time to time to amend our existing Bank Facility or obtain other funding or additional financing, which may result in higher interest rates.  Amending our Bank Facility or obtaining other funding or additional financing prior to the expiration of the current agreement will be essential since the Revolver balance outstanding will be due in full upon the expiration of the Bank Facility on June 30, 2012.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The Amendment in March 2010 was treated as a modification to a debt instrument.  As a result, in the first quarter of 2010, we recorded deferred financing costs of $5.2 million related to the Amendment, which will be amortized over the remaining life of the Bank Facility on: (1) a straight-line basis for the Revolver; and (2) an effective interest rate method for the Term Loan. In addition, unamortized deferred financing costs of $3.1 million as of the Amendment date will continue to be amortized over the remaining life of the Bank Facility.

 

While economic conditions in 2010 as compared to 2009 have improved, resulting in increased advertiser demand, the economy continues to be weak and plagued by high unemployment. Net revenues for the industry and us grew in the mid single digits in 2010 as compared to the prior year.  We anticipate that revenue trends will be positive in 2011 as the economy and the advertising environment continue their rebound.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $90.4 million and $73.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase was mainly attributable to: (1) an increase in net revenues, net of station operating expenses; and (2) a recovery in 2010 of refundable income taxes. This increase was offset by an increase in accounts receivable due to the increase in net revenues.

 

Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $73.9 million and $130.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease was mainly attributable to: (1) a decrease in 2009 of $44.2 million in net revenues, net of station operating expenses; and (2) a decrease in 2009 of $21.4 million in prepaid and refundable taxes.  Associated with the decrease in prepaid and refundable taxes, we received state and federal tax refunds of $14.6 million in 2008 and $6.8 million in 2010.

 

Investing Activities

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, net cash flows used in investing activities of $4.3 and $2.1 million, respectively, primarily reflect additions to property and equipment of $2.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, net cash flows provided by investing activities of $31.9 million primarily reflect $20.0 million in net cash proceeds from the sale of a station in Austin, Texas, and $12.2 million in net cash proceeds from the sale of three stations in Rochester, New York, offset by cash used in investing activities for additions to property and equipment of $8.6 million.

 

Financing Activities

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, net cash flows used in financing activities were $93.1 million, $65.4 million and $169.2 million, respectively.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2010, the cash flows used in financing activities primarily reflect the net repayment of debt of $85.6 million, including the $6.6 million repurchase at par of our Notes and, for the year ended December 31, 2009, the cash flows used in financing activities primarily reflect the repurchase of our Notes (after a discount of $21.6 million).

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the cash flows used in financing activities primarily reflect the net repayment of debt (including the repurchase of our Notes) of $132.2 million, the payment of dividends of $21.6 million and the repurchase of our common stock of $13.9 million.

 

Income Taxes

 

During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, we paid a nominal amount in income taxes as we have benefited from the tax deductions available on acquired assets, which are primarily intangible assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill. We anticipate that it will not be necessary to make any additional quarterly estimated federal, and most state, income tax payments for 2011, based upon projected quarterly taxable income and our ability to utilize federal net operating loss carryforwards beginning with 2009 and certain state net operating loss carryforwards beginning with 2006.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Income Tax Refunds

 

As a result of federal tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed us to carryback our 2008 net operating loss for five years rather than for two years, we received $6.8 million in federal income tax refunds in 2010 for income taxes we previously paid.

 

In 2008, we received $14.6 million in income tax refunds that was primarily comprised of: (1) $8.4 million in previously paid federal income taxes as a result of a 2007 net operating loss carryback; and (2) $6.2 million in refunds related to federal and state estimated tax prepayments.

 

Dividends

 

Any future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based upon the relevant factors at the time of such consideration, including, without limitation, compliance with the restrictions set forth in our Bank Facility.

 

Previously, we have used a portion of our capital resources to pay dividends on a quarterly basis effective beginning with the first quarter of 2006 and ending with and including the third quarter of 2008. Our Board of Directors has not declared any dividends since that time.

 

Pursuant to our Bank Facility, as amended in March 2010, during periods when our Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds six times, we are prohibited from paying dividends.

 

Share Repurchase Programs

 

Depending on market conditions and other factors, new share repurchase programs could be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice.  Our most recent share repurchase program expired on June 30, 2009.

 

2009 Option Exchange Program

 

In February 2009, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Entercom Equity Compensation Plan to permit a one-time Option Exchange Program (the “2009 OEP”), which amendment was approved at the May 2009 shareholders’ meeting. On April 13, 2009, we commenced the 2009 OEP (subject to shareholder approval) by making an exchange offer to our eligible employees and non-employee directors. We offered such persons the opportunity to make an election to exchange all of their outstanding stock options with exercise prices equal to or greater than $11.80 per share for a lesser number of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The exchange ratio under the 2009 OEP was as follows:

 

Option 

 

Exchange Ratio

 

Strike Price

 

(Options For RSUs)

 

At least $11.80, but less than $30.00

 

2.25 for 1

 

$30.00 or more

 

4.5 for 1

 

 

On May 15, 2009, following the May 14, 2009 expiration of the 2009 OEP exchange offer, we granted 0.7 million restricted stock units in exchange for 2.1 million options. As a result of the 2009 OEP, the number of restricted stock units that can be issued under the Plan was effectively increased by 0.7 million as all restricted stock units granted did not count against the restricted stock sublimit.  In addition, the number of awards that can be issued under the Plan was effectively reduced by 2.1 million as all options that were exchanged will not be available for re-grant under the Plan.

 

Senior Subordinated Note Repurchases

 

On March 8, 2010, we redeemed at par all of the remaining $6.6 million Notes outstanding.

 

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Table of Contents

 

On March 5, 2002, we issued $150.0 million of Notes due March 1, 2014. As of December 31, 2009, we had outstanding $6.6 million, as we repurchased and retired, during the years 2010 and 2009, $6.6 million and $76.9 million of the Notes, respectively.

 

Interest on the Notes, which were in denominations of $1,000 each, accrued at the rate of 7.625% per annum and was payable semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1.  Effective March 1, 2010, the Notes were callable at a redemption price of 100.0% of their principal amount plus accrued interest. The Notes were unsecured and ranked junior to our senior indebtedness. Our Notes also required us to comply with certain covenants that limited, among other things, our ability to incur indebtedness and to make certain payments.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were $2.7 million, $2.5 million and $8.6 million, respectively. We anticipate that capital expenditures in 2011 will be between $4.0 million and $4.5 million.

 

Credit Rating Agencies

 

Effective beginning in 2009, we elected to discontinue our subscription to such ratings services. On a continuing basis, credit rating agencies such as Moody’s Investor Services and Standard and Poor’s may evaluate our debt in order to assign a credit rating. Any future significant downgrade in our credit rating could adversely impact our future liquidity by limiting or eliminating our ability to obtain debt financing.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table reflects a summary of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Payments Due By Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Than

 

 

 

 

 

Less Than

 

1 To 3

 

3 To 5

 

5

 

Contractual Obligations:

 

Total

 

1 Year

 

Years

 

Years

 

Years

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt obligations (1)

 

$

669,573

 

$

179,902

 

$

489,596

 

$

39

 

$

36

 

Operating lease obligations

 

80,764

 

12,408

 

22,473

 

17,266

 

28,617

 

Financing method lease obligations (2)

 

36,198

 

725

 

14,127

 

1,607

 

19,739

 

Purchase obligations (3)

 

232,300

 

75,326

 

97,285

 

41,689

 

18,000

 

Other long-term liabilities (4)

 

42,378

 

104

 

4,789

 

1,328

 

36,157

 

Total

 

$

1,061,213

 

$

268,465

 

$

628,270

 

$

61,929

 

$

102,549

 

 


(1)

(a)

Our Bank Facility had outstanding debt in the amount of $650.0 million as of December 31, 2010. The maturity under our Bank Facility could be accelerated if we do not maintain compliance with certain covenants.

 

(b)

The above table includes projected interest expense under the remaining term of our Bank Facility.

 

 

 

(2)

 

Financing lease obligations outstanding include principal and interest expense. When our continuing involvement in this transaction ceases in the year 2013, we expect we will discontinue finance accounting and instead treat our obligations under the accounting guidance for capital and operating leases.

 

 

 

 

 

Also, we will recognize additional obligations included in the above table that cover lease payments for the period subsequent to the 42-month period of continuing involvement. The term for each of the leases ranges from 20 to 30 years, which covers the period of continuing involvement and the period subsequent to continuing involvement. For further discussion, see Note 8, Financing Method Lease Obligations, in the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

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(3)

(a)

We have purchase obligations of $221.2 million including contracts primarily for on-air personalities, sports programming rights, ratings services, music licensing fees, equipment maintenance and certain other operating contracts.

 

(b)

In addition to the above, we have $11.1 million in liabilities related to: (i) a pending transaction to acquire the assets of a radio station in San Jose, California, for $9.0 million in cash; (ii) construction obligations of $1.4 million; and (iii) our obligation to provide a $0.7 million letter of credit.

 

 

 

(4)

 

Included within total other long-term liabilities of $42.4 million are deferred income tax liabilities of $23.1 million that are recognized for all temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of our assets and liabilities based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Deferred tax liabilities may vary according to changes in tax laws, tax rates and our operating results. It is impractical to determine whether there will be a cash impact to an individual year. Therefore, deferred income tax liabilities, together with liabilities for uncertain tax positions, are reflected in the above table in the column labeled as “More Than 5 Years.” See Note 14, Income Taxes, in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of deferred tax liabilities, including liabilities for unrecognized tax positions.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We utilize letters of credit to back certain payment and performance obligations. Letters of credit are subject to limits based on amounts outstanding under our credit facility. We had an outstanding letter of credit of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2010.

 

In the normal course of business, many of our radio stations enter into operating leases for the rental of real property that facilitates the transmission and broadcast of our radio broadcast signal.

 

We enter into interest rate contracts (collars and swaps) to hedge a portion of our variable rate debt. See Note 9 in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for a detailed discussion of our derivative instruments.

 

We have, from time to time, divested certain of our radio stations and assets. In connection with these divestitures, we often provide representations, warranties and/or indemnities to cover various risks and unknown liabilities, such as environmental liabilities. We cannot estimate the potential liability from such representations, warranties and indemnities because they relate to unknown conditions.

 

We indemnify our directors and certain employees as permitted by law, and have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. We have not recorded a liability associated with these indemnification arrangements as we historically have not incurred any material costs associated with such indemnification obligations. Costs associated with such indemnification obligations may be mitigated by insurance coverage that we maintain; however, such insurance may not cover any of, or may cover only a portion of, the amounts we may be required to pay. In addition, such insurance coverage could change in the future.

 

We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet financial arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes at December 31, 2010. Accordingly, we are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

 

In December 2010, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire a radio station in San Jose, California, for $9.0 million in cash.  Concurrently with entering into the asset purchase agreement, we entered into a TBA and commenced operations on January 19, 2011. Accounting guidelines for variable interest entities require that the primary beneficiary consolidate the entity into its financial statements.  As a result of our review, we determined that since we were not the primary beneficiary of this entity, we did not include the entity in our consolidated financial statements.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had no other off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

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Market Capitalization

 

As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, our total market capitalization was $440.8 million and $263.1 million, respectively, which was $278.1 million and $149.1 million more, respectively, than our equity book value. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, our stock price was $11.58 per share and $7.07 per share, respectively. The difference in market capitalization versus equity book value can be attributed to: (i) a partial recovery in our stock price as compared to recent historical averages; and (ii) a reduction in equity book value due to impairments to broadcasting licenses and goodwill during the past several years. See Note 4, Intangible Assets And Goodwill, in the accompanying notes to the financial statements for a discussion of impairment losses in 2009 and 2008.

 

Intangibles

 

As of December 31, 2010, approximately 83% of our total assets consisted of radio broadcast licenses and goodwill, the value of which depends significantly upon the operational results of our business. We could not operate our radio stations without the related FCC license for each station.  FCC licenses are subject to renewal every eight years; consequently, we continually monitor the activities of our stations to ensure they comply with all regulatory requirements. Subject to delays in processing by the FCC, historically, all of our licenses have been renewed and we expect that all licenses will continue to be renewed in the future. (See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” for a discussion of the risks associated with the renewal of licenses.)

 

Inflation

 

In 2010, we were not significantly impacted by the effects of inflation on our radio station operating expenses, including wages and equipment, although the exact impact cannot be reasonably determined.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In June 2009, the accounting standards were amended for determining whether to consolidate a variable interest entity. These amended standards eliminate a mandatory quantitative approach for determining whether a variable interest provides the entity with a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity in favor of a qualitatively focused analysis, and require an ongoing reassessment of whether an entity is the primary beneficiary. These amended standards were effective January 1, 2010. This adoption did not have any effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements which impacted 2010, see Note 2 in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and the amounts of reported revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different circumstances or by using different assumptions.

 

We consider the following policies to be important in understanding the judgments involved in preparing our financial statements and the uncertainties that could affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue from the sale of commercial broadcast time to advertisers when the commercials are broadcast, subject to meeting certain conditions such as persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. These criteria are generally met at the time an

 

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advertisement is broadcast, and the revenue is recorded net of advertising agency commission. Based upon past experience, the use of these criteria has been a reliable method to recognize revenues.

 

Allowance For Doubtful Accounts

 

We record an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from our customers’ failure to make payments to us. We specifically review historical write-off activity by market, large customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness, the economic conditions of the customer’s industry, and changes in our customer payment practices when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Our historical estimates have been a reliable method to estimate future allowances. Our historical reserves have generally ranged between 3% and 5% of our outstanding receivables. Our accounts receivable reserve has been in the higher range over the past several years due to the economic uncertainties and its effect on our business and our customer base, with a reserve of 4.2% and 4.6% as of as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  If the financial condition of our customers or markets were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, then additional allowances could be required. Our net income would be negatively impacted by $0.02 per share (basic and diluted), assuming a 1% increase in our outstanding accounts receivable allowance of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2010 (assuming a full valuation allowance against any tax benefit).

 

Contingencies And Litigation

 

On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our exposure related to contingencies and litigation and record a liability when available information indicates that a liability is probable and estimable. We also disclose significant matters that are reasonably possible to result in a loss or are probable but not estimable.

 

Estimation Of Our Tax Rates

 

We must make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments must be used in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities because of differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes.

 

We must assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets. In 2010 and 2009, we recorded full valuation allowances for our net deferred tax assets primarily due to our cumulative losses over the past three years. As changes occur in our assessments regarding our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, our tax provision is decreased in any period in which we determine that the recovery is probable.

 

In addition, the calculation of our tax liabilities requires us to account for uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on the two-step process prescribed within the interpretation of accounting for uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit based upon its technical merits, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that has greater than a 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as this requires us to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions, and review whether any new uncertain tax positions have arisen, on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, historical experience with similar tax matters, guidance from our tax advisors, and new audit activity. A change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision in the period in which the change occurs.

 

We believe our estimates of the value of our tax contingencies and valuation allowances are critical accounting estimates, as they contain assumptions based on past experiences and judgments about potential actions by taxing jurisdictions. It is reasonably likely that the ultimate resolution of these matters may be greater or less than the amount that we have currently accrued.  Excluding discrete items of tax, changes in our valuation allowance and impairment losses, our tax rate over the past several years has varied within a range of high 30% to low 40%. The effect of a 1% increase in our estimated tax rate as of December 31, 2010 would be an increase in income taxes of $0.7 million and a decrease in net income of $0.7 million (net income per basic and diluted share of $0.02) for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Valuation Of Share-Based Compensation

 

We determine the fair value of our employee stock options at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the value of exchange-traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Our employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from these traded options. In addition, option-pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility and expected term of the options granted.

 

We determine the fair value of restricted stock units with service and market conditions using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The fair value is based on the use of certain assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables.  If other reasonable assumptions were used, the results could differ.

 

Radio Broadcasting Licenses And Goodwill

 

We have made acquisitions in the past for which a significant amount of the purchase price was allocated to broadcasting licenses and goodwill assets. As of December 31, 2010, we have recorded approximately $746.0 million in radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill, which represents 82.8% of our total assets at that date. We must conduct impairment testing at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired, and charge to operations an impairment expense only in the periods in which the recorded value of these assets is more than their fair value. After an impairment expense is recognized, the recorded value of these assets will be reduced by the impairment recognized and this will be the assets’ new accounting basis. In 2009 and in 2008, we recorded impairment losses of $67.7 million and $835.7 million, respectively, for radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill.

 

We believe our estimate of the value of our radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill assets is a critical accounting estimate as the value is significant in relation to our total assets, and our estimate of the value uses assumptions that incorporate variables based on past experiences and judgments about future performance of our stations. These variables include but are not limited to: (1) the risk-adjusted discount rate used in the valuation of fair value; (2) market share and profit margin of an average station within a market based upon market size and station type; (3) the forecast growth rate of each radio market, including assumptions regarding each market’s population, household income, retail sales and other factors that would influence advertising expenditures; (4) estimated capital start-up costs and losses incurred during the early years; (5) the likely media competition within the market area; (6) an effective tax rate assumption; and (7) future terminal values.  Changes in our estimates of the fair value of these assets could result in material future period write-downs in the carrying value of our broadcasting licenses and goodwill assets.

 

Broadcasting Licenses

 

We perform our broadcasting license impairment test by evaluating our broadcasting licenses for impairment at the market level using the direct method.  For purposes of testing impairment, indefinite-lived intangible assets are combined into a single unit of accounting. Since the broadcasting licenses in each market are operated as a single asset, each market’s broadcasting licenses are a single unit of accounting.

 

We completed the impairment test for broadcasting licenses during the second quarter of 2010 and determined that the fair value of the broadcasting licenses was more than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for each of our markets and, accordingly, no impairment was recorded.

 

The methodology used by us in determining our key estimates and assumptions was applied consistently to each market. As a result, the analysis for each market is the same. Of the seven variables identified above, we believe that the first three (in clauses (1) through (3) above) are the most important to the determination of fair value. The following table reflects these estimates and assumptions used in 2010 as compared to the second quarter of 2009, the date of the most recent prior impairment test.  In general, when comparing the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2009: (1) the discount rate decreased primarily due to a decrease in the estimated required returns on debt and equity of publicly traded radio companies; (2) the market specific operating profit margin range remained relatively flat; and (3) the market long-term revenue growth rates were marginally higher for many markets as the outlook for the industry improved.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Second

 

Second

 

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Discount rates

 

10.0%

 

10.6%

 

Operating profit margin ranges of the Company’s markets

 

21.0% to 42.5%

 

21.0% to 44.0%

 

Long-term revenue growth rate ranges of the Company’s markets

 

1.5% to 2.0%

 

1.0% to 2.5%

 

 

We believe we have made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of our broadcasting licenses; however, these estimates and assumptions could be materially different from actual results. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the industry or by us, or if events occur or circumstances change that would reduce the fair value of our broadcasting licenses below the amount reflected in the balance sheet, we may be required to recognize impairment charges, which could be material, in future periods.

 

The table below presents the percentage within a range by which the fair value exceeded the carrying value of our radio broadcasting licenses as of June 30, 2010 for 19 units of accounting where the carrying value of the licenses are considered material to our financial statements (19 geographical markets).  Rather than presenting the percentage separately for each unit of accounting, management’s opinion is that this table in summary form is more meaningful to the reader in assessing the recoverability of the broadcasting licenses. In addition, the units of accounting are not disclosed with the specific market name as such disclosure could be competitively harmful to us.

 

 

 

Units Of Accounting As Of June 30, 2010

 

 

 

Percentage Range By Which Fair Value Exceeds Carrying Value

 

 

 

 

 

Greater

 

Greater

 

Greater

 

 

 

0% To

 

Than 5%

 

Than 10%

 

Than

 

 

 

5%

 

To 10%

 

To 15%

 

15%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of units of accounting

 

4

 

5

 

3

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying value (in thousands)

 

$

210,440

 

$

150,482

 

$

123,177

 

$

223,162

 

 

Goodwill

 

We performed our annual impairment test on our goodwill during the second quarter of 2010 by comparing the fair value for each reporting unit with the amount reflected on the balance sheet. We determined that a radio market is a reporting unit and, in total, we assessed goodwill at 19 separate reporting units (four of our 23 reporting units had no goodwill recorded as of June 30, 2010).  If the fair value of any reporting unit is less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet, an indication exists that the amount of goodwill attributed to a reporting unit may be impaired, and we are required to perform a second step of the impairment test. In the second step, we compare the amount reflected in the balance sheet to the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, determined by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation.

 

To determine the fair value, we use an income and market approach for each reporting unit. The market approach compares recent sales and offering prices of similar properties. The income approach uses the subject property’s income generated over a specified time and capitalized at an appropriate market rate to arrive at an indication of the most probable selling price.

 

In step one of our goodwill analysis, we considered the results of the market approach and the income approach in computing the fair value of our reporting units. In the market approach, we applied an estimated market multiple of between seven and a half times and eight times to each reporting unit’s operating performance to calculate the fair value. This multiple was higher than the six times multiple applied to all markets in the second quarter of 2009.  Management believes that these approaches are an appropriate measurement given the current market valuations of broadcast radio stations together with the historical market transactions, including those in recent months. Factors contributing to the determination of the reporting unit’s operating performance were historical performance and management’s estimates of future performance.

 

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In the income approach, we utilized the discounted cash flow method to calculate the fair value of the reporting unit (the key estimates and assumptions are included in the table below). The results of step one indicated that it was not necessary to perform the second step analysis in any of the markets tested. As a result of the step one test, no impairment loss was recorded during the second quarter of 2010. We performed a reasonableness test by comparing the fair value results for goodwill by using the implied multiple based on our cash flow performance and our current stock price and comparing the results to prevailing radio broadcast transaction multiples.

 

The following table reflects certain key estimates and assumptions used in 2010 and in the second quarter of 2009, the date of the most recent prior impairment test. The ranges for operating profit margin and revenue growth rates are for our markets.  In general, when comparing the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2009: (1) the discount rate decreased primarily due to a decrease in the estimated required returns of the debt and equity of publicly traded radio companies; (2) the market specific operating profit margin range narrowed; and (3) the market long-term revenue growth rate range narrowed.

 

 

 

Second

 

Second

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

 

2010

 

2009

Discount rates

 

10.0%

 

10.6%

Operating profit margin ranges of the Company’s markets

 

26.0% to 39.0%

 

21.0% to 41.0%

Long-term revenue growth rate ranges of the Company’s markets

 

1.5% to 2.0%

 

1.0% to 2.5%

 

The table below presents the percentage within a range by which the fair value exceeded the carrying value of the reporting unit as of June 30, 2010 for 19 reporting units under step one of the goodwill impairment test during the second quarter of 2010.  Rather than presenting the percentage separately for each reporting unit, management’s opinion is that this table in summary form is more meaningful to the reader in assessing the recoverability of the reporting unit, including goodwill. In addition, the reporting units are not disclosed with the specific market name as such disclosure could be competitively harmful to us.

 

 

 

Reporting Units As Of June 30, 2010

 

 

 

Percentage Range By Which Fair Value Exceeds Carrying Value

 

 

 

 

 

Greater

 

Greater

 

Greater

 

 

 

0% To

 

Than 5%

 

Than 10%

 

Than

 

 

 

5%

 

To 10%

 

To 15%

 

15%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of reporting units

 

3

 

 

2

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying value (in thousands)

 

$

177,879

 

$

 

$

124,679

 

$

454,939

 

 

Sensitivity Of Key Broadcasting Licenses And Goodwill Assumptions

 

If we were to assume a 100 basis point change in certain of our key assumptions (a reduction in the long-term revenue growth rate, a reduction in the operating performance cash flow and an increase in the weighted average cost of capital) used to determine the fair value of our broadcasting licenses and goodwill during the second quarter of 2010, the following would be the incremental impact:

 

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Table of Contents

 

Sensitivity Analysis

 

 

 

Results Of

 

 

 

Results Of

 

 

 

Long-Term

 

Results Of

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Revenue

 

Operating

 

Average

 

 

 

Growth

 

Performance

 

Cost Of

 

 

 

Rate

 

Cash Flow

 

Capital

 

 

 

Decrease

 

Decrease

 

Increase

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Broadcasting Licenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment assumption sensitivity result

 

$

19,671

 

$

11,557

 

$

46,477

 

Incremental broadcasting licenses impairment

 

19,671

 

11,557

 

46,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment assumption sensitivity result (1)

 

1,050

 

1,176

 

912

 

Incremental goodwill impairment

 

1,050

 

1,176

 

912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total incremental impairment from sensitivity analysis

 

$

20,721

 

$

12,733

 

$

47,389

 

 


(1)                                  The sensitivity analysis was computed using data from step 1 testing of goodwill during the second quarter of 2010.

 

The discount rate to be used by a typical market participant reflects the risk inherent in future cash flows for the broadcast industry. The same discount rate was used for each of our markets. The discount rate is calculated by weighting the required returns on interest-bearing debt and common equity capital in proportion to their estimated percentages in an expected capital structure.  The capital structure was estimated based upon data available for publicly traded companies in the broadcast industry.

 

Operating profit margins are defined as profit before interest, depreciation and amortization, income tax and corporate allocation charges.  Operating profits are then divided by broadcast revenues, net of agency and national representative commissions, to compute the operating profit margins.  Operating profit margins are projected based upon industry operating profit norms, which reflect market size and station type.  This assumption is not specific to the performance of our radio stations in a market, but is predicated on the expectation that a new entrant into the market could reasonably be expected to perform at a level similar to a typical competitor. If the outlook for the industry’s growth declines, then operating profit margins would be negatively impacted, which would negatively impact the value of our broadcasting licenses.

 

To determine the radio broadcasting industry’s future revenue growth rate, management uses publicly available information on industry expectations rather than management’s own estimates, which could be different. In addition, these long-term market growth rate estimates could vary in each of our markets. Using the publicly available information on industry expectations, each market’s revenues were forecasted over a ten-year projection period to reflect the expected long-term growth rate for the radio broadcast industry, which was further adjusted for each of our markets.  If the industry’s growth is less than forecasted, then the fair value of our broadcasting licenses could be negatively impacted.

 

See Note 4, Intangible Assets And Goodwill, in the accompanying notes to the financial statements, for a discussion of intangible assets and goodwill.

 

For a more comprehensive list of our accounting policies, see Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, accompanying the consolidated financial statements included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included with Form 10-K contains several other policies, including policies such as governing the timing of revenue recognition, which are important to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, but do not meet the SEC’s definition of critical accounting policies because they do not involve subjective or complex judgments.  In addition, for further discussion of new accounting policies that were effective for us on January 1, 2010, see the new accounting standards under Note 2 to the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

 

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ITEM 7A.                    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our variable rate Bank Facility. From time to time, we may seek to limit our exposure to interest rate volatility through the use of derivative rate hedging instruments. If the borrowing rates under our LIBOR loans were to increase 1% above the rates as of December 31, 2010, our interest expense under our Bank Facility would increase by approximately $4.2 million on an annual basis, including any interest benefit or interest expense associated with the use of outstanding derivative rate hedging instruments.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the following derivative rate hedging transactions to fix interest on our variable rate debt were outstanding in the aggregate notional amount of $475.0 million. These rate hedging transactions are tied to the one-month LIBOR interest rate.

 

Type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed

 

 

 

Of

 

Notional

 

Effective

 

 

 

LIBOR

 

Expiration

 

Hedge

 

Amount

 

Date

 

Collar

 

Rate

 

Date

 

 

 

(amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap

 

$

150.0

 

January 28, 2008

 

n/a

 

3.03

%

January 28, 2011

 

Collar

 

100.0

 

February 28, 2008

[

Cap

 

4.00

%

]

February 28, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floor

 

2.14

%

 

 

Swap

 

125.0

 

March 28, 2008

 

n/a

 

2.91

%

September 28, 2011

 

Swap

 

100.0

 

May 28, 2008

 

n/a

 

3.62

%

May 28, 2012

 

Total

 

$

475.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The net fair value (based upon current market rates) of the rate hedging transactions is included as derivative instruments in long-term liabilities, which is based upon the maturity dates.  Our rate hedging transactions are tied to the one-month LIBOR interest rate, which may fluctuate significantly on a daily basis. The fair value of the hedging transaction is affected by a combination of several factors, including the change in the one-month LIBOR rate and the forward interest rate to maturity. Any increase in the one-month LIBOR rate and/or the forward interest rate to maturity results in a more favorable valuation, while any decrease in the one-month LIBOR rate and/or forward interest rate to maturity results in a less favorable valuation. The fair value of our derivative instruments outstanding as of December 31, 2010 was a liability of $7.3 million, which was a $6.2 million decrease in the liability as compared to the balance as of December 31, 2009. This positive change was primarily due to the effect of a decrease in the remaining period of each derivative instrument as the forward interest rate to maturity remained relatively flat.

 

Our credit exposure under our hedging agreements, or similar agreements we may enter into in the future, is the cost of replacing such agreements in the event of non-performance by our counter-party. To minimize this risk, we select high credit quality counter-parties.  We do not anticipate nonperformance by such counter-parties, and no material loss would be expected in the event of the counter-parties’ nonperformance.

 

Our cash equivalents are money market instruments consisting of short-term government securities and repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by government securities.  We do not believe that we have any material credit exposure with respect to these assets.

 

Our credit exposure related to our accounts receivable does not represent a significant concentration of credit risk due to the quantity of advertisers, the minimal reliance on any one advertiser, the multiple markets in which we operate and the wide variety of advertising business sectors.

 

See also additional disclosures regarding liquidity and capital resources made under Part II, Item 7, above.

 

ITEM 8.                       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

Our consolidated financial statements, together with related notes and the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, are set forth on the pages indicated in Part IV, Item 15.

 

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ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.                    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation Of Controls And Procedures

 

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that: (1) information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms; and (2) 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 our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and our management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2010.  Based on the foregoing, our President/Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President - Operations/Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes In Internal Controls

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

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:

 

·                  pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

 

·                  provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

 

·                  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

 

43



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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 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.  Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010. The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.

 

David J. Field, President and Chief Executive Officer

Stephen F. Fisher, Executive Vice President - Operations and Chief Financial Officer

 

ITEM 9B.                    OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10.                      DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The information required by this Item 10 is incorporated in this report by reference to the applicable information set forth in our proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to April 29, 2011.

 

ITEM 11.                      EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated in this report by reference to the applicable information set forth in our proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to April 29, 2011.

 

ITEM 12.           SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

 

The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated in this report by reference to the applicable information set forth in our proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to April 29, 2011.

 

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 applicable information set forth in our proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to April 29, 2011.

 

ITEM 14.                      PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated in this report by reference to the applicable information set forth in our proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to April 29, 2011.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.                      EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)           The following documents are filed as part of this Report:

 

Document

 

Page

 

 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

48

 

 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 

49

Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 

50

Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 

51

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 

52

Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 

54

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

56

 

 

 

Index to Exhibits

 

114

 

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Table of Contents

 

(b)               Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

3.01

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Entercom Communications Corp. (1)

3.02

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Entercom Communications Corp. (2)

10.01

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between Entercom Communications Corp. and David J. Field. (3)

10.02

 

Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 2007, between Entercom Communications Corp. and Joseph M. Field. (4)

10.03

 

First Amendment To Employment Agreement, dated December 15, 2008, between Entercom Communications Corp. and Joseph M. Field. (5)

10.04

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between Entercom Communications Corp. and Stephen F. Fisher. (3)

10.05

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 17, 1998, between Entercom Communications Corp. and John C. Donlevie. (6)

10.06

 

Entercom Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, adopted May 18, 2010. (7)

10.07

 

Amended and Restated Entercom Equity Compensation Plan. (8)

10.08

 

Entercom Annual Incentive Plan. (9)

10.09

 

First Amendment dated as of March 11, 2010 to Credit Agreement (dated as of June 18, 2007) among Entercom Radio, LLC, as the Borrower, Entercom Communications Corp., as the Parent, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer and the lenders party thereto. (10)

21.01

 

Information Regarding Subsidiaries of Entercom Communications Corp. (3)

23.01

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. (3)

31.01

 

Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as created by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)

31.02

 

Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as created by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)

32.01

 

Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (11)

32.02

 

Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (11)

 


(1)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01 to our Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed on January 27, 1999 (File No. 333-61381), Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on December 21, 2007 and Exhibit 3.02 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, as filed on August 5, 2009.

(2)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 21, 2008.

(3)

 

Filed herewith.

(4)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as filed on November 21, 2007.

(5)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.04 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed on February 26, 2009.

(6)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.03 to our Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed on January 6, 1999. (File No. 333-61381).

(7)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.04 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, as filed on August 2, 2010.

(8)

 

Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 23, 2009.

(9)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2008.

(10)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2010, as filed on May 7, 2010.

(11)

 

These exhibits are submitted as “accompanying” this Annual Report on Form 10-K and shall not be deemed to be “filed” as part of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Table of Contents

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

of Entercom Communications Corp.:

 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Entercom Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 9, 2011

 

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

 

ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

DECEMBER 31,

 

DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

3,768

 

$

10,751

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

70,897

 

68,319

 

Prepaid expenses, deposits and other

 

5,370

 

4,701

 

Prepaid and refundable federal and state income taxes

 

810

 

7,628

 

Deferred tax assets

 

651

 

650

 

Insurance claim receivable

 

 

16,500

 

Total current assets

 

81,496

 

108,549

 

Investments

 

217

 

391

 

Net property and equipment

 

62,729

 

71,740

 

Radio broadcasting licenses

 

707,852

 

707,852

 

Goodwill

 

38,168

 

38,168

 

Deferred charges and other assets, net of accumulated amortization

 

10,563

 

8,486

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

901,025

 

$

935,186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

4,209

 

$

477

 

Accrued expenses

 

7,537

 

13,152

 

Accrued compensation and other current liabilities

 

13,476

 

12,678

 

Insurance claim payable

 

 

16,500

 

Long-term debt, current portion

 

165,026

 

80,024

 

Total current liabilities

 

190,248

 

122,831

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

485,122

 

655,728

 

Financing method lease obligations

 

12,610

 

12,610

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

23,704

 

650

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

18,674

 

29,415

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

540,110

 

698,403

 

Total liabilities

 

730,358

 

821,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock $0.01 par value; authorized 25,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Class A common stock $.01 par value; voting; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 30,700,568 in 2010 and 29,755,161 in 2009

 

307

 

297

 

Class B common stock $.01 par value; voting; authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 7,367,532 in 2010 and 7,457,532 in 2009

 

74

 

75

 

Class C common stock $.01 par value; nonvoting; authorized 50,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

592,643

 

588,622

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(415,080

)

(461,610

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(7,277

)

(13,432

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

170,667

 

113,952

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

901,025

 

$

935,186

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

49



Table of Contents

 

ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

NET REVENUES

 

$

391,447

 

$

372,432

 

$

438,822

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station operating expenses, including non-cash compensation expense

 

258,896

 

254,042

 

276,187

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

12,660

 

16,600

 

20,442

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses, including non-cash compensation expense

 

21,954

 

22,875

 

26,917

 

Impairment loss

 

 

67,676

 

835,716

 

Net time brokerage agreement income

 

 

(2

)

(233

)

Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets

 

228

 

420

 

(9,899

)

Total operating expense

 

293,738

 

361,611

 

1,149,130

 

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

 

97,709

 

10,821

 

(710,308

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing expense

 

30,510

 

31,229

 

45,040

 

Interest and dividend income

 

(19

)

(58

)

(323

)

Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt

 

62

 

(20,805

)

(6,949

)

Net gain on derivative instruments

 

 

 

(34

)

Net loss on investments

 

174

 

966

 

469

 

Other income

 

(49

)

(380

)

(3,339

)

TOTAL OTHER EXPENSE

 

30,678

 

10,952

 

34,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)

 

67,031

 

(131

)

(745,172

)

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)

 

20,595

 

(5,529

)

(232,600

)

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

46,436

 

5,398

 

(512,572

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

 

 

(4,079

)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(516,651

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

1.30

 

$

0.15

 

$

(13.94

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

 

 

(0.11

)

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC

 

$

1.30

 

$

0.15

 

$

(14.05

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

1.23

 

$

0.15

 

$

(13.94

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

 

 

(0.11

)

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED

 

$

1.23

 

$

0.15

 

$

(14.05

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS DECLARED AND PAID PER COMMON SHARE

 

$

 

$

 

$

0.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

35,712,026

 

35,321,431

 

36,782,166

 

Diluted

 

37,679,386

 

36,402,800

 

36,782,166

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(516,651

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAXES (BENEFIT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain on investments, net of taxes

 

 

 

132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of taxes (benefit)

 

6,155

 

1,830

 

(15,262

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

52,591

 

$

7,228

 

$

(531,781

)

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2009 AND 2008

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

Earnings

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Paid-in

 

(Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit)

 

Income (Loss)

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2007

 

31,132,700

 

$

311

 

7,607,532

 

$

76

 

$

595,915

 

$

64,597

 

$

(132

)

$

660,767

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(516,651

)

 

(516,651

)

Compensation expense related to granting of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

425

 

 

 

425

 

Compensation expense related to granting of restricted stock units

 

478,075

 

5

 

 

 

8,236

 

 

 

8,241

 

Issuance of common stock related to an incentive plan

 

72,092

 

1

 

 

 

328

 

 

 

329

 

Common stock repurchase

 

(2,073,518

)

(21

)

 

 

(13,923

)

 

 

(13,944

)

Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units

 

(130,161

)

(1

)

 

 

(1,374

)

 

 

(1,375

)

Payments of dividends of $0.58 per share

 

 

 

 

 

(7,282

)

(14,301

)

 

(21,583

)

Net dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (net of forfeitures)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(822

)

 

(822

)

Net unrealized loss on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,262

)

(15,262

)

Net unrealized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

132

 

132

 

Balance, December 31, 2008

 

29,479,188

 

295

 

7,607,532

 

76

 

582,325

 

(467,177

)

(15,262

)

100,257

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,398

 

 

5,398

 

Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock

 

150,000

 

1

 

(150,000

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

Compensation expense related to granting of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

485

 

 

 

485

 

Compensation expense related to granting of restricted stock units

 

796,824

 

8

 

 

 

6,380

 

 

 

6,388

 

Issuance of common stock related to an incentive plan

 

74,369

 

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

97

 

Common stock repurchase

 

(662,664

)

(7

)

 

 

(882

)

 

 

(889

)

Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units

 

(82,556

)

 

 

 

(104

)

 

 

(104

)

Forfeitures of dividend equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

169

 

 

169

 

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2009 AND 2008

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Paid-in

 

(Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit)

 

Income (Loss)

 

Total

 

Realization of tax benefit for dividend equivalent payments

 

 

 

 

 

321

 

 

 

321

 

Net unrealized gain on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,830

 

1,830

 

Balance, December 31, 2009

 

29,755,161

 

297

 

7,457,532

 

75

 

588,622

 

(461,610

)

(13,432

)

113,952

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,436

 

 

46,436

 

Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock

 

90,000

 

1

 

(90,000

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

Compensation expense related to granting of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

549

 

 

 

549

 

Compensation expense related to granting of restricted stock units

 

941,213

 

10

 

 

 

4,969

 

 

 

4,979

 

Exercise of stock options

 

97,725

 

1

 

 

 

129

 

 

 

130

 

Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units

 

(183,531

)

(2

)

 

 

(1,626

)

 

 

(1,628

)

Forfeitures of dividend equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

94

 

 

94

 

Net unrealized gain on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,155

 

6,155

 

Balance, December 31, 2010

 

30,700,568

 

$

307

 

7,367,532

 

$

74

 

$

592,643

 

$

(415,080

)

$

(7,277

)

$

170,667

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(516,651

)

Income from discontinued operations before impairment loss, net of taxes

 

 

 

(520

)

Impairment loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

6,675

 

Deferred tax benefit from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(2,076

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

46,436

 

5,398

 

(512,572

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided by continuing operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,660

 

16,600

 

20,442

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

3,912

 

1,518

 

1,647

 

Net deferred taxes (benefit) and other

 

23,053

 

999

 

(232,600

)

Provision for bad debts

 

990

 

2,708

 

4,594

 

Net (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets

 

228

 

420

 

(9,899

)

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense

 

5,528

 

6,888

 

9,856

 

Net loss on investments

 

174

 

966

 

469

 

Net gain on derivatives

 

 

 

(34

)

Deferred rent

 

(34

)

(9

)

694

 

Unearned revenue - long-term

 

 

(739

)

460

 

Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt

 

62

 

(20,805

)

(6,949

)

Deferred compensation

 

1,614

 

1,596

 

903

 

Tax benefit for vesting of restricted stock unit awards

 

 

 

(474

)

Impairment loss

 

 

67,676

 

835,716

 

Other income

 

(49

)

(380

)

(3,590

)

Changes in assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions in all years and the effect of deconsolidation activities in 2008):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(3,532

)

4,324

 

10,365

 

Prepaid expenses and deposits

 

15,828

 

(16,397

)

777

 

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

 

6,818

 

(7,000

)

14,431

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(20,012

)

12,874

 

(1,775

)

Accrued interest expense

 

(195

)

(1,944

)

(2,073

)

Accrued expenses - long-term

 

(2,561

)

(577

)

 

Prepaid expenses - long-term

 

(510

)

(214

)

200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by continuing operating activities

 

90,410

 

73,902

 

130,588

 

Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operating activities

 

 

 

29

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

90,410

 

73,902

 

130,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(2,744

)

(2,467

)

(8,553

)

Proceeds from sale of property, equipment, intangibles and other assets

 

151

 

106

 

33,991

 

Purchases of radio station assets

 

 

 

(374

)

Deferred charges and other assets

 

(368

)

(120

)

(1,110

)

Proceeds from investments

 

49

 

39

 

251

 

Proceeds from termination of radio station contract

 

 

380

 

 

Proceeds from insurance recovery

 

 

 

3,590

 

Station acquisition deposits and costs

 

(1,350

)

 

4,149

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(4,262

)

(2,062

)

31,944

 

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred expenses related to bank facility amendment and finance method lease obligations

 

(5,155

)

(342

)

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

37,500

 

39,000

 

56,000

 

Proceeds from the financing method of lease obligations

 

 

12,610

 

 

Payments of long-term debt

 

(116,525

)

(60,023

)

(129,522

)

Retirement of senior subordinated notes

 

(6,579

)

(55,272

)

(58,633

)

Purchase of the Company’s common stock

 

 

(889

)

(13,944

)

Proceeds from issuance of employee stock plan

 

 

82

 

278

 

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

130

 

 

 

Purchase of vested restricted stock units

 

(1,628

)

(104

)

(1,375

)

Payment of dividend equivalents on vested restricted stock units

 

(874

)

(756

)

(917

)

Realization of tax benefit for dividend equivalents payments

 

 

321

 

 

Payment of dividends

 

 

 

(21,583

)

Tax benefit for vesting of restricted stock unit awards

 

 

 

474

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(93,131

)

(65,373

)

(169,222

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(6,983

)

6,467

 

(6,661

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR

 

10,751

 

4,284

 

10,945

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR

 

$

3,768

 

$

10,751

 

$

4,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

27,100

 

31,643

 

44,612

 

Income taxes

 

83

 

192

 

22

 

Dividends

 

 

 

21,583

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES ON NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company issued 0.9 million restricted stock units (“RSUs”) (net of forfeitures) that will increase its paid-in capital by $10.1 million over the vesting period of the RSUs. For purposes of computing forfeitures noted above, 0.1 million market-based RSUs, which were forfeited as the vesting conditions were not met, were included.

 

During 2010, the Company recorded non-cash tangible assets of $0.1 million.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company issued 1.1 million RSUs (including 0.7 million RSUs under a 2009 Option Exchange Program and 0.2 million for modified market conditioned RSUs) and will increase its additional paid-in capital by $1.7 million, before forfeitures of $2.6 million, over the vesting period of the RSUs.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company issued 0.5 million RSUs (net of forfeitures) and will increase its paid-in capital by $6.0 million over the vesting period of the RSUs.

 

On March 14, 2008, the Company completed an exchange of radio station assets with another party and as a result the Company: (1) received $220.0 million in assets, including cash of $1.0 million; (2) provided assets with a basis of $210.0 million (including transaction costs); and (3) recorded a gain of $10.0 million.

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2009 AND 2008

 

1.                                      BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ORGANIZATION

 

Nature Of Business Entercom Communications Corp. (the “Company”) is one of the five largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States with a nationwide portfolio in excess of 100 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Kansas City.

 

2.                                      SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles Of Consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are 100% owned. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.  The Company also considers the applicability of any variable interest entities (“VIE”) that are required to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary.  From time to time, the Company may enter into a time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) in connection with a pending acquisition or disposition of radio station(s) and the requirements to consolidate a VIE may apply, depending on the facts and circumstances related to each transaction.  As of December 31, 2010, there was a pending acquisition that did not meet the consolidation requirements as a VIE (see Note 10, Contingencies, Guarantor Arrangements And Commitments).

 

Reportable Segment - The Company operates under one reportable business segment, radio broadcasting, for which segment disclosure is consistent with the management decision-making process that determines the allocation of resources and the measuring of performance. Radio stations serving the same geographic area, which may be comprised of a city or combination of cities, are referred to as markets or as distinct operating segments. The Company has 23 operating segments. These operating segments are aggregated to create one reportable segment.

 

Management’s Use Of Estimates — The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to: (1) asset impairments, including broadcasting licenses and goodwill; (2) income tax valuation allowances; (3) uncertain tax positions; (4) allowance for doubtful accounts; (5) self-insurance reserves; (6) fair value of equity awards; (7) estimated lives for tangible and intangible assets; (8) fair value measurements for financial instruments such as interest rate hedging transactions; and (9) contingency and litigation reserves. The Company’s accounting estimates require the use of judgment as future events and the effect of these events cannot be predicted with certainty. The accounting estimates will change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired and as more information is obtained.  The Company will evaluate and update assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis and may use outside experts to assist in the Company’s evaluation, as considered necessary. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Income Taxes — The Company applies the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes are recognized for all temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. A valuation allowance is recorded for a net deferred tax asset balance when it is more likely than not that the benefits of the tax asset will not be realized.  The Company continues to assess the need for its deferred tax asset valuation allowance in the jurisdictions in which it operates. Any adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance would be recorded in the income statement of the period that the adjustment is determined to be required. The Company also accounts for uncertain tax positions that a company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. See Note 14 for a further discussion.

 

Property And Equipment — Property and equipment are carried at cost. Major additions or improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense when incurred. Upon sale or retirement, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is recognized in the statement of operations. The Company reviews on a continuing basis the carrying value of property and equipment. If events or changes in circumstances were to indicate that an asset’s carrying value is not recoverable, a write-down of the asset would be recorded through a charge to operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Depreciation expense on property and equipment is determined on a straight-line basis. The estimated useful lives for depreciation are as follows:

 

Property Type

 

Period Of Depreciation

 

Land Improvements

 

10-15 years

 

Building

 

20 years

 

Equipment

 

3-20 years

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

5-10 years

 

Leasehold improvements

 

shorter of economic life or lease term

 

 

Depreciation expense for property and equipment is reflected in the following table for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

For The Years December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation expense

 

$

11,363

 

$

15,060

 

$

16,304

 

 

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had construction commitments outstanding of $1.4 million.

 

The following is a summary of the categories of property and equipment as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property And Equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

Land, land easements and land improvements

 

$

16,499

 

$

16,500

 

Buildings

 

20,937

 

20,935

 

Equipment

 

122,932

 

123,362

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

14,930

 

15,504

 

Leasehold improvements

 

21,126

 

21,091

 

 

 

196,424

 

197,392

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

(134,623

)

(126,399

)

 

 

61,801

 

70,993

 

Capital improvements in progress

 

928

 

747

 

Net property and equipment

 

$

62,729

 

$

71,740

 

 

Revenue Recognition — Revenue from the sale of commercial broadcast time to advertisers is recognized when the commercials are broadcast. Revenues presented in the financial statements are reflected on a net basis, after the deduction of advertising agency fees by the advertising agencies, usually at a rate of 15% of gross revenues. Promotional fees are recognized as services are rendered.  Advertiser payments received in advance of when the commercials are broadcast are recorded as unearned revenue.

 

The following table presents the amounts of unearned revenues as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

Unearned Revenues

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current unearned revenues

 

Accrued compensation and other liabilities

 

$

216

 

$

786

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Concentration Of Risk — For the year ended December 31, 2010, six of the Company’s 23 market clusters (Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle) generated approximately 50% of the Company’s net revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2009, six of the Company’s 23 market clusters (Boston, Denver, Kansas City, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle) generated in excess of 50% of the Company’s net revenues.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, six of the Company’s 23 market clusters (Boston, Kansas City, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle) generated in excess of 50% of the Company’s net revenues.

 

Concentration Of Credit Risk — The Company’s revenues and accounts receivable relate primarily to the sale of advertising within its radio stations’ broadcast areas. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the customers’ financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. Credit losses are provided for in the financial statements and consistently have been within management’s expectations. The Company also maintains deposit accounts with financial institutions. At times, such deposits may exceed FDIC insurance limits.

 

Long-Lived Assets — The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets, which include property and equipment, broadcasting licenses (subject to an eight-year renewal cycle, which renewal information for each of the Company’s radio stations is available at the website of the Federal Communications Commission, www.FCC.gov), goodwill, deferred charges, and other assets. See Note 4 for further discussion. The determination and measurement of an impairment loss require the use of significant judgments and estimates. Future events may impact these judgments and estimates.   The expense to renew the Company’s FCC licenses is nominal.

 

Debt Issuance Costs — The costs related to the issuance of debt are capitalized and amortized over the lives of the related debt and such amortization is accounted for as interest expense. Please refer to Note 5 for the amount of deferred financing expense that was included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During March 2010, the Company modified its senior credit facility and recorded debt issuance costs of $5.2 million. See Note 7 for further discussion.

 

Extinguishment Of Debt —The Company may amend, append or replace, in part or in full, its outstanding debt. The Company reviews its unamortized financing costs associated with its outstanding debt to determine the amount subject to extinguishment under the accounting provisions for changes in line-of-credit or revolving-debt arrangements. See Note 7 for a discussion of any debt modifications and extinguishments associated with the Company’s outstanding debt, including debt outstanding under is senior credit agreement and the retirement of its 7.625% Senior Subordinated Notes (the “Notes”).

 

Corporate General And Administrative Expense — Corporate general and administrative expense consists of corporate overhead costs and non-cash compensation expense. Included in corporate general and administrative expenses are those costs not specifically allocable to any of the Company’s individual business properties.

 

Time Brokerage Agreement (Income) Fees — TBA fees or income consist of fees paid or received under agreements which permit an acquirer to program and market stations prior to acquisition. The Company sometimes enters into such agreements prior to the consummation of station acquisitions and dispositions. The following table presents those revenues and expenses incurred during the TBA for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition by the Company

 

 

 

 

 

TBA fees

 

$

 

$

40

 

Net revenues

 

$

 

$

6,146

 

Station operating expenses

 

$

 

$

3,631

 

Disposition by the Company

 

 

 

 

 

TBA income

 

$

(2

)

$

(233

)

 

Barter Transactions — The Company provides advertising broadcast time in exchange for certain products, supplies and services. The terms of the exchanges generally permit the Company to preempt such broadcast time in favor of

 

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Table of Contents

 

advertisers who purchase time on regular terms. The Company includes the value of such exchanges in both broadcasting net revenues and station operating expenses. Barter valuation is based upon management’s estimate of the fair value of the products, supplies and services received.

 

The following table presents barter revenues and expenses for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barter revenues

 

$

3,892

 

$

4,256

 

$

4,113

 

Barter expenses

 

$

3,891

 

$

4,233

 

$

4,186

 

 

Business Combinations — Accounting guidance for business combinations provides the criteria to recognize intangible assets apart from goodwill.  Other than goodwill, the Company uses a direct value method to determine the fair value of all intangible assets required to be recognized for business combinations.  For a discussion of impairment testing of those assets acquired in a business combination, including goodwill, see Note 4.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations — The Company reasonably estimates the fair value of an asset retirement obligation.  For an asset retirement obligation that is conditional (uncertainty about the timing and/or method of settlement), the Company factors into its fair value measurement a probability factor as the obligation depends upon a future event that may or may not be within the control of the Company.

 

Accrued Compensation — Certain types of employee compensation, which amounts are included in the balance sheets under accrued compensation and other current liabilities, are paid in subsequent periods.  See Note 6 for amounts reflected in the balance sheets.

 

Cash And Cash Equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts held on deposit with financial institutions, including investments held in financial institutions in immediately available money market accounts and all highly liquid debt instruments with initial maturities of three months or less.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments — The Company follows accounting guidance for its derivative financial instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities (for further discussion, see Note 9).

 

LeasesThe Company follows accounting guidance for its leases, which includes the recognition of escalated rents on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease agreement, as described further in Note 6.

 

Share-Based Compensation — The Company records compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options and employee stock purchase plan purchases at estimated fair values.  The Company also uses the simplified method in developing an estimate of the expected term of certain stock options. For further discussion of share-based compensation, see Note 12.

 

Investments — For those investments in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee, the investment is accounted for under the equity method. For those investments in which the Company does not have such significant influence, the Company applies the accounting guidance for certain investments in debt and equity securities. An investment is classified into one of three categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading securities, and, depending upon the classification, is carried at fair value based upon quoted market prices or historical cost when quoted market prices are unavailable.

 

The Company also provides certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures for those investments that are impaired (other than temporary) at the balance sheet date and for those investments for which an impairment has not been recognized.  For further discussion, see Note 20.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Advertising And Promotion Costs — Costs of media advertising and associated production costs are expensed when incurred.

 

Insurance And Self-Insurance Liabilities — The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms to provide for the potential liabilities for workers’ compensation, general liability, property, director and officers’ liability, vehicle liability and employee health care benefits. Liabilities associated with the risks that are retained by the Company are estimated, in part, by considering claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors, outside expertise and other actuarial assumptions. For any legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with a loss contingency, the Company recognizes the expense as incurred.

 

Recognition Of Insurance Recoveries — The Company recognizes insurance recoveries when all of the contingencies related to the insurance claims have been satisfied.

 

Sports Programming Costs — Programming costs which are for a specified number of events are amortized on an event-by-event basis, and programming costs which are for a specified season are amortized over the season on a straight-line basis.  The Company allocates that portion of sports programming costs that are related to sponsorship and marketing activities to sales and marketing expenses on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreement.

 

Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the presentation in the current year.

 

Recent Accounting Standards

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In June 2009, the accounting standards were amended for determining whether to consolidate a variable interest entity. These amended standards eliminate a mandatory quantitative approach to determine whether a variable interest provides the entity with a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity in favor of a qualitatively focused analysis, and require an ongoing reassessment of whether an entity is the primary beneficiary. These amended standards were effective January 1, 2010. The adoption of these standards did not have any effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

3.                                      ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND RELATED ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

 

Accounts receivable are primarily attributable to advertising that has aired on the Company’s radio stations, but for which payment has not been collected, net of agency commissions and an estimated allowance for doubtful accounts. Estimates of the allowance for doubtful accounts are recorded based on management’s judgment of the collectability of the accounts receivable based on historical information, relative improvements or deteriorations in the age of the accounts receivable and changes in current economic conditions.

 

The accounts receivable balances and reserve for doubtful accounts are presented in the following table as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

74,024

 

$

71,618

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(3,127

)

(3,299

)

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

$

70,897

 

$

68,319

 

 

See the table in Note 6 for the amounts outstanding as of the periods indicated for: (1) accounts receivable credits; and (2) unearned revenues.

 

The following table presents the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the periods presented:

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

Additions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance At

 

Charged To

 

Deductions

 

Balance At

 

 

 

Beginning

 

Costs And

 

From

 

End Of

 

Year Ended

 

Of Year

 

Expenses

 

Reserves

 

Year

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

December 31, 2010

 

$

3,299

 

$

990

 

$

(1,162

)

$

3,127

 

December 31, 2009

 

4,476

 

2,708

 

(3,885

)

3,299

 

December 31, 2008

 

2,746

 

4,594

 

(2,864

)

4,476

 

 

4.                                      INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

 

(A) Indefinite-Lived Intangibles

 

Goodwill and certain intangible assets are not amortized.  The Company accounts for its acquired broadcasting licenses as indefinite-lived intangible assets and, similar to goodwill, these assets are reviewed at least annually for impairment. At the time of each review, if the fair value is less than the recorded value of goodwill and certain intangibles (such as broadcasting licenses), then a charge is recorded to the results of operations.

 

The Company may only write down the carrying value of its indefinite-lived intangibles. The Company is not permitted to increase the carrying value if the fair value of these assets subsequently increases.

 

Change In Annual Testing Period For Broadcasting Licenses

 

In 2009, the Company changed the period when it performs its annual impairment test for broadcasting licenses from the first quarter to the second quarter of each year, in line with its annual impairment test for goodwill.  An interim impairment test for broadcasting licenses was performed during the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

(1)                             Broadcasting Licenses Impairment Test

 

The Company performs its annual broadcasting license impairment test during the second quarter of each year by evaluating its broadcasting licenses for impairment at the market level using the direct method.  For purposes of testing impairment, indefinite-lived intangible assets are combined into a single unit of accounting. Since the broadcasting licenses in each market are operated as a single asset, each market’s broadcasting licenses are a single unit of accounting. The Company determines the fair value of the broadcasting licenses in each of its markets by relying on a discounted cash flow approach (a 10-year income model) assuming a start-up scenario in which the only assets held by an investor are broadcasting licenses. The Company’s fair value analysis contains assumptions incorporating variables that are based on past experiences and judgments about future performance using industry normalized information for an average station within a certain market. These variables include, but are not limited to: (1) the risk-adjusted discount rate used in the valuation of fair value; (2) market share and profit margin of an average station within a market based upon market size and station type; (3) the forecast growth rate of each radio market, including assumptions regarding each market’s population, household income, retail sales and other factors that would influence advertising expenditures; (4) estimated capital start-up costs and losses incurred during the early years; (5) the likely media competition within the market area; (6) an effective tax rate assumption; and (7) future terminal values.

 

The following table presents the changes in broadcasting licenses for the periods indicated:

 

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Carrying

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

(amounts in

 

 

 

thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2007

 

$

1,316,983

 

Acquisitions

 

210,358

 

Reversal of assets held for sale

 

3,650

 

Loss on impairment

 

(762,345

)

Balance at December 31, 2008

 

768,646

 

Loss on impairment

 

(60,794

)

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

707,852

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

 

$

707,852

 

 

Broadcasting License Impairment Testing For The Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

The Company completed the impairment test for broadcasting licenses during the second quarter and determined that the fair value of the broadcasting licenses was more than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for each of the Company’s markets and, accordingly, no impairment was recorded.

 

The methodology used by the Company in determining its key estimates and assumptions was applied consistently to each market. As a result, the analysis for each market is the same. Of the seven variables identified above, the Company believes that the first three (in clauses (1) through (3) above) are the most important to the determination of fair value.

 

The following table reflects these estimates and assumptions used in the second quarter of 2010 as compared to the second quarter of 2009, the date of the most recent prior impairment test.  In general, when comparing the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2009: (1) the discount rate decreased primarily due to a decrease in the estimated required returns on debt and equity of publicly traded radio companies; (2) the market specific operating profit margin range remained relatively flat; and (3) the market long-term revenue growth rates were marginally higher as the outlook for the industry improved.

 

 

 

Second

 

Second

 

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Discount rates

 

10.0%

 

10.6%

 

Operating profit margin ranges of the Company’s markets

 

21.0% to 42.5%

 

21.0% to 44.0%

 

Long-term revenue growth rate ranges of the Company’s markets

 

1.5% to 2.0%

 

1.0% to 2.5%

 

 

There were no events or circumstances since the Company’s second quarter annual test that required the Company to test the carrying value of its broadcasting licenses. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the industry or the Company, or if events occur or circumstances change that would reduce the fair value of the Company’s broadcasting licenses below the amount reflected in the balance sheet, the Company may be required to recognize impairment charges, which may be material, in future periods.

 

Broadcasting License Impairment Testing For The Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

The Company completed the impairment test for broadcasting licenses during the second quarter and determined that the fair value of the broadcasting licenses was less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for each of the Company’s markets, other than Seattle, and recorded an impairment loss of $60.8 million. The prolonged economic downturn negatively impacted the radio broadcasting industry as advertising revenues continued to decline and expectations for growth over the next year were reduced. The projected growth levels for the industry and the Company were less than those originally forecasted for 2009, which was the primary reason for further impairment to broadcasting licenses in the second quarter.  As revenues decline, profitability levels are also negatively impacted,

 

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as fixed costs represent a large component of a radio station’s operating expenses. As a result, the asset base is particularly sensitive to the impact of continued declining revenues.

 

The methodology used by the Company in determining its key estimates and assumptions was applied consistently to each market. As a result, the analysis for each market is the same. Of the seven variables identified previously, the Company believes that the first three (in clauses (1) through (3)) are the most important to the determination of fair value.

 

The following table reflects these estimates and assumptions since the most recent impairment test of broadcasting licenses in the fourth quarter of 2008.  The table also depicts the range of operating profit margin and market long-term revenue growth rates used for determining the fair value of the Company’s broadcasting licenses.  In general, when comparing between the second quarter of 2009 and the fourth quarter of 2008: (1) the market specific operating profit margin range declined; and (2) the market long-term revenue growth rates were consistent; however, current period revenues were less than previously projected for 2009.

 

 

 

Second

 

Fourth

 

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

 

 

2009 

 

2008

 

Discount rates

 

10.6%

 

10.6%

 

Operating profit margin ranges of the Company’s markets

 

21.0% to 44.0%

 

21.0% to 46.7%

 

Long-term revenue growth rate ranges of the Company’s markets

 

1.0% to 2.5%

 

1.0% to 2.0%

 

 

Broadcasting Licenses Impairment Testing For The Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company determined that the fair value of the broadcasting licenses was less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for each of its markets, other than Seattle, and recorded an impairment loss of $645.3 million. The impairment loss was indicative of a trend in the broadcast industry and was not unique to the Company. Factors that contributed to the impairment loss were changes in estimates and assumptions since the most recent annual test in the first quarter of 2008, including but not limited to: (1) a decrease of up to 50% in advertising revenue growth projections to the low single digits for the broadcasting industry; (2) a decrease in operating profit margins of up to four percentage points; and (3) an increase in the cost of capital by 25% to the low double digits from the high single digits.

 

During the second quarter of 2008, the Company determined that the fair value of several of its markets’ broadcasting licenses was impaired under the second step of its annual goodwill analysis. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment loss in the Denver, Greenville, Indianapolis and Memphis markets on an aggregate basis of $117.0 million and reduced its carrying value of broadcasting licenses. Contributing factors to the impairment were a decline in the available advertising dollars in these markets and its effect on the Company’s operations, coupled with changes in the anticipated growth of these markets.

 

Except as otherwise described herein, during the first quarter of 2008, the Company completed the non-amortizing intangible asset impairment test for broadcasting licenses and determined that the fair value of the broadcasting licenses was equal to or greater than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for each of the Company’s markets.  Based upon these results, no impairment charges were recorded.

 

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company reviewed its carrying amount for the Rochester assets held for sale at that time and determined that an aggregate impairment loss for broadcasting licenses of $6.4 million was necessary due to: (1) the continued decline in advertising revenues; (2) the filing of an application with the FCC to place these stations into a disposition trust; and (3) the potential for a forced sale by the disposition trustee (for further discussion, see Note 18, Discontinued Operations).  The impairment loss was reflected in the statement of operations as discontinued operations.

 

(2)           Goodwill

 

The Company performs its annual impairment test on its goodwill during the second quarter of each year by comparing the fair value for each reporting unit with the amount reflected on the balance sheet. The Company has determined that a radio market is a reporting unit and, in total, the Company assesses goodwill at 19 separate reporting units (four of the Company’s 23 reporting units had no goodwill recorded as of June 30, 2010). If the fair

 

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value of any reporting unit is less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet, an indication exists that the amount of goodwill attributed to a reporting unit may be impaired, and the Company is required to perform a second step of the impairment test. In the second step, the Company compares the amount reflected in the balance sheet to the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, determined by allocating the reporting unit’s fair value to all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation.

 

To determine the fair value, the Company uses an income and market approach for each reporting unit. The market approach compares recent sales and offering prices of similar properties. The income approach uses the subject property’s income generated over a specified time and capitalized at an appropriate market rate to arrive at an indication of the most probable selling price.

 

The following table presents the changes in goodwill for each of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Goodwill Carrying Amount

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Goodwill balance before cumulative loss on impairment as of January 1,

 

$

163,783

 

$

163,783

 

$

160,976

 

Accumulated loss on impairment as of January 1,

 

(125,615

)

(118,733

)

(45,362

)

Goodwill beginning balance after cumulative loss on impairment as of January 1,

 

38,168

 

45,050

 

115,614

 

Loss on impairment during year

 

 

(6,882

)

(73,371

)

Acquisitions

 

 

 

2,807

 

Goodwill ending balance as of December 31,

 

$

38,168

 

$

38,168

 

$

45,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill balance before cumulative loss on impairment as of December 31,

 

$

163,783

 

$

163,783

 

$

163,783

 

Accumulated loss on impairment as of December 31,

 

(125,615

)

(125,615

)

(118,733

)

Goodwill ending balance as of December 31,

 

$

38,168

 

$

38,168

 

$

45,050

 

 

Goodwill Impairment Testing For The Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

In step one of the Company’s goodwill analysis during the second quarter, the Company considered the results of the market approach and the income approach in computing the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. In the market approach, the Company applied an estimated market multiple of between seven and a half times and eight times to each reporting unit’s operating performance to calculate the fair value. This multiple was higher than the six times multiple applied to all markets in the second quarter of 2009.  Management believes that these approaches are an appropriate measurement given the current market valuations of broadcast radio stations together with the historical market transactions, including those in recent months. Factors contributing to the determination of the reporting unit’s operating performance were historical performance and management’s estimates of future performance.

 

In the income approach, the Company utilized the discounted cash flow method to calculate the fair value of the reporting unit (the key estimates and assumptions are included in the table below). The results of step one indicated that it was not necessary to perform the second step analysis in any of the markets tested, as the fair values for all of the Company’s markets were above book value. As a result of the step one test, no impairment loss was recorded during the second quarter of 2010. The Company performed a reasonableness test by comparing the fair value results for goodwill by using the implied multiple based on the Company’s cash flow performance and its current stock price and comparing the results to prevailing radio broadcast transaction multiples.

 

The following table reflects certain key estimates and assumptions used in the second quarter of 2010 and in the second quarter of 2009, the date of the most recent prior impairment test. The ranges for operating profit margin and revenue growth rates are for the Company’s markets.  In general, when comparing the second quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2009: (1) the discount rate decreased primarily due to a decrease in the estimated required returns of the debt and equity of publicly traded radio companies; (2) the market specific operating profit margin range narrowed; and (3) the market long-term revenue growth rate range narrowed.

 

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Second

 

Second

 

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Discount rates

 

10.0%

 

10.6%

 

Operating profit margin ranges of the Company’s markets

 

26.0% to 39.0%

 

21.0% to 41.0%

 

Long-term revenue growth rate ranges of the Company’s markets

 

1.5% to 2.0%

 

1.0% to 2.5%

 

 

There were no events or circumstances since the Company’s second quarter annual goodwill test that required the Company to test the carrying value of its goodwill. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the industry or the Company, or if events occur or circumstances change that would reduce the fair value of the Company’s goodwill below the amount reflected in the balance sheet, the Company may be required to recognize impairment charges, which could be material, in future periods.

 

Goodwill Impairment Testing For The Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

In step one of the Company’s goodwill analysis during the second quarter, the Company considered the results of the market approach and the income approach in computing the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. In the market approach, the Company applied an estimated market multiple of six times (consistent with the multiple used in the fourth quarter of 2008) to each reporting unit’s operating performance to calculate the fair value. The Company applied the same market multiple consistently across all reporting units. In the income approach, the Company utilized the discounted cash flow method to calculate the fair value of the reporting unit (key estimates and assumptions are included in the table below). The results of step one indicated that it was necessary to perform the second step analysis in seven of the 23 reporting units. The fair values for two of the seven markets were marginally above book value. Management believes that these approaches are commonly used methodologies for valuing broadcast radio stations and that a six times multiple is an appropriate measurement given the recent fall in market valuations of broadcast radio stations together with a historically low level of market transactions in recent months. The marginal stations were included in the Company’s step two impairment testing due to the subjective nature of the step one analysis (unobservable inputs) and the sensitivities inherent in these calculations. Factors contributing to the determination of the reporting unit’s operating performance were historical performance and/or management’s estimates of future performance.

 

Under the second step, the Company determined that the fair value of the Company’s goodwill was less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for the seven markets tested, which were Austin, Greensboro, Greenville, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Memphis and Wichita, and recorded an impairment loss of $6.9 million during the second quarter of 2009. Contributing factors to the impairment were a decline in the advertising dollars in these markets and its effect on the Company’s operations, coupled with changes in the anticipated growth and profitability of these markets.

 

The prolonged economic downturn negatively impacted the radio broadcasting industry as advertising revenues continued to decline and expectations for growth over the next year also declined. The projected revenue growth levels for the industry and the Company were less than those originally forecasted for 2009, which caused a further goodwill impairment in the second quarter of 2009. As revenues decline, profitability levels are also negatively impacted as fixed costs represent a large component of a radio station’s operating expenses. As a result, the asset base is particularly sensitive to the impact of declining revenues.

 

The following table reflects the Company’s three key estimates and assumptions since the most recent impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2008.  The table also depicts the range of operating profit margin and market long-term revenue growth rates for the Company’s markets.  In general, when comparing between the second quarter of 2009 and the fourth quarter of 2008: (1) the market specific operating profit margin range declined; and (2) the market long-term revenue growth rates were consistent; however, current period revenues were less than previously projected for 2009.

 

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Second

 

Fourth

 

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Discount rates

 

10.6%

 

10.6%

 

Operating profit margin ranges of the Company’s markets

 

21.0% to 41.0%

 

21.0% to 44.0%

 

Long-term revenue growth rate ranges of the Company’s markets

 

1.0% to 2.5%

 

1.0% to 2.0%

 

 

Goodwill Impairment Testing For The Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company performed an interim impairment test of its goodwill and determined under the second step that the fair value of the Company’s goodwill was less than the amount reflected in the balance sheet for three of the markets tested (Greenville, Indianapolis and Memphis), and recorded an impairment loss of $5.8 million. Factors that contributed to the impairment loss were changes in estimates and assumptions since the most recent annual test in the second quarter of 2008, including but not limited to: (1) a decrease of up to 50% in advertising revenue growth projections to the low single digits for the broadcasting industry; (2) a decrease in operating profit margins of up to seven percentage points; and (3) an increase in the cost of capital by 25% to the low double digits from the high single digits.

 

In determining which markets to test prior to the second step as described above, the Company computed the enterprise value by applying an estimated market multiple of mid to higher single digits (which was a decrease from the market multiple of low double digits that was used in the test during the second quarter of 2008) to the operating performance of each reporting unit.  The Company applied the same market multiple consistently across all reporting units and determined that 15 of 23 markets tested may be impaired.  Factors contributing to the determination of the reporting unit’s operating performance were historical performance and/or management’s estimates of future performance.

 

During the second quarter of 2008, the Company performed its annual impairment test and, as a result, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $67.6 million on an aggregate basis for the Denver and Indianapolis markets.  Contributing factors to the impairment were a decline in the available advertising dollars in these markets and its effect on the Company’s operations, coupled with changes in the anticipated growth of the broadcasting industry and their impact on prices paid for radio stations.

 

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company reviewed its carrying amount for the Rochester assets held for sale at that time and determined that an impairment loss for goodwill of $0.3 million was necessary due to: (1) the continued decline in advertising revenues; (2) the filing of an application with the FCC to place these stations into a disposition trust; and (3) the potential for a forced sale by the disposition trustee (for further discussion, see Note 18, Discontinued Operations). The impairment loss was reflected in the statement of operations as discontinued operations.

 

(B) Definite-Lived Intangibles

 

The Company has definite-lived intangible assets that consist of advertiser lists and customer relationships, and acquired advertising contracts. These assets are amortized over the period for which the assets are expected to contribute to the Company’s future cash flows and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company reviewed the carrying value and the useful lives of these assets and determined they were appropriate.

 

See Note 5 for: (1) a listing of the assets comprising definite-lived assets, which are included in deferred charges and other assets on the balance sheets; (2) the Company’s estimate of amortization expense for definite-lived assets in future periods; and (3) the amount of amortization expense for definite-lived assets.

 

5.             DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS

 

Deferred Charges And Other Assets

 

Deferred charges and other assets, including definite-lived intangible assets, consist of the following as of the periods indicated:

 

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December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Period Of

 

 

 

Asset

 

Amortization

 

Net

 

Asset

 

Amortization

 

Net

 

Amortization

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

Deferred contracts and other agreements

 

$

1,588

 

$

929

 

$

659

 

$

1,588

 

$

845

 

$

743

 

Term of contracts

 

Advertiser lists and customer relationships

 

656

 

653

 

3

 

656

 

615

 

41

 

3 years

 

Permits, patents and trademarks

 

 

 

 

13

 

11

 

2

 

3 years

 

Total definite-lived intangibles

 

2,244

 

1,582

 

662

 

2,257

 

1,471

 

786

 

 

 

Debt issuance costs

 

15,482

 

10,546

 

4,936

 

10,518

 

6,762

 

3,756

 

Term of debt

 

Prepaid assets - long-term

 

1,995

 

 

1,995

 

1,421

 

 

1,421

 

Not applicable

 

Software costs

 

9,110

 

8,560

 

550

 

8,992

 

7,712

 

1,280

 

3 years

 

Leasehold premium

 

1,732

 

1,099

 

633

 

1,732

 

1,026

 

706

 

Term of Leases

 

Deposits - long-term

 

328

 

 

328

 

393

 

 

393

 

Not applicable

 

Note receivable - long-term

 

109

 

 

109

 

145

 

 

144

 

Not applicable

 

Station deposits and acquisition costs

 

1,350

 

 

1,350

 

 

 

 

Not applicable

 

 

 

$

32,350

 

$

21,787

 

$

10,563

 

$

25,458

 

$

16,971

 

$

8,486

 

 

 

 

The following table presents the various categories of amortization expense for the periods indicated, including deferred financing expense which is reflected as interest expense:

 

 

 

For The Years Ended December 31,

 

Categories Of Amortization Expense

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definite-lived assets

 

$

197

 

$

246

 

$

2,941

 

Deferred financing expense

 

3,912

 

1,518

 

1,647

 

Software costs

 

1,100

 

1,294

 

1,197

 

Total amortization expense for deferred charges and other assets

 

$

5,209

 

$

3,058

 

$

5,785

 

 

The following table presents the Company’s estimate of amortization expense, for each of the five succeeding years for: (1) deferred charges and other assets; and (2) definite-lived assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definite-Lived

 

 

 

Total

 

Other

 

Assets

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Years ending December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

$

4,108

 

$

4,024

 

$

84

 

2012

 

1,544

 

1,463

 

81

 

2013

 

226

 

173

 

53

 

2014

 

107

 

58

 

49

 

2015

 

107

 

58

 

49

 

Thereafter

 

689

 

343

 

346

 

Total

 

$

6,781

 

$

6,119

 

$

662

 

 

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6.             OTHER CURRENT AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued compensation and other current liabilities consist of the following as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative valuation - short-term

 

$

2,958

 

$

 

Accrued compensation

 

5,803

 

6,837

 

Advertiser obligations

 

1,110

 

1,250

 

Accounts receivable credits

 

1,909

 

1,816

 

Accrued dividend equivalents - short-term

 

522

 

1,010

 

Unearned revenue - short-term

 

216

 

786

 

Accrued interest payable

 

204

 

400

 

Other

 

754

 

579

 

 

 

$

13,476

 

$

12,678

 

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities - Deferred Rent Liabilities

 

Under the Company’s leases, the Company recognizes: (1) escalated rents, including any rent holidays, on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease for those lease agreements where the Company receives the right to control the use of the entire leased property at the beginning of the lease term; (2) amortization expense over the shorter of the economic lives of the leasehold assets or the lease term, excluding any lease renewals unless the lease renewals are reasonably assured; (3) landlord incentive payments to the Company as deferred rent that is amortized as reductions to lease rent expense over the lease term; and (4) rental costs associated with ground or building operating leases, that are incurred during a construction period, as rental expense.  See Note 8, Financing Method Lease Obligations, for a discussion of certain leases that could be capitalized at a future time.

 

For those leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination or acquired subsequent to lease inception, the amortization period is based on the lesser of the useful life of the leasehold improvements or the period of the lease including all renewal periods that are reasonably assured of exercise at the time of the acquisition.

 

The following table reflects deferred rent liabilities included under other long-term liabilities as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred rent liabilities

 

$

3,401

 

$

3,435

 

 

7.             LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt, including financing method lease obligations, was comprised of the following as of the periods indicated:

 

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December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolver, due June 30, 2012 (A)

 

$

365,000

 

$

359,000

 

Term Loan, with quarterly principal payments beginning September 2009 (A)

 

285,000

 

370,000

 

Senior Subordinated Notes, originally due March 1, 2014, retired in 2010 (B)

 

 

6,579

 

Financing Method Lease Obligations (C)

 

12,610

 

12,610

 

Other

 

148

 

173

 

Total

 

662,758

 

748,362

 

Current amount of long-term debt

 

(165,026

)

(80,024

)

Total long-term debt

 

$

497,732

 

$

668,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undrawn letter of credit outstanding

 

$

670

 

$

1,470

 

 


(A) Senior Debt

 

Credit Agreement (the “Bank Facility”)

 

The Company has a $1,050 million senior secured credit facility with a syndicate of lenders (in excess of 50 lenders as of December 31, 2010) that matures on June 30, 2012. The Bank Facility was originally comprised of $650 million in revolving credit (the “Revolver”) and a $400 million term loan (the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan reduces in quarterly amounts, which payments started at $15 million (effective September 30, 2009), are currently at $25 million and ultimately increase to $60 million in 2011. The Company plans to continue to fund the amortization of the Term Loan with cash flow from operations and its available Revolver capacity.

 

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had outstanding under the Bank Facility $650.0 million, including: (i) $365.0 million in drawn Revolver; and (ii) $285.0 million in Term Loan.  As of December 31, 2010, the Company had $3.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2010, the undrawn amount of the Revolver was $284.3 million. The amount of the Revolver available to the Company, however, is a function of covenant compliance at the time of borrowing. Based on the Company’s financial covenant analysis as of December 31, 2010, the Company would be limited to borrowings significantly less than the undrawn limit unless such borrowings were used to repay indebtedness or for transactions that increase cash flow for purposes of covenant calculation.

 

On March 11, 2010, the Company amended its Bank Facility (the “Amendment”). The Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants which are defined terms with the agreement, including: (i) a maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio that decreases quarterly in 2011 from a ratio of 6.75 times as of March 31, 2011 to a ratio that will not exceed six times as of December 31, 2011 and thereafter; and (2) a minimum ratio of Consolidated Operating Cash Flow to Consolidated Interest Charges of two times.  Management believes the Company is in compliance with all financial covenants and all other terms of the Bank Facility as of December 31, 2010.

 

In addition, certain key terms as defined within the Bank Facility were revised as follows:

 

·                  Depending on the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated Operating Cash Flow), the Company may elect an interest rate equal to: (1) the Eurodollar Rate plus fees that can range from 0.5% to 2.5%; or (2) the Base Rate plus fees that can range from 0.0% to 1.5%, where the Base Rate is the highest of: (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%; (b) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.0%; and (c) the Prime Rate.

·                  During periods when the Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds six times (defined in the Bank Facility as a “Restricted Period”), the Company is: (a) restricted in its ability to take certain actions, including but not limited to, the payment of dividends, the repurchase of its stock; and (b) subject to additional limitations on acquisitions and investments.  As of December 31, 2010, the Consolidated Leverage Ratio was less than six times.

·                  The Company pays a commitment fee that varies, depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio and the amount of the unused commitment, to a maximum of 0.50% per year on the average unused balance of the Revolver.

 

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The Company’s ability to maintain compliance with its covenants is highly dependent on the Company’s results of operations.  If the Company were to enter into an agreement with its lenders for covenant compliance relief, such relief could result in higher interest expense.

 

Management believes that for the next 12 months the Company can continue to maintain its compliance with these covenants. Management also believes that cash on hand and cash from operating activities, together with available borrowings under the Revolver, will be sufficient to permit the Company to meet its liquidity requirements for the next 12 months, including the Company’s scheduled debt repayments.  The Company’s operating cash flow remains positive and management believes that it is adequate to fund the Company’s operating needs.  As a result, the Company has not been required to rely upon, and the Company does not anticipate being required to rely upon, the Revolver to fund the Company’s operations.

 

Amending the Company’s Bank Facility or obtaining other funding or additional financing prior to the expiration of the current agreement will be essential since the Revolver balance outstanding will be due in full upon the expiration of the Bank Facility on June 30, 2012.

 

The Bank Facility is secured by a pledge of 100% of the capital stock and other equity interest in all of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition, the Bank Facility, as amended, is secured by a lien on all of the Company’s assets, other than real property.

 

The Amendment was treated as a modification to a debt instrument.  As a result, in the first quarter of 2010, the Company recorded deferred financing costs of $5.2 million related to the Amendment, which will be amortized over the remaining life of the Bank Facility on: (1) a straight-line basis for the Revolver; and (2) an effective interest rate method for the Term. In addition, unamortized deferred financing costs of $3.1 million as of the Amendment date will continue to be amortized over the remaining life of the Bank Facility.

 

Prior to the Amendment the interest rate was: (i) the Eurodollar rate plus a rate that ranges from 0.50% to 1.13%; or (ii) the greater of prime rate plus a rate that ranges from 0.0% to 0.13% or the federal funds rate plus a rate that ranges from 0.50% to 0.63%.

 

The weighted average interest rate under the senior debt as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, before taking into account the subsequent year’s impact of the Company’s outstanding derivative interest rate instruments, was 1.4% as of each period.

 

(B) 7.625% Senior Subordinated Notes

 

The following table presents for the periods indicated: (1) the amount of gain or loss recorded on the extinguishment of the Notes; and (2) the amount of Notes retired:

 

 

 

For The Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on debt extinguishment

 

$

 

$

(21,649

)

$

(7,867

)

Write-off of deferred financing costs

 

62

 

844

 

918

 

Net (gain) loss on debt extinguishment

 

$

62

 

$

(20,805

)

$

(6,949

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of Notes retired

 

$

6,579

 

$

76,921

 

$

66,500

 

 

In March 2002, the Company issued $150.0 million in Notes due March 1, 2014 and received net proceeds of $145.7 million. There was approximately $4.3 million in deferred offering costs recorded in connection with the sale, which was amortized to interest expense over the life of the Notes using the effective interest rate method. Interest on the Notes accrued at the rate of 7.625% per annum. Effective March 1, 2010, the Notes were redeemable

 

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at a redemption price of 100.0% of their principal amount plus accrued interest. The Notes were unsecured and ranked junior to the Company’s senior indebtedness. In addition to the parent, Entercom Communications Corp., all of the Company’s other subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) fully and unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally these Notes (see Note 7 (G) Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information).

 

(C) Financing Method Lease Obligations

 

In September 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to sell certain tower facilities and lease back most of these tower sites for use by the Company’s radio stations.  This transaction is accounted for under the financing method as described more fully under Note 8.

 

(D) Interest Rate Transactions

 

The Company enters into interest rate transactions with different lenders to diversify its risk associated with interest rate fluctuations against the variable rate debt under the Bank Facility. See Note 9 for the accounting for these transactions. Under these transactions, the Company agrees with other parties (participating members of the Company’s Bank Facility) to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed notional principal amount against the variable debt.

 

The Company’s credit exposure under these hedging agreements, or similar agreements the Company may enter into in the future, is the cost of replacing such agreements in the event of non-performance by the Company’s counter-party. To minimize this risk, the Company selects high credit quality counter-parties.  For those interest rate transactions with the same counterparty, a master netting agreement exists which, under certain circumstances, allows the Company and the counterparty to settle financial assets and liabilities on a net basis.

 

(E) Aggregate Principal Maturities

 

Aggregate principal maturities on the Company’s outstanding debt are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Finance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Method

 

 

 

 

 

Senior

 

Lease

 

 

 

 

 

Debt

 

Obligations

 

Total

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Years ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

$

165,026

 

 

$

165,026

 

2012

 

485,029

 

 

485,029

 

2013

 

30

 

12,610

 

12,640

 

2014

 

28

 

 

28

 

2015

 

5

 

 

5

 

Thereafter

 

30

 

 

30

 

Total

 

$

650,148

 

$

12,610

 

$

662,758

 

 

(F) Outstanding Letters Of Credit

 

The Company is required to maintain a letter of credit, primarily in connection with insurance coverage as described in Note 10.  See Note 7 (A) for the amount of the outstanding letter of credit.

 

(G) Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information

 

Entercom Radio, LLC (“Radio”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Entercom Communications Corp., holds the ownership interest in various subsidiary companies that own the operating assets, including broadcasting licenses, permits and authorizations.  Radio (1) is the borrower of the Company’s senior debt under the Bank Facility, described in Note 7(A); and (2) was the borrower of the Company’s Notes, described in Note 7(B).  Entercom Communications Corp. and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (other than Radio) is a guarantor under its Bank Facility and Entercom Communications Corp. and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (other than Radio) was a guarantor under its Notes.

 

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Separate condensed consolidating financial information is not included as Entercom Communications Corp. does not have independent assets or operations, Radio is a 100% owned finance subsidiary of Entercom Communications Corp., and all guarantees by Entercom Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries are full, unconditional, joint and several under its Bank Facility and were full, unconditional, joint and several under its Notes.

 

Under the Bank Facility, Radio is permitted to make distributions to Entercom Communications Corp. in amounts as defined, which were required to pay Entercom Communications Corp.’s reasonable overhead costs, including income taxes and other costs associated with conducting the operations of Radio and its subsidiaries.

 

Under the Company’s Notes, Radio was permitted to make distributions to Entercom Communications Corp. in amounts, as defined, that were required to pay Entercom Communications Corp’s overhead costs and other costs associated with conducting the operations of Radio and its subsidiaries.

 

8.             FINANCING METHOD LEASE OBLIGATIONS

 

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company completed the sale of certain tower facilities for $12.6 million in cash.  At the same time, the Company entered into leases for space on the towers at most of these sites for use by the Company’s radio stations. The Company classified this transaction under the financing method as the agreement provides for an earn-out whereby the Company can receive additional cash consideration of up to $2.0 million after 42 months, depending on whether the buyer meets certain revenue targets.

 

The sale did not qualify for sale and leaseback accounting as the Company’s ability to share in a future earn-out is considered continuing involvement under accounting guidance. Under the financing method: (1) the assets and accumulated depreciation remain on the consolidated balance sheet and continue to be depreciated; (2) no gain is recognized; (3) proceeds of $12.6 million received by the Company from these transactions are recorded as a financing liability; and (4) transaction costs of $0.2 million are recorded as deferred financing expense, which is amortized over 42 months.

 

Payments under these leases over the partial lease term of 42 months are applied as payments of imputed interest at an approximate interest rate of 5.5%. Once the Company has no continuing involvement, the Company expects to apply the accounting provisions for sale and leaseback accounting. The earn-out component of this transaction will enable the Company to participate in the upside potential of these sites as the new owner (whose primary business is managing tower sites) is better suited to maximize the value of these sites through new third-party tenants.

 

The following table presents future minimum interest and principal payments due under financing method leases:

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

Principal

 

Interest

 

Total

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Years ending December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 

 

$

 

$

725

 

$

725

 

2012 

 

 

747

 

747

 

2013 

 

12,610

 

385

 

12,995

 

2014 

 

 

 

 

2015 

 

 

 

 

Total financing method lease obligations

 

12,610

 

1,857

 

14,467

 

Less current portion

 

 

725

 

725

 

Long term financing method lease obligations, net

 

$

12,610

 

$

1,132

 

$

13,742

 

 

The following table presents property and equipment held under financing method leases, by major category, which represent components of property and equipment included in the balance sheet under property and equipment, as of the periods presented:

 

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December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land and land improvements

 

$

843

 

$

843

 

Building

 

358

 

358

 

Leasehold improvements

 

11

 

32

 

Equipment

 

3,863

 

3,863

 

Leasehold premium

 

885

 

885

 

Total

 

5,960

 

5,981

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

(4,394

)

(4,180

)

Property and equipment held under financing method leases, net

 

$

1,566

 

$

1,801

 

 

See Note 7 for the amount of financing method lease obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.

 

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the amount of: (1) depreciation expense attributable to assets held under financing method leases; and (2) the interest expense associated with financing method lease obligations:

 

 

 

Years Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense for financing method lease obligations

 

$

701

 

$

67

 

Depreciation expense attributable to assets held under financing method

 

$

214

 

$

62

 

 

9.             DERIVATIVE AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

 

The Company from time to time enters into derivative financial instruments, including interest rate hedging transactions, to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates under the Company’s variable rate credit facility.

 

Accounting For Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

 

The Company recognizes at fair value all derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, in the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation. If the derivative is designated as a fair value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item are recognized in the statement of operations. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in the statement of operations when the hedged item affects net income. If a derivative does not qualify as a hedge, it is marked to fair value through the statement of operations.  Any fees associated with these derivatives are amortized over their term.  Under these derivatives, the differentials to be received or paid are recognized as an adjustment to interest expense over the life of the contract. In the event the cash flow hedges are terminated early, any amount previously included in comprehensive income (loss) would be reclassified as interest expense to the statement of operations as the forecasted transaction settles.

 

The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes ongoing effectiveness assessments by relating all derivatives that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company’s derivative activities, all of which are for purposes other than trading, are initiated within the guidelines of corporate risk-management policies. The Company reviews the correlation and effectiveness of its derivatives on a periodic basis.

 

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The fair value of these derivatives is determined using observable market based inputs (a Level 2 measurement, as described in Note 17) and the impact of credit risk on a derivative’s fair value (the creditworthiness of the transaction’s counterparty for assets and the creditworthiness of the Company for liabilities).

 

Hedge Accounting Treatment

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company entered into interest rate derivative transactions in the aggregate notional amount of $550.0 million, which were designated as a hedge against the Company’s variable rate senior debt. During the period of the hedging relationship, the Company’s variable rate debt is expected to be greater than the notional amount of the derivative rate hedging transactions. These transactions are tied to the one-month Eurodollar London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) interest rate. Under a fixed rate swap, the Company pays a fixed rate on a notional amount to the lender, and the lender pays to the Company a variable rate on the notional amount equal to the Company’s Eurodollar borrowing rate.  A collar establishes two separate agreements: an upper limit, or Cap, and a lower limit, or Floor, for the Company’s Eurodollar borrowing rate.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had outstanding the aggregate notional amounts of $475.0 million and $550.0 million, respectively, of cash flow interest rate transactions that were hedged against the Company’s variable rate senior debt.  In accordance with the terms of a Swap agreement dated January 28, 2008, the notional amount decreased from $225.0 million to $150.0 million on January 28, 2010 thereby eliminating a notional amount of $75.0 million with a fixed LIBOR of 3.03%.

 

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had the following derivatives outstanding:

 

Type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed

 

 

 

 

Of

 

Notional

 

Effective

 

 

 

LIBOR

 

 

Expiration

 

Hedge

 

Amount

 

Date

 

Collar

 

Rate

 

 

Date

 

 

 

(amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap

 

$

150.0

 

January 28, 2008

 

n/a

 

3.03

%

 

January 28, 2011

 

Collar

 

100.0

 

February 28, 2008

[

Cap

 

4.00

%

]

February 28, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floor

 

2.14

%

 

 

Swap

 

125.0

 

March 28, 2008

 

n/a

 

2.91

%

 

September 28, 2011

 

Swap

 

100.0

 

May 28, 2008

 

n/a

 

3.62

%

 

May 28, 2012

 

Total

 

$

475.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following is a summary of the gains (losses) related to the Company’s cash flow hedges for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

Description

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type Of Derivative Designated As A Cash Flow Hedge

 

Interest Rate

 

Interest Rate

 

Interest Rate

 

Amount Of Gain (Loss) Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“OCI”)

 

$

6,155

 

$

1,830

 

$

(15,262

)

Location Of Gain (Loss) Reclassified From OCI To Statement Of Operations

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest Expense

 

Amount Of Gain (Loss) Reclassified From OCI To Statement Of Operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Location Of Gain (Loss) In Statement Of Operations

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest Expense

 

Amount Of Gain (Loss) In Statement Of Operations Due To Ineffectiveness

 

$

 

$

 

$

34

 

 

The gains and losses were recorded to the statement of comprehensive income (loss) as these derivatives

 

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qualified for hedge accounting treatment (see Note 15 for the net change in the fair value). The fair value of these derivatives was determined using observable market-based inputs (a Level 2 measurement as described under Note 17) and the impact of the credit risk on a derivative’s fair value (the creditworthiness of the transaction’s counterparty for assets and the creditworthiness of the Company for liabilities).

 

The Company does not expect to reclassify any portion of this amount to the statement of operations over the next twelve months.

 

The following table presents the accumulated derivative gain (loss) recorded in the statements of other comprehensive income (loss) as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Fair Value Of Accumulated Derivatives Outstanding

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

Assets (Liabilities)

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning Balance

 

$

(13,432

)

$

(15,262

)

$

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of taxes (benefit)

 

6,155

 

1,830

 

(15,262

)

Ending Balance

 

$

(7,277

)

$

(13,432

)

$

(15,262

)

 

The following is a summary of the fair value of the derivatives outstanding as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Location

 

Asset (Liability)

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Designated Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate hedge transactions

 

Current liabilities

 

$

(2,958

)

$

 

Interest rate hedge transactions

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

$

(4,319

)

$

(13,432

)

 

Non-Hedge Accounting Treatment

 

The Company had a derivative rate transaction with a notional amount of $30.0 million and an initial term of ten years that expired in February 2008.  This interest rate transaction effectively fixed the interest at a rate of 5.8% on borrowing equal to the total notional amount. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded to the consolidated statement of operations, a gain of less than $0.1 million under net gain on derivative instruments. In addition, the Company has reflected this amount in the consolidated statement of cash flows under net cash provided by operating activities.

 

10.          CONTINGENCIES, GUARANTOR ARRANGEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS

 

Contingencies

 

The Company is subject to various outstanding claims which arise in the ordinary course of business and to other legal proceedings.  Management anticipates that any potential liability of the Company, which may arise out of or with respect to these matters, will not materially affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms to provide for the potential liabilities for workers’ compensation, general liability, property, directors’ and officers’ liability, vehicle liability and employee health care benefits. Liabilities associated with the risks that are retained by the Company are estimated, in part, by considering claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors, outside expertise and other actuarial

 

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assumptions. Under one of these policies, the Company is required to maintain a letter of credit in the amount of $0.7 million.

 

In January 2010, a plaintiff acknowledged full satisfaction by the Company’s insurance carrier of a judgment against the Company. In connection with the satisfaction of this claim, as of December 31, 2009, the Company recorded an insurance claim receivable from its insurance company of $16.5 million along with a claim payable to the plaintiff of $16.5 million.

 

The Company could face increased costs in the form of fines and a greater risk that the Company could lose any one or more of its broadcasting licenses if the FCC concludes that programming broadcast by a Company station was obscene, indecent or profane and such conduct warrants license revocation.  The FCC’s authority to impose a fine for the broadcast of such material is $325,000 for a single incident, with a maximum fine of up to $3,000,000 for a continuing violation. In the past, the FCC has issued Notices of Apparent Liability and a Forfeiture Order with respect to several of the Company’s stations proposing fines for certain programming which the FCC deemed to have been indecent. These cases are the subject of pending administrative appeals. The FCC has also investigated other complaints from the public that some of the Company’s stations broadcast indecent programming.  These investigations remain pending.  The FCC initiated an investigation into the incident that was the subject of the lawsuit described above.   The Company has determined that, at this time, the amount of potential fines and penalties is not fixed or determinable.

 

The Company has filed on a timely basis renewal applications for those radio stations with radio broadcasting licenses that are subject to renewal with the FCC. The Company’s costs to renew its licenses with the FCC are nominal and are expensed as incurred rather than capitalized.  Certain licenses were not renewed prior to the renewal date. The Company continues to operate these radio stations under their existing licenses until the licenses are renewed.  The FCC may delay the renewal pending the resolution of open inquiries. The affected stations are, however, authorized to continue operations until the FCC acts upon the renewal applications.

 

The Company’s agreements with Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) each expired as of December 31, 2009. In January 2010, the Radio Music Licensing Committee, of which the Company is a participant, filed motions in the New York courts against BMI and ASCAP on behalf of the radio industry, seeking interim fees and a determination of fair and reasonable industry-wide license fees. The courts recently approved reduced interim fees for ASCAP and BMI. The final fees, as determined by the courts, may be retroactive to the beginning of the period and may be different from these interim fees.

 

Commitments

 

Pending Acquisition: San Jose, California

 

In December 2010, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (“APA”) to purchase the assets of KUFX-FM, a radio station serving the San Jose, California, radio market, for $9.0 million in cash.  A deposit of $1.4 million was paid into an escrow account in December 2010.  Concurrently with entering into the APA, the Company also entered into a TBA and commenced operations on January 19, 2011.

 

With the commencement of the TBA, the Company began simulcasting the format of KUFX-FM on KUZX-FM (call letters were formerly KDFC-FM) (one of three radio stations owned and operated by the Company in the San Francisco market), thereby providing a complement to the signal coverage of the KUFX-FM format into the northern portion of the San Francisco metropolitan market.

 

During the period of the TBA, the Company includes the net revenues and station operating expenses associated with operating the San Jose station in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In addition the Company incurs a TBA fee estimated at $0.3 million per month.   The Company expects to complete the acquisition of this station during the first half of 2011.

 

Management considered the accounting guidelines for variable interest entities, which require that the primary beneficiary consolidate the entity into its financial statements during the period prior to acquisition.  As a result of this review, the Company determined that since the Company was not the primary beneficiary of this entity, the Company did not meet the requirements to include the entity in its consolidated financial statements.

 

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Disposition Of Multiple Tower Sites

 

In September 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to sell multiple tower sites for up to $12.6 million in cash at closing and a contingent earn-out for up to $2.0 million in cash after 42 months. Concurrently with entering into this agreement, the Company agreed to lease space at many of these tower sites for certain of the Company’s broadcasting operations.

 

The Company completed closing in 2009 on all of the tower sites (for further discussion, see Note 8).

 

Termination Of Pending Disposition Of Radio Station In Portland, Oregon

 

In January 2009, the Company received $0.4 million as liquidated damages from a buyer as a result of the termination by the buyer of an asset purchase agreement and related TBA with the Company for the sale of KTRO-AM (formerly KKSN-AM).

 

Other

 

Rental expense is incurred principally for office and broadcasting facilities. Certain of the leases contain clauses that provide for contingent rental expense based upon defined events such as cost of living adjustments and/or maintenance costs in excess of pre-defined amounts.  Rental expense does not include any payments made in connection with financing method lease obligations as described under Note 8, Financing Method Lease Obligations.

 

The following table provides the Company’s rent expense for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

For The Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rental Expense

 

$

12,072

 

$

12,427

 

$

12,424

 

 

The Company also has various commitments under the following types of contracts: (1) operating leases; (2) sports programming; (3) on-air talent; (4) music royalty fees; and (5) other contracts with aggregate minimum annual commitments as of December 31, 2010 as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Programming

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

and Related

 

 

 

 

 

Leases

 

Contracts

 

Total

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Years ending December 31:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 

 

$

12,408

 

$

74,656

 

$

87,064

 

2012 

 

11,691

 

56,162

 

67,853

 

2013 

 

10,782

 

41,123

 

51,905

 

2014 

 

9,307

 

23,660

 

32,967

 

2015 

 

7,959

 

18,029

 

25,988

 

Thereafter

 

28,617

 

18,000

 

46,617

 

 

 

$

80,764

 

$

231,630

 

$

312,394

 

 

Guarantor Arrangements

 

The Company recognizes, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken by issuing the guarantee. The following is a summary of agreements that the Company has determined are within the scope of guarantor arrangements:

 

·                  The Company enters into indemnification agreements in the ordinary course of business. Under these agreements, the Company typically indemnifies, holds harmless, and agrees to reimburse the

 

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indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company believes that the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded liabilities for these agreements as of December 31, 2010.

 

·                  Under the Company’s Bank Facility, the Company is required to reimburse lenders for any increased costs that they may incur in the event of a change in law, rule or regulation resulting in their reduced returns from any change in capital requirements. The Company cannot estimate the potential amount of any future payment under this provision, nor can the Company predict if such an event will ever occur.

 

·                  In connection with many of the Company’s acquisitions, the Company enters into time brokerage agreements, or local marketing agreements for specified periods of time, usually six months or less, whereby the Company typically indemnifies the owner and operator of the radio station, their employees, agents and contractors from liability, claims and damages arising from the activities of operating the radio station under such agreements. The maximum potential amount of any future payments the Company could be required to make for any such previous indemnification obligations is indeterminable at this time. The Company has not, however, previously incurred any significant costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims relating to any such indemnification obligation.

 

Financial Statements Of Parent As Guarantor

 

The condensed financial data of Entercom Communications Corp., excluding all subsidiaries (the “Parent Company”), has been prepared in accordance with Rule 12-04 of Regulation S-X.  The parent company’s financial data includes the financial data of Entercom Communications Corp., excluding all subsidiaries.

 

The Parent Company’s condensed financial data (other than the statements of shareholders’ equity as these statements are not condensed) has been prepared using the same accounting principles and policies described in the notes to the financial statements, with the only exception that the Parent Company accounts for its investment in its subsidiaries using the equity method.

 

Radio, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent Company, holds the ownership interest in various subsidiary companies that own the operating assets, including broadcasting licenses, permits, authorizations and cash royalties.  Radio (1) is the borrower of the Company’s Bank Facility as described in Note 7(A); and was the borrower of the Company’s Notes, described in Note 7(B).  The Parent Company and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (other than Radio) is a guarantor of the Bank Facility and was the guarantor of the Company’s Notes.

 

Under the Bank Facility, Radio is permitted to make distributions to the Parent Company in amounts, as defined, which are required to pay the Parent Company’s reasonable overhead costs, including income taxes and other costs associated with conducting the operations of Radio and its subsidiaries.  Similar restrictions applied to the Notes when they were outstanding.

 

The following tables set forth the condensed financial data (other than the statements of shareholders’ equity as these statements are not condensed) of the Parent Company:

 

·                  the balance sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009;

·                  the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008;

·                  the statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008;

·                  the statements of shareholders’ equity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008; and

·                  the statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONDENSED PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

$

1,899

 

$

17,713

 

Property And Equipment - Net

 

493

 

739

 

Deferred Charges And Other Assets - Net

 

3,839

 

2,545

 

Investment In Subsidiaries

 

184,738

 

131,309

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

190,969

 

$

152,306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

$

8,767

 

$

27,649

 

Long Term Liabilities

 

11,535

 

10,705

 

Total Liabilities

 

20,302

 

38,354

 

Shareholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Class A, B and C Common Stock

 

381

 

372

 

Additional Paid-In Capital

 

592,643

 

588,622

 

Accumulated Deficit

 

(415,080

)

(461,610

)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

(7,277

)

(13,432

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

170,667

 

113,952

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

190,969

 

$

152,306

 

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONDENSED PARENT COMPANY INCOME STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET REVENUES

 

$

626

 

$

632

 

$

626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

1,287

 

1,389

 

1,255

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

21,811

 

22,733

 

26,763

 

Net gain on sale or disposal of assets

 

(63

)

(5

)

 

Total operating expense

 

23,035

 

24,117

 

28,018

 

OPERATING LOSS

 

(22,409

)

(23,485

)

(27,392

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

1

 

16

 

 

Interest and dividend income

 

 

(1

)

(1

)

Other income

 

(49

)

(380

)

(3,339

)

(Income) loss from equity investment in subsidiaries

 

(89,392

)

(22,989

)

725,199

 

TOTAL OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE

 

(89,440

)

(23,354

)

721,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)

 

67,031

 

(131

)

(749,251

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT)

 

20,595

 

(5,529

)

(232,600

)

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(516,651

)

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(516,651

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAXES (BENEFIT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain on investments, net of taxes

 

 

 

132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives, net of taxes (benefit)

 

6,155

 

1,830

 

(15,262

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

52,591

 

$

7,228

 

$

(531,781

)

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2009 AND 2008

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

Earnings

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Paid-in

 

(Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit)

 

Income (Loss)

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2007

 

31,132,700

 

$

 

311

 

7,607,532

 

$

 

76

 

$

 

595,915

 

$

 

64,597

 

$

 

(132

)

$

 

660,767

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

(516,651

)

 

(516,651

)

Compensation expense related to granting of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

425

 

 

 

425

 

Compensation expense related to granting of restricted stock units

 

478,075

 

5

 

 

 

8,236

 

 

 

8,241

 

Issuance of common stock related to an incentive plan

 

72,092

 

1

 

 

 

328

 

 

 

329

 

Common stock repurchase

 

(2,073,518

)

(21

)

 

 

(13,923

)

 

 

(13,944

)

Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units

 

(130,161

)

(1

)

 

 

(1,374

)

 

 

(1,375

)

Payments of dividends of $0.58 per share

 

 

 

 

 

(7,282

)

(14,301

)

 

(21,583

)

Net dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (net of forfeitures)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(822

)

 

(822

)

Net unrealized loss on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,262

)

(15,262

)

Net unrealized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

132

 

132

 

Balance, December 31, 2008

 

29,479,188

 

295

 

7,607,532

 

76

 

582,325

 

(467,177

)

(15,262

)

100,257

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,398

 

 

5,398

 

Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock

 

150,000

 

1

 

(150,000

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

Compensation expense related to granting of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

485

 

 

 

485

 

Compensation expense related to granting of restricted stock units

 

796,824

 

8

 

 

 

6,380

 

 

 

6,388

 

Issuance of common stock related to an incentive plan

 

74,369

 

 

 

 

97

 

 

 

97

 

Common stock repurchase

 

(662,664

)

(7

)

 

 

(882

)

 

 

(889

)

Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units

 

(82,556

)

 

 

 

(104

)

 

 

(104

)

Forfeitures of dividend equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

169

 

 

169

 

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2009 AND 2008

(amounts in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Additional

 

Earnings

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Paid-in

 

(Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit)

 

Income (Loss)

 

Total

 

Realization of tax benefit for dividend equivalent payments

 

 

 

 

 

321

 

 

 

321

 

Net unrealized gain on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,830

 

1,830

 

Balance, December 31, 2009

 

29,755,161

 

297

 

7,457,532

 

75

 

588,622

 

(461,610

)

(13,432

)

113,952

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

46,436

 

 

46,436

 

Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock

 

90,000

 

1

 

(90,000

)

(1

)

 

 

 

 

Compensation expense related to granting of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

549

 

 

 

549

 

Compensation expense related to granting of restricted stock units

 

941,213

 

10

 

 

 

4,969

 

 

 

4,979

 

Exercise of stock options

 

97,725

 

1

 

 

 

129

 

 

 

130

 

Purchase of vested employee restricted stock units

 

(183,531

)

(2

)

 

 

(1,626

)

 

 

(1,628

)

Forfeitures of dividend equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

94

 

 

94

 

Net unrealized gain on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,155

 

6,155

 

Balance, December 31, 2010

 

30,700,568

 

$

307

 

7,367,532

 

$

74

 

$

592,643

 

$

(415,080

)

$

(7,277

)

$

170,667

 

 

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ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

CONDENSED PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

661

 

$

(26,769

)

$

(16,073

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property and equipment

 

(36

)

(209

)

(449

)

Deferred charges and other assets

 

(325

)

(106

)

(1,072

)

Proceeds from investments in subsidiaries

 

8,698

 

83,563

 

92,046

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

8,337

 

83,248

 

90,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement of senior subordinated notes

 

(6,579

)

(55,272

)

(58,633

)

Purchase of the Company’s common stock

 

 

(889

)

(13,944

)

Proceeds from issuance of employee stock plan

 

 

82

 

278

 

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

130

 

 

 

Purchase of vested restricted stock units

 

(1,628

)

(104

)

(1,375

)

Payment of dividend equivalents on vested restricted stock units

 

(874

)

(756

)

(917

)

Realization of tax benefit for dividend equivalents payments

 

 

321

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(8,951

)

(56,618

)

(74,591

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

47

 

(139

)

(139

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR

 

366

 

505

 

644

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR

 

$

413

 

$

366

 

$

505

 

 

Accounting Policies

 

The Parent Company follows the accounting policies as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements of Entercom Communications Corp.

 

Debt — For a discussion of debt obligations of the Company, refer to Note 7 in the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein.

 

Commitments and Contingencies — For a discussion of the commitments and contingencies of the Company, refer to this note.

 

For further information, reference should be made to the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

11.          SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Conversion Of Class B Common Stock

 

Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only to Joseph M. Field, David J. Field, certain of their family members or trusts for any of their benefit. Upon any other transfer, shares of Class B common stock automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, Joseph M. Field contributed to charitable entities 90,000 shares and 150,000 shares, respectively. Upon the transfer of the stock, the shares were automatically converted to shares of Class A common stock.

 

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Dividends

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has not declared a dividend since the third quarter of 2008.  Pursuant to the Company’s Bank Facility as amended during March 2010, during periods when the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio exceeds six times, the Company will be prohibited from paying dividends.

 

Any future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based upon the relevant factors at the time of such consideration.

 

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s dividend activity for the period from January 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008:

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

Per

 

Record

 

Payment

 

Common

 

Date

 

Date

 

Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 12, 2008

 

September 26, 2008

 

$

0.10

 

June 13, 2008

 

June 27, 2008

 

$

0.10

 

March 14, 2008

 

March 28, 2008

 

$

0.38

 

 

Dividend Equivalents

 

The Company’s grants of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) include the right, upon vesting, to receive a cash payment equal to the aggregate amount of dividends, if any, that the holder would have received on the shares of common stock underlying their RSUs if such RSUs had been vested during the period.

 

The following table presents the amounts accrued and unpaid on unvested RSUs as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Location

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term dividend equivalent liability

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

522

 

$

1,010

 

Long-term dividend equivalent liability

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

276

 

753

 

Total dividend equivalent liability

 

 

 

$

798

 

$

1,763

 

 

The following table presents: (a) the amount of dividend equivalents that were paid to the holders of RSUs that vested; and (b) the amount of tax benefit that was recorded to paid-in capital. The tax benefit from the amount paid is considered a windfall tax benefit that will be recorded to paid-in capital when realized.

 

 

 

For The Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend equivalents paid

 

$

874

 

$

756

 

$

917

 

Tax benefit recognized to paid-in capital (1) 

 

$

 

$

 

$

321

 

 


(1)                                  Due to the expected realization of the federal net operating loss carryback from 2008 to earlier years (see Note 14 for further discussion), in 2009 the Company recorded a tax benefit to paid-in capital for the amount paid in 2008 to the holders of RSUs that vested during the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

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Deemed Repurchases Of Vested RSUs

 

Upon vesting of an RSU, a tax obligation is created for both the employer and the employee. Unless an employee elects to pay their tax withholding obligations in cash, the Company withholds shares of stock in an amount sufficient to cover the employee’s tax withholding obligations.  The withholding of these shares by the Company is deemed to be a repurchase of its stock.

 

The following table presents for the periods indicated: (1) the shares of stock the Company was deemed to have repurchased; and (2) the amounts that the Company recorded as a financing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows:

 

 

 

For The Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Shares of stock deemed repurchased

 

182

 

83

 

130

 

Amount recorded as financing activity

 

$

1,628

 

$

104

 

$

1,375

 

 

Company Share Repurchase Programs

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized in the past, and may authorize in the future, share repurchase programs for the purchase of Class A common stock over a defined period of time. Such authorizations may be limited by an Amendment to the Company’s Bank Facility that was entered into during March 2010. See Note 7 for further discussion.

 

Any repurchases under these programs may be made in the open market, through block trades or otherwise. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these repurchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice.  All shares repurchased are immediately restored to authorized but unissued status and any excess of cost over par value is charged entirely to paid-in capital.

 

Expired Share Repurchase Program

 

The Company’s share repurchase program expired on June 30, 2009.

 

The following table provides the summary of the Company’s repurchase of common stock for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands,

 

 

 

except per share data)

 

Number of shares repurchased

 

663

 

2,074

 

The total cost to repurchase

 

$

889

 

$

13,944

 

Average repurchase price per share

 

$

1.34

 

$

6.72

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The Company’s employee stock purchase plan expired on March 31, 2009 and was not renewed.

 

For the periods indicated, the following table provides the number of shares purchased by employees through this program:

 

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Years Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Number of shares repurchased

 

81

 

71

 

 

12.          SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Equity Compensation Plan

 

Under the Entercom Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), the Company is authorized to issue share-based compensation awards to key employees, directors and consultants.  The RSUs and options that have been issued generally vest over periods of up to four years. The options expire ten years from the date of grant. The Company issues new shares of Class A common stock upon the exercise of stock options and the later of vesting or issuance of RSUs.

 

On January 1 of each year, the number of shares of Class A common stock authorized under the Plan is automatically increased by 1.5 million, or a lesser number as may be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. On January 1, 2011, the shares available for grant automatically increased by 1.5 million to 3.1 million shares.

 

The Plan includes: (a) a sub-limit for RSUs of 3.0 million shares (exclusive of certain RSU grants); and (b) certain performance criteria for purposes of satisfying expense deduction requirements for income tax purposes.

 

Accounting For Share-Based Compensation

 

The measurement and recognition of compensation expense, for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, is based on estimated fair values.  The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

The Company used the straight-line single option method for recognizing compensation expense, which was reduced for estimated forfeitures based on awards ultimately expected to vest.  Estimated forfeitures are revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

RSU Activity

 

The following table presents for the periods indicated: (1) RSUs issued, net of forfeitures; (2) the increase (decrease) to paid-in capital over the vesting period of the RSUs; (3) the number of RSUs that were both vested and released; and (4) the unamortized compensation expense, net of forfeitures, related to unvested RSUs:

 

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Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs issued

 

1,024

 

$

11,361

 

177

 

$

311

 

529

 

$

6,421

 

RSUs forfeited

 

(85

)

(1,242

)

(92

)

(2,590

)

(51

)

(1,300

)

RSUs issued under OEP

 

 

 

712

 

1,188

 

 

 

Modification expense to existing RSUs

 

 

 

 

245

 

 

6

 

Net RSUs issued and increase (decrease) to paid-in capital

 

939

 

$

10,119

 

797

 

$

(846

)

478

 

$

5,127

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs vested and released

 

527

 

 

 

301

 

 

 

464

 

 

 

Unamortized compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures

 

 

 

$

11,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A summary of the changes in RSUs under the Company’s Plan during the year ended December 31, 2010 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Number

 

 

 

Weighted

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

 

 

Of

 

Weighted

 

Average

 

Intrinsic

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted

 

Average

 

Remaining

 

Value As Of

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

Purchase

 

Contractual

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Period Ended

 

Units

 

Price

 

Term

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs outstanding as of:

 

December 31, 2009

 

1,917,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs awarded

 

 

 

1,023,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs released

 

 

 

(527,322

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs forfeited

 

 

 

(84,623

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs outstanding as of:

 

December 31, 2010

 

2,329,174

 

$

 

1.7

 

$

26,971,834

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs vested and expected to vest as of:

 

December 31, 2010

 

2,103,391

 

$

 

1.6

 

$

23,386,041

 

RSUs exercisable (vested and deferred) as of:

 

December 31, 2010

 

83,871

 

$

 

 

$

971,226

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average remaining recognition period in years

 

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs With Service And Market Conditions

 

During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company issued RSUs with service and market conditions where these shares vest upon the performance of the Company’s stock over a defined measurement period. The market condition allows for vesting of portions of the award if certain shareholder performance targets are met. The compensation expense is recognized even if the market conditions are not satisfied and are only reversed in the event the service period is not fulfilled.

 

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company modified certain RSUs with market conditions by removing the market condition. The modification expense will be recognized over a revised service period.

 

The following table presents certain information for RSUs with market conditions for the periods indicated:

 

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Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except years)

 

 

 

 

 

RSUs Granted With Market Conditions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of RSUs issued

 

300

 

 

 

Fair value per share of RSUs issued

 

$

3,219

 

$

 

$

 

Amortization period of grant in years

 

1.6 - 2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation Of RSUs With Market Conditions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period balance

 

113

 

318

 

318

 

Number of RSUs granted

 

300

 

 

 

Number of RSUs forfeited

 

(57

)

(25

)

 

Number of RSUs vested

 

(56

)

 

 

Number of RSUs modified to remove market conditions

 

 

(180

)

 

End of period balance

 

300

 

113

 

318

 

 

Valuation Of RSUs

 

The fair value of RSUs with service conditions is estimated based on the market value stock price on the date of the grant, and the fair value of RSUs with service and market conditions is estimated using a lattice model as described below.

 

To determine the fair value of RSUs with service and market conditions, the Company used the Monte Carlo simulation lattice model. The Company’s determination of the fair value was based on the number of shares granted, the Company’s stock price on the date of grant and certain assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. If other reasonable assumptions were used, the results could differ. The Company made assumptions with respect to the following when applying the Monte Carlo simulation model:

 

Expected Volatility Term Structure - The Company estimated the volatility term structure using: (1) the historical volatility of its stock; and (2) the implied volatility provided by its traded options from a trailing month’s average of the closing bid-ask price quotes.

 

Risk-Free Interest Rate - The Company estimated the risk-free interest rate based upon the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury issues using a constant maturity Treasury bond rate as of the date of grant.

 

Expected Dividend Yield - The Company calculated the expected dividend yield at the time of grant based upon the Company’s most recent history and the Company’s stock price on the date of grant.

 

The specific assumptions used for this valuation are as follows:

 

 

 

Year

 

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

Expected Volatility Structure

 

59% to 78%

 

Risk Free Interest Rate

 

0.1% to 1.1%

 

Expected Dividend Yield

 

0.0%

 

 

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Options

 

Option Activity

 

The following table presents for the periods indicated: (1) the range of option exercise prices for options issued, which options were all issued at an exercise price of not less than market value; (2) number of options granted, which generally vest over a four-year period and expire ten years from the date of grant; (3) the weighted average fair value of each option granted; (4) the intrinsic value of options exercised; (5) cash received from options exercised; and (6) the accumulated unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock options, net of forfeitures, that are expected to be amortized in future periods over a weighted average period that is identified in another table under Note 12.

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Other Option Disclosures

 

Price Range

 

Price Range

 

Price Range

 

Price range of options issued

 

$

12.08

 

$

12.08

 

$

1.34

 

$

6.62

 

$

2.76

 

$

12.31

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

 

Number of options issued

 

3

 

 

 

1,086

 

 

 

190

 

 

 

Fair value of options issued

 

$

7.84

 

 

 

$

0.78

 

 

 

$

0.77

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

Intrinsic value of options exercised

 

$

899

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

Cash received from exercise price of options exercised

 

$

131

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

Tax benefit from options exercised, before impact of valuation allowance

 

$

52

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

Accumulated unrecognized compensation cost

 

$

587

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table presents the option activity during the year ended December 31, 2010 under the Company’s stock option plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

Intrinsic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

Average

 

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Remaining

 

As of

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

Exercise

 

Contractual

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Period Ended

 

Options

 

Price

 

Term

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding as of:

 

December 31, 2009

 

1,148,032

 

$

3.13

 

 

 

 

 

Options granted

 

 

 

2,500

 

12.08

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

 

 

 

(97,725

)

1.34

 

 

 

 

 

Options forfeited

 

 

 

(52,342

)

1.68

 

 

 

 

 

Options expired

 

 

 

(17,315

)

25.26

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding as of:

 

December 31, 2010

 

983,150

 

$

3.02

 

7.9

 

$

9,352,941

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options vested and expected to vest as of:

 

December 31, 2010

 

923,945

 

$

3.10

 

7.9

 

$

8,763,819

 

Options vested and exercisable as of:

 

December 31, 2010

 

206,107

 

$

8.15

 

7.0

 

$

1,637,563

 

Weighted average remaining recognition period in years:

 

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable options as of December 31, 2010:

 

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Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

 

 

 

 

 

Number Of

 

Weighted

 

 

 

Number Of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options

 

Average

 

Weighted

 

Options

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

 

Remaining

 

Average

 

Exercisable

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

Contractual

 

Exercise

 

December 31,

 

Exercise

 

Exercise Prices

 

2010

 

Life

 

Price

 

2010

 

Price

 

$

 1.34 

 

$

1.34

 

898,900

 

8.1

 

$

1.34

 

156,214

 

$

1.34

 

$

 2.02 

 

$

12.08

 

55,000

 

7.9

 

$

8.96

 

20,643

 

$

9.81

 

$

 33.90 

 

$

47.82

 

16,250

 

1.9

 

$

39.56

 

16,250

 

$

39.56

 

$

 48.00 

 

$

48.21

 

13,000

 

1.4

 

$

48.03

 

13,000

 

$

48.03

 

 

 

 

 

983,150

 

7.9

 

$

3.02

 

206,107

 

$

8.15

 

 

Valuation Of Options

 

The fair value of each option grant, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was estimated on the date of each grant. The following table presents the range of the estimated assumptions used to determine the fair value over the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

Expected life (years)

 

6.3

 

6.3

 

6.3

 

Expected volatility factor (%)

 

69.2%

 

54.9% to 68.0%

 

30.9% to 39.3%

 

Risk-free interest rate (%)

 

3.0%

 

2.2% to 3.3%

 

2.7% to 3.3%

 

Expected dividend yield (%)

 

0.0%

 

0.0%

 

0.0% to 14.6%

 

 

The Company’s determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors.  Option-pricing models were developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting or hedging restrictions and are fully transferable. The Company’s stock options have certain characteristics that are different from traded options, and changes in the subjective assumptions could affect the estimated value.

 

For options granted, the Company used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and determined: (1) the term by using the simplified plain-vanilla method as the Company’s employee exercise history may not be indicative for estimating future exercises ; (2) a historical volatility over a period commensurate with the expected term, with the observation of the volatility on a daily basis; (3) a risk-free interest rate that was consistent with the expected term of the stock options and based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant; and (4) an annual dividend yield based upon the Company’s most recent quarterly dividend at the time of grant.

 

Recognized Non-Cash Compensation Expense

 

The following table summarizes recognized stock-based compensation expense related to: (1) awards of RSUs and employee stock options; and (2) purchases under the employee stock purchase plan until such plan expired on March 31, 2009:

 

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Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station operating expenses

 

$

1,357

 

$

1,976

 

$

2,552

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

4,171

 

4,912

 

7,304

 

Stock-based compensation expense included in operating expenses

 

5,528

 

6,888

 

9,856

 

Income tax benefit (net of a fully reserved valuation allowance)

 

 

 

(3,075

)

Total stock-based compensation expense

 

$

5,528

 

$

6,888

 

$

6,781

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, stock-based compensation expense consisted primarily of awards for RSUs.

 

On February 8, 2011, the Company granted 0.4 million RSUs to management, of which 0.3 million vest over four years and 0.1 million vest during the first quarter of 2011.

 

2009 Option Exchange Program

 

In February 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Plan to permit a one-time Option Exchange Program (the “2009 OEP”), which amendment was approved at the May 2009 shareholders’ meeting. On April 13, 2009, the Company commenced the 2009 OEP (subject to shareholder approval) by making an offer to exchange to the Company’s eligible employees and non-employee directors. The Company offered such persons the opportunity to make an election to exchange all of their outstanding stock options with exercise prices equal to or greater than $11.80 per share for a lesser number of RSUs. The exchange ratios were as follows:

 

Option 

 

Exchange Ratio

 

Strike Price

 

(Options For RSUs)

 

At least $11.80, but less than $30.00

 

2.25 for 1

 

$

30.00 or more

 

4.5 for 1

 

 

On May 15, 2009, following the May 14, 2009 expiration of the 2009 OEP exchange offer, the Company granted 0.7 million RSUs in exchange for 2.1 million options. As a result of the 2009 OEP, the number of RSUs that can be issued under the Plan was effectively increased by 0.7 million as all RSUs granted did not count against the restricted stock sublimit in the Plan.  In addition, the number of awards that can be issued under the Plan was effectively reduced by 2.1 million as all options that were exchanged will not be available for re-grant under the Plan.

 

The Company applied modification accounting for the 2009 OEP and will recognize share-based compensation expense of $1.2 million on a straight-line basis over the four-year vesting period of the RSUs. Under modification accounting, the fair value of the new shares immediately prior to the exchange was greater by $1.2 million than the fair value of the surrendered options. In addition, under the bifurcated method, share-based compensation expense of $0.9 million associated with any unvested options exchanged and cancelled as of the modification date will be recognized over the remaining original option term, and the expense will only be reversed if the original service period is not met.

 

Tax Benefit, Or Additional Paid-In Capital Pool

 

In connection with the vesting of RSUs issued under the Company’s 2006 Option Exchange Program, the Company received tax deductions in excess of previously recorded tax benefits.  As a result, the Company recorded a windfall tax benefit of $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, which was classified as a financing cash inflow in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

13.          NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

 

Net income (loss) per common share is calculated as basic net income (loss) per share and diluted net income (loss) per share. Basic net income (loss) per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed in the same manner as basic net income (loss) after assuming issuance of common stock for all potentially dilutive equivalent shares, which includes the potential dilution that could occur: (1) if all the Company’s outstanding stock options that are in-the-money were exercised (using the treasury stock method); (2) if the RSUs with service conditions were fully vested (using the treasury stock method);

 

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Table of Contents

 

(3) if the RSUs with service and market conditions were considered contingently issuable; and (4) if the participation by employees in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which expired on March 31, 2009, is considered as an option (using the treasury stock method). Anti-dilutive instruments are not considered in this calculation.

 

The Company considered the allocation of undistributed net income for multiple classes of common stock and determined that it was appropriate to allocate undistributed net income between the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock on an equal basis.  For purposes of making this determination, the Company’s charter provides that the holders of Class A and Class B common stock have equal rights and privileges except with respect to voting on most matters voted by Joseph Field or David Field.

 

For the periods indicated, the following tables present the computations of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

 

 

Net Income

 

Shares

 

Per Share

 

Basic net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

46,436

 

35,712,026

 

$

1.30

 

Net income

 

$

46,436

 

35,712,026

 

$

1.30

 

Impact of equity awards

 

 

 

1,967,360

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

46,436

 

37,679,386

 

$

1.23

 

Net income

 

$

46,436

 

37,679,386

 

$

1.23

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

 

 

Net Income

 

Shares

 

Per Share

 

Basic net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

5,398

 

35,321,431

 

$

0.15

 

Net income

 

$

5,398

 

35,321,431

 

$

0.15

 

Impact of equity awards

 

 

 

1,081,369

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

5,398

 

36,402,800

 

$

0.15

 

Net income

 

$

5,398

 

36,402,800

 

$

0.15

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Loss

 

 

 

Net Loss

 

Shares

 

Per Share

 

Basic net loss per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

$

(512,572

)

36,782,166

 

$

(13.94

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

(4,079

)

 

(0.11

)

Net loss

 

$

(516,651

)

36,782,166

 

$

(14.05

)

Impact of equity awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net loss per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

$

(512,572

)

36,782,166

 

$

(13.94

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit

 

(4,079

)

 

(0.11

)

Net loss

 

$

(516,651

)

36,782,166

 

$

(14.05

)

 

Incremental Shares Disclosure As Anti-Dilutive

 

For the periods indicated, the following table provides the incremental shares excluded as they were anti-dilutive: (1) under the treasury stock method; and (2) when reporting a net loss:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

Impact Of Equity Awards

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

Dilutive or anti-dilutive for all potentially dilutive equivalent shares

 

dilutive

 

dilutive

 

anti-dilutive

 

Excluded shares as anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price range of options excluded

 

$

9.63

 

$

48.21

 

$

3.46

 

$

48.21

 

$

6.98

 

$

52.05

 

Options excluded

 

66

 

 

 

917

 

 

 

2,487

 

 

 

RSUs with service conditions

 

43

 

 

 

748

 

 

 

1,070

 

 

 

RSUs with service and market conditions

 

200

 

 

 

56

 

 

 

318

 

 

 

Total RSUs excluded

 

243

 

 

 

804

 

 

 

1,388

 

 

 

Excluded shares as anti-dilutive when reporting a net loss

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

 

14.          INCOME TAXES

 

Effective Tax Rate - Overview

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate, or a tax (benefit), may be impacted by: (1) changes in the level of income in any of the Company’s taxing jurisdictions; (2) changes in the statutes and rules applicable to taxable income in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; (3) changes in the expected outcome of income tax audits; (4) changes in the estimate of expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes; (5) income taxes in certain states where the states’ current taxable income is dependent on factors other than the Company’s consolidated net income; (6) the effect of recording changes in the Company’s liabilities for uncertain tax positions; and (7) adding facilities in states that on average have different income tax rates from states in which we currently operate and the resulting effect on previously reported temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of our assets and liabilities.

 

As a result of cumulative losses incurred by the Company over the past several years, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance was established due to the uncertainty that the deferred tax assets would be realized in future years (after consideration for any net deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill).

 

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Table of Contents

 

An impairment loss will result in an income tax benefit (before any valuation allowance) during the period incurred as the amortization of broadcasting licenses and goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.

 

Expected And Reported Income Taxes (Benefit)

 

Income tax expense (benefit) computed using the United States federal statutory rates is reconciled to the reported income tax expense (benefit) as follows:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal statutory income tax rate

 

35

%

35

%

35

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computed tax expense (benefit) at federal statutory rates on income (loss) before income taxes (benefit)

 

$

23,461

 

$

59

 

$

(260,810

)

State income tax expense (benefit), net of federal benefit

 

2,572

 

552

 

(32,042

)

Federal tax expense associated with non-amortizable assets

 

19,246

 

 

 

Non recognition of expense due to full valuation allowance

 

(22,842

)

(1,047

)

 

Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance

 

 

 

59,366

 

Decrease in valuation allowance for change in federal net operating loss carryback rules

 

(149

)

(6,696

)

 

Change in uncertain tax positions

 

(2,458

)

433

 

 

Nondeductible expenses and other

 

765

 

1,170

 

886

 

Income taxes (benefit) from continuing operations

 

$

20,595

 

$

(5,529

)

$

(232,600

)

 

For The Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

The effective income tax rate was 30.7%.  The difference between the federal statutory rate of 35% and the effective tax rate was primarily due to: (1) tax expense associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill; (2) non- recognition of tax expense due to a full valuation allowance; (3) a decrease in the liability for uncertain tax positions for the reasons described below under Liabilities For Uncertain Tax Positions; and (3) permanent differences that are not fully deductible for tax purposes.

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

The Company’s tax benefit as a percentage of pre-tax loss from continuing operations was not numerically relevant. The difference between the federal statutory tax rate of 35% and the effective tax rate is primarily due to: (1) a valuation allowance; (2) state tax provisions; and (3) permanent differences that are not fully deductible for tax purposes.

 

The effective income tax benefit of $5.5 million primarily resulted from a change in tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed net operating losses to be carried back for up to five years rather than two years. As a result, the Company applied for a tax refund in excess of $7.0 million using its 2008 net operating loss. Included in the tax refund was the realization of $0.3 million in dividend equivalent payments, which were recorded as an increase to paid-in capital. Due to the expected refund from the Internal Revenue Service, the Company’s full valuation allowance against this deferred tax asset was removed. The Company also recorded the expected refund from the Internal Revenue Service as prepaid and refundable income taxes as of December 31, 2009.

 

In connection with the recording of a $67.7 million impairment loss during the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $26.7 million and a full valuation allowance.

 

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For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

The Company’s tax benefit as a percentage of pre-tax loss from continuing operations was 31.2%. The effective income tax benefit was negatively impacted by an increase of $59.4 million in the valuation allowance.

 

In connection with the recording of a $835.7 million impairment loss, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $328.4 million and a full valuation allowance.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

(2,608

)

$

(6,378

)

$

 

State

 

150

 

849

 

95

 

Total current

 

(2,458

)

(5,529

)

95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

19,246

 

 

(183,304

)

State

 

3,807

 

 

(49,391

)

Total deferred

 

23,053

 

 

(232,695

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total income taxes (benefit) from continuing operations

 

$

20,595

 

$

(5,529

)

$

(232,600

)

 

Income tax expense (benefit) from discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

From discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

State

 

 

 

 

Total current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

 

 

(1,450

)

State

 

 

 

(392

)

Total deferred

 

 

 

(1,842

)

Total income taxes (benefit) from discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

(1,842

)

 

Deferred Tax Assets And Deferred Tax Liabilities

 

The income tax accounting process, to determine the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, involves estimating all temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities based on tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the period in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.

 

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The tax effects of significant temporary differences that comprise the net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Employee benefits

 

$

860

 

$

1,380

 

Deferred compensation

 

438

 

494

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

1,235

 

1,300

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

1,169

 

 

Deferred income

 

85

 

310

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

115

 

54

 

Other

 

136

 

156

 

Total current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance

 

4,038

 

3,694

 

Valuation allowance

 

(3,261

)

(2,918

)

Total current deferred tax assets - net

 

777

 

776

 

Federal and state income tax loss carryforwards

 

39,288

 

20,131

 

Broadcasting licenses and goodwill

 

 

23,489

 

Share-based compensation

 

3,292

 

4,536

 

Investments - impairments

 

450

 

2,040

 

Lease rental obligations

 

1,343

 

1,353

 

Deferred compensation

 

2,735

 

2,092

 

State income tax credits

 

1,248

 

1,248

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

1,705

 

5,292

 

Other

 

66

 

591

 

Total non-current deferred tax assets before valuation allowance

 

50,127

 

60,772

 

Valuation allowance

 

(40,494

)

(47,997

)

Total non-current deferred tax assets - net

 

9,633

 

12,775

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

$

10,410

 

$

13,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Advertiser broadcasting obligations

 

$

(126

)

$

(126

)

Total current deferred tax liabilities

 

(126

)

(126

)

Deferral of gain recognition on the extinguishment of debt

 

(7,635

)

(8,197

)

Property, equipment and certain intangibles (other than broadcasting licenses and goodwill)

 

(2,649

)

(5,228

)

Broadcasting licenses and goodwill

 

(23,053

)

 

Total non-current deferred tax liabilities

 

(33,337

)

(13,425

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

$

(33,463

)

$

(13,551

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

 

$

(23,053

)

$

 

 

Valuation Allowance For Deferred Tax Assets

 

The Company decreased its valuation allowance in 2010 primarily due to a decrease in its deferred tax assets associated with broadcast licenses and goodwill as of December 31, 2010 as compared to December 31, 2009. As a result of cumulative losses incurred by the Company since 2006, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance was established due to the uncertainty that the deferred tax assets would be realized in future years (after consideration for any net deferred tax liabilities associated with non-amortizable assets such as broadcasting licenses and goodwill). The valuation allowance as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 includes $2.4 million and $5.3 million, respectively, for an income tax benefit recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).

 

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The Company has also considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax-planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance.  On a quarterly basis, management assesses whether it remains more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  In the event the Company determines at a future time that it could realize its deferred tax assets in excess of the net amount recorded, the Company will reduce its deferred tax asset valuation allowance and decrease income tax expense in the period when the Company makes such determination.

 

The Company has reported cumulative income since 2009.  If the Company were to continue to report cumulative income in 2011, the Company expects that it is reasonably possible that the valuation allowance would decrease significantly in 2011.

 

The following table presents the changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance for the periods indicated:

 

Year Ended

 

Balance At
Beginning
Year

 

Increase
(Decrease)
Charged/
(Credited)
To Income 
Taxes
(Benefit)

 

Increase
(Decrease)
Charged/
(Credited)
To
OCI

 

Increase
(Decrease)
To
Balance
Sheet

 

Balance At
End Of
Year

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

December 31, 2010

 

$

50,915

 

$

 

$

(2,458

)

$

(4,702

)

$

43,755

 

December 31, 2009

 

67,449

 

(6,696

)

(1,181

)

(8,657

)

50,915

 

December 31, 2008

 

1,610

 

59,366

 

6,473

 

 

67,449

 

 

Liabilities For Uncertain Tax Positions

 

The Company provides for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on tax returns.  Financial statements should reflect expected future tax consequences of such positions presuming the taxing authorities have full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts.

 

The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis or when new information becomes available to management. These reevaluations are based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, successfully settled issues under audit, expirations due to statutes, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement could result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an increase to the tax accrual.

 

The Company classifies interest related to income tax liabilities as income tax expense, and penalties are recognized as a component of income tax expense. The income tax liabilities and accrued interest and penalties are presented as noncurrent liabilities, as payments are not anticipated within one year of the balance sheet date. These noncurrent income tax liabilities are recorded in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

The Company’s liabilities for uncertain tax positions, which amounts were recorded as long-term liabilities in the balance sheets, are reflected in the following table as of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Liabilities for uncertain tax positions

 

 

 

 

 

Tax

 

$

1,674

 

$

3,495

 

Interest and penalties

 

1,147

 

1,784

 

Total

 

$

2,821

 

$

5,279

 

 

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The following table presents for the periods indicated, the expense (income) for uncertain tax positions, which amounts were reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as an increase (decrease) to income tax expense:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax expense (income)

 

$

(1,821

)

$

736

 

$

(37

)

Interest and penalties (income)

 

(637

)

265

 

132

 

Total income taxes (benefit) from uncertain tax positions

 

$

(2,458

)

$

1,001

 

$

95

 

 

The decrease in liabilities for uncertain tax positions for the year ended December 31, 2010 primarily reflects the expiration of statutes of limitation for certain tax jurisdictions and the conclusion of an audit with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) in 2010.  The Company reviews its estimates on a quarterly basis and any change in its liabilities for uncertain tax positions will result in an adjustment to its income tax expense in the statement of operations in each period measured.

 

The following table presents the gross amount of changes in unrecognized tax benefits for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year balance

 

$

(4,501

)

$

(3,406

)

$

(3,360

)

Prior year positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Increases

 

 

(1,185

)

(79

)

Gross Decreases

 

2,489

 

 

33

 

Current year positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Increases

 

 

(308

)

 

Gross Decreases

 

 

 

 

Settlements with tax authorities

 

 

 

 

Reductions due to statute lapse

 

338

 

398

 

 

End of year balance

 

$

(1,674

)

$

(4,501

)

$

(3,406

)

 

The gross amount of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits is reflected in the above table which, if recognized, would impact the Company’s effective income tax rate in the period of recognition. As of December 31, 2009, the above table includes a liability of $0.3 million that was reflected as an offset to a deferred tax asset. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could increase or decrease within the next twelve months for a number of reasons including the expiration of statutes of limitations, audit settlements and tax examination activities.

 

As of December 31, 2010, there are certain unrecognized tax benefits of $0.7 million (exclusive of interest and penalties) that over the next twelve months are subject to the expiration of various statutes of limitation.  The Company believes that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by this amount over the next twelve months.

 

Federal And State Income Tax Audits

 

The Company is subject to federal and state income tax audits from time to time that could result in proposed assessments. The Company cannot predict with certainty how these audits will be resolved and whether the Company will be required to make additional tax payments, which may or may not include penalties and interest. During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company concluded an audit by the Internal Revenue Service with no proposed adjustment for the tax years of 2004 through 2008.  For most states where the Company conducts business,

 

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the Company is subject to examination for the preceding three to six years. In certain states, the period could be longer.

 

Management believes that the Company has provided sufficient tax provisions for tax periods that are within the statutory period of limitations not previously audited and that are potentially open for examination by the taxing authorities. Potential liabilities associated with these years will be resolved when an event occurs to warrant closure, primarily through the completion of audits by the taxing jurisdictions. To the extent audits or other events result in a material adjustment to the accrued estimates, the effect would be recognized during the period of the event. There can be no assurance, however, that the ultimate outcome of audits will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Income Tax Payments And Refunds

 

The following table provides the amount of income tax payments and income tax refunds for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State income tax payments

 

$

83

 

$

192

 

$

22

 

Federal and state income tax refunds (1) (2)

 

$

6,866

 

$

19

 

$

14,584

 

 


(1)                                  In 2010, tax refunds were primarily comprised of a refund resulting from federal tax legislation during the fourth quarter of 2009 that allowed the Company to carryback its 2008 net operating loss for five years rather than for two years.

 

(2)                                  In 2008, tax refunds were primarily comprised of: (a) $8.4 million in previously paid taxes as a result of a 2007 federal net operating loss carryback; and (b) $6.2 million in refunds related to federal and state estimated tax prepayments.

 

Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

 

In 2009, the Company utilized $5.2 million of capital loss carryovers, which was scheduled to expire in 2013.  As a result, the Company’s 2009 net operating loss carryforward (“NOL”) increased by the same amount.

 

The tax NOL carryforwards presented in the following table include windfall tax benefits that will be recognized for book purposes and recorded to paid-in capital only when realized. Utilization in future years of the NOL carryforwards may be subject to limitations due to the changes in ownership provisions under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions.

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

NOLs

 

Carryover Period

 

 

 

(amounts in
thousands)

 

(in years)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal NOL carryforwards

 

$

97,035

 

2010 to 2030

 

State NOL carryforwards

 

$

61,470

 

2016 to 2030

 

State income tax credit

 

$

1,248

 

to 2017

 

Windfall tax benefits included in NOLs

 

$

1,630

 

 

 

 

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15.          OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other items recorded directly to the equity accounts.

 

The following table summarizes the types of other comprehensive income (loss) recorded to the statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the periods indicated.

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

Category

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Beginning balance

 

$

(13,432

)

$

(15,262

)

$

(132

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain on investments

 

 

 

218

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

86

 

Net gain on investments, net of taxes

 

 

 

132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net gain (loss) on derivatives

 

6,155

 

1,830

 

(15,262

)

Income taxes (benefit)

 

2,431

 

721

 

(6,020

)

Net gain (loss) on derivatives, net of taxes and before valuation allowance

 

3,724

 

1,109

 

(9,242

)

Valuation allowance - (decrease) increase

 

(2,431

)

(721

)

6,020

 

Net gain (loss) on investments, net of taxes

 

6,155

 

1,830

 

(15,262

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending balance

 

$

(7,277

)

$

(13,432

)

$

(15,262

)

 

16.          EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND BENEFIT PLANS

 

Deferred Compensation Plans

 

The Company provides certain of its employees and the Board of Directors with an opportunity to defer a portion of their compensation on a tax-favored basis. The obligations by the Company to pay these benefits under the deferred compensation plans represent unsecured general obligations that rank equally with the Company’s other unsecured indebtedness. Amounts deferred under these plans were included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Any change in the deferred compensation liability is recorded to general and administrative expense and to station operating expenses in the statements of operations.

 

401(k) Savings Plan

 

The Company has a retirement plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The retirement plan is a defined contribution plan, available to all eligible employees, and allows participants to contribute up to the legal maximum of their eligible compensation, not to exceed the maximum tax-deferred amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. The retirement plan also allows the Company to make discretionary matching contributions, which may be reduced, suspended or reinstated at any given time. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company suspended its discretionary matching contributions.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company announced that effective July 1, 2011, it intends to reinstate a discretionary matching contribution, subject to certain conditions.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”) expired on March 31, 2009 and was not renewed.  The Purchase Plan allowed for the participants to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at 85% of the market value of such shares on the purchase date.  Pursuant to this Purchase Plan, the Company

 

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did not record compensation expense on the difference between the market value and the purchase price, as this Purchase Plan was designed to meet the requirements of Section 423(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Benefit Plan Data

 

The following table presents for the periods indicated certain information on employee savings and benefit plans:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

Benefit Plan Disclosures

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Deferred compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period balance

 

$

5,173

 

$

3,714

 

$

2,811

 

Employee compensation deferrals

 

828

 

759

 

2,289

 

Employee compensation payments

 

(87

)

(362

)

(12

)

Increase (decrease) in plan fair value

 

708

 

1,062

 

(1,374

)

End of period balance

 

$

6,622

 

$

5,173

 

$

3,714

 

401(K) savings plan expense

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,794

 

Shares purchased under the Purchase Plan

 

 

76

 

71

 

 

17.          FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Subject To Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company has determined the financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement are: (1) interest rate derivative transactions as described under Note 9; (2) certain tangible and intangible assets subject to impairment testing as described in Note 4; (3) deemed deferred compensation plans as described in Note 16; (4) financial instruments as described in Note 7; (5) available for sale securities as described under Note 20; and (6) investments in cash equivalents.

 

The fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent to the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy assigns the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).

 

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1 — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.

 

Level 2 — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reported date.

 

Level 3 — Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value. At each balance sheet date, the Company performs an analysis of all instruments and includes in Level 3 all of those whose fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs.

 

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Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of the periods indicated. The financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

Value Measurements At Reporting Date Using

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Active

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markets For

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identical

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Assets Or

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

Description 

 

Total

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

 

 

Assets (Liabilities)

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents (1)

 

$

3,540

 

$

3,540

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Compensation (2)

 

$

(6,622

)

$

(6,622

)

$

 

 

$

 

Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges - Designated As Qualifying Instruments (3) (4)

 

$

(2,958

)

$

 

$

(2,958

)

$

 

Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges - Designated As Qualifying Instruments (5)

 

$

(4,319

)

$

 

$

(4,319

)

$

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2009

 

 

 

Value Measurements At Reporting Date Using

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Active

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Markets For

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identical

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Assets Or

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

Description 

 

Total

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

 

 

Assets (Liabilities)

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents (1)

 

$

8,475

 

$

8,475

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Compensation (2) 

 

$

(5,173

)

$

(5,173

)

$

 

 

$

 

Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges - Designated As Qualifying Instruments (3) (5)

 

$

(13,432

)

$

 

$

(13,432

)

$

 

 


(1)                                 Cash equivalents, which are included under current assets as cash and cash equivalents, are invested in

 

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institutional money market funds. This investment is considered a Level 1 measurement, using quoted prices in active markets for identical investments.

 

(2)                                 The Company’s deferred compensation liability, which is included in other long-term liabilities, is recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The unfunded plan allows participants to hypothetically invest in various specified investment options such as equity funds, stock funds, capital appreciation funds, money market funds, bond funds, mid-cap value funds and growth funds. The nonqualified deferred compensation plan liability is valued based on quoted market prices of the underlying investments. The Company classifies its nonqualified deferred compensation plan liability as Level 1.

 

(3)                                 For the Company’s interest rate hedges, the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a variable interest rate that is observable based upon a forward interest rate curve and is therefore considered a Level 2 measurement based on the Eurodollar rate. The Company factors into the fair value of its interest rate hedges an adjustment for a non-performance risk by either the Company and/or by the Company’s counterparty.

 

(4)                                 The Company reflects the short-term derivative liability under current liabilities.

 

(5)                                 The Company reflects the long-term derivative liability under other long-term liabilities.

 

For the Company’s available for sale assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant, unobservable inputs (Level 3), the following is a reconciliation of the activity during the year ended December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Available

 

 

 

For Sale

 

 

 

Securities

 

 

 

(amounts in

 

 

 

thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2007

 

$

345

 

Divestiture of investment

 

(345

)

Balance as of December 31, 2008

 

$

 

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company has certain assets that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis under the circumstances and events described in Note 4 and are adjusted to fair value only when the carrying values are more than the fair values.  The categorization of the framework used to price the assets is considered a Level 3, due to the subjective nature of the unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value. See Note 4 for the disclosure of certain key assumptions used to develop the unobservable inputs.

 

For The Year Ended December 31, 2010

 

The Company reviewed the fair value of its broadcasting licenses, goodwill and net property and equipment and other intangibles, and concluded that these assets were not impaired as the fair value of these assets equaled or exceeded their carrying values.

 

For The Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

Included in the following table are the major categories of assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis along with the fair value measurement of the impairment loss recognized:

 

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Non-Recurring Assets Subject To Fair Value Measurement

 

 

 

December 31, 2009
(based on the valuation as of June 30, 2009)

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted 
Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Active

 

 

 

 

 

For The Year

 

 

 

 

 

Markets For

 

Significant

 

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Identical

 

Other

 

Significant

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

Assets Or

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

Impairment

 

Description 

 

Total

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Loss

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net property and equipment

 

$

70,527

 

$

 

$

 

$

70,527

 

$

 

Other intangibles, net

 

722

 

 

 

722

 

 

Goodwill

 

38,168

 

 

 

38,168

 

6,882

 

Radio broadcasting licenses

 

707,852

 

 

 

707,852

 

60,794

 

Total

 

$

817,269

 

$

 

$

 

$

817,269

 

$

67,676

 

 

Fair Value Of Financial Instruments Subject To Disclosures

 

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

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:

 

(1) Cash and cash equivalents (other than as disclosed above as a Level 1 measurement), accounts receivable and accounts payable, including accrued liabilities: The carrying amount of these assets and liabilities approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

 

(2) Senior debt under the Bank Facility: The Company’s determination of the fair value was based on a risk adjusted rate.

 

(3) 7.625% Senior Subordinated Notes: The fair value was based on available market prices.  On March 8, 2010, the Company redeemed at par all of the remaining Notes outstanding.

 

(4) Finance method lease obligations.  The Company does not believe it is practicable to estimate the fair value of this obligation as it is unlikely that the Company will be required to repay the amount outstanding.

 

(5) Outstanding Letters of Credit: The Company does not believe it is practicable to estimate the fair value of this financial instrument and does not expect any material loss from the resolution since performance is not likely to be required.

 

The following table presents the carrying value and where practicable, the fair value, as of the periods indicated:

 

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December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

 

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior debt (2)

 

$

650,000.0

 

$

619,713.0

 

$

729,000.0

 

$

675,800.0

 

7.625% Senior Subordinated Notes (3)

 

$

 

$

 

$

6,579.0

 

$

5,986.9

 

Finance method lease obligations (4)

 

$

12,610.0

 

 

 

$

12,610.0

 

 

 

Letter of credit (5)

 

$

670.0

 

 

 

$

1,470.0

 

 

 

 

18.                               DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

The Company applied the accounting guidance for the disposition of long-lived assets to: (1) the disposition of a building on November 24, 2008; (2) the disposition of radio broadcasting assets in the Rochester, New York, market on July 14, 2008; (3) the disposition of radio broadcasting assets in the Cincinnati, Ohio, market on March 14, 2008; (4) the disposition of radio broadcasting assets in the Seattle market on March 14, 2008; and (5) the disposition of radio broadcasting assets in the Austin market on January 15, 2008.  Accounting guidance requires that in a period in which a component of an entity has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale, the income statement of a business enterprise for current and prior periods shall report the results of operations of the component, including any gain or loss recognized, in discontinued operations.

 

The Company reported the disposition of radio broadcasting assets in the Rochester, New York, market as discontinued operations; however, it did not report the discontinued operations for the following dispositions which remain classified in income (loss) from continuing operations:

 

·                  The radio stations in Cincinnati, Ohio, as there was no activity in this market by the Company since the Company’s acquisition of these stations during the fourth quarter of 2007 (the stations were operated by a third party pursuant to a TBA for the period from February 26, 2007 through March 14, 2008); and

 

·                  The radio station in the Austin market, the three radio stations in the Seattle market and a building, as these operations did not meet the criteria for the reclassification of operating results to discontinued operations due to the expected migration of cash flows from the disposed stations and property to other Company-owned radio stations.

 

Selected financial information related to discontinued operations in the Rochester market for the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

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Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

Net broadcast revenues

 

$

1,440

 

 

 

 

 

Station operating (income) expenses

 

1,456

 

Time brokerage agreement income

 

(45

)

(Gain) loss on disposition of assets

 

(725

)

Impairment loss

 

6,675

 

Total operating (income) expense

 

7,361

 

Income (loss) before income taxes (benefit)

 

(5,921

)

Income taxes (benefit)

 

1,842

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (benefit)

 

$

(4,079

)

 

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company reviewed its carrying amount for the Rochester assets held for sale at that time and determined that an aggregate impairment loss for broadcasting licenses and goodwill of $6.7 million was necessary due to: (1) the continued decline in advertising revenues; (2) the filing of an application with the FCC to place these stations into a disposition trust; and (3) the potential for a forced sale by the disposition trustee.

 

In accordance with the accounting guidance for the allocation of interest expense to a discontinued operation, the Company did not allocate any interest expense for the periods presented, as no debt was required to be repaid under the Company’s Bank Facility as a result of the disposition of these radio station assets.

 

19.                               ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES AND PRO FORMA SUMMARY

 

The Company consummated acquisitions of radio stations under the purchase method of accounting, and the purchase price was allocated to the assets based upon their respective fair values as determined as of the purchase date.  The purchase price for acquisitions consummated prior to 2009 included transaction costs.

 

Acquisitions And Dispositions For The Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009

 

There were no acquisitions or dispositions during the above periods, other than as disclosed under Note 8.  For a discussion of a pending acquisition, see Note 10.

 

Acquisitions For The Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

Acquisition Of Three Stations In San Francisco, California, In Exchange For Four Stations In Cincinnati, Ohio, And Three Stations In Seattle, Washington

 

On March 14, 2008, the Company completed an exchange transaction to acquire three radio stations in San Francisco, California, and $1.0 million in cash for four radio stations in Cincinnati, Ohio, and three radio stations in Seattle, Washington.  The fair value of the assets acquired, in exchange for the assets disposed of, was accounted for under purchase price accounting, which resulted in a fair value of $220.0 million.

 

As a result of the exchange transaction, the Company recorded $2.8 million of goodwill which is fully deductible for income tax purposes. The exchange transaction provided the Company with entry into the San Francisco market, where management has and believes it can continue to increase the market share of the acquired stations. Upon completion of the transactions described herein, the Company: (1) owns and operates three stations in San Francisco; (2) continues to own and operate four radio stations in the Seattle market; and (3) exited the Cincinnati market. The Company reported a gain on sale or disposal of assets of $10.0 million, which was primarily attributable to the disposition of the three radio stations in the Seattle market.

 

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The following is a summary of those radio stations that were included in the exchange on March 14, 2008:

 

Markets

 

Radio Stations

 

Transactions

San Francisco, CA

 

KDFC-FM; KBWF-FM; and KOIT-FM

 

Company acquired

Seattle, WA

 

KBSG-FM; KIRO-AM; and KTTH-AM

 

Company disposed

Cincinnati, OH

 

WKRQ-FM; WSWD-FM; WUBE-FM; and WYGY-FM

 

Company disposed

 

On February 26, 2007, each party to the exchange transaction commenced operations of the counter-party’s respective radio stations pursuant to a TBA.  During the period of the TBA, the Company: (1) included net revenues and station operating expenses associated with operating the San Francisco stations in the Company’s financial statements; and (2) excluded net revenues and station operating expenses associated with operating the Cincinnati stations and three of the Seattle stations in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. TBA income and TBA fees were equal in amount under the TBA agreements.

 

During the period subsequent to the acquisition of the Cincinnati stations by the Company and prior to the disposition of the Cincinnati stations by the Company (November 30, 2007 through March 14, 2008), there were no revenues or station operating expenses reported by the Company, as the counter-party to the exchange agreement operated these stations pursuant to a TBA.

 

For the three radio stations acquired in San Francisco, the aggregate purchase price, including transaction costs of $0.4 million, was allocated as follows:

 

Description

 

Amount

 

Useful Lives

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leasehold improvements

 

$

1,919

 

7 years

 

Furniture and equipment

 

173

 

5 years

 

Equipment

 

2,032

 

3 to 5 years

 

Total tangible assets

 

4,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertiser lists and customer relationships

 

56

 

3 years

 

Acquired advertising contracts

 

2,039

 

less than 1 year

 

Broadcasting licenses

 

210,358

 

non-amortizing

 

Goodwill

 

2,807

 

non-amortizing

 

Total intangible assets

 

215,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

219,384

 

 

 

Asset retirement liabilities

 

(10

)

7 years

 

Net assets acquired

 

$

219,374

 

 

 

 

Dispositions For The Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

These assets were reviewed for impairment as described in Note 4.

 

Rochester, New York

 

On July 14, 2008, the Company completed the sale of three radio stations, WRMM-FM, WZNE-FM and WFKL-FM, for $12.2 million in net cash proceeds.  Pursuant to a TBA and an agreement of sale dated April 28, 2008, the buyer commenced operation of these stations on May 1, 2008. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a $0.7 million gain on the disposition, which amount was recorded as discontinued operations. Upon completion of this transaction, the Company continues to own and operate five radio stations in the Rochester market.

 

As background on this disposition, on November 30, 2007, the Company purchased the assets of four radio stations serving the Rochester radio market.  In connection with certain regulatory requirements, the Company agreed to divest three radio stations, two of which were radio stations that were acquired on November 30, 2007.

 

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Austin, Texas

 

On January 15, 2008, the Company sold the radio station assets of KLQB-FM, formerly KXBT-FM, in Austin, Texas, for $20.0 million in cash.  The buyer had operated this station under a TBA since February 26, 2007. The Company believes that the divestiture of this station did not alter the competitive position of the remaining three stations the Company currently operates in this market.  No gain or loss was reported on the sale.

 

As background on this disposition, on November 30, 2007, the Company purchased the assets of four radio stations serving the Austin radio market.

 

Supplemental Pro Forma Information

 

The following unaudited supplemental pro forma information presents the consolidated results of operations as if any acquisitions, which occurred during the period, had all occurred as of the beginning of the period presented, after giving effect to certain adjustments, including depreciation and amortization of assets and interest expense on any debt incurred to fund the acquisitions which would have been incurred had such acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 2008. For purposes of this presentation, the data does not reflect on a pro forma basis dispositions of radio stations (other than the disposition of: (1) a radio station in Cincinnati (WGRR-FM) as the Company never operated this station; and (2) the disposition of radio stations in Seattle and Cincinnati as this disposition was in exchange for the assets in San Francisco as described in Note 19).  In addition, the table reflects, on a pro forma basis, information as if the discontinued operations in Rochester were not discontinued. These unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisitions been made as of that date or results which may occur in the future.

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Actual

 

Actual

 

Pro Forma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

391,447

 

$

372,432

 

$

440,262

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

46,436

 

$

5,398

 

$

(526,801

)

Net income (loss) per common share - basic

 

$

1.30

 

$

0.15

 

$

(14.32

)

 

20.                               INVESTMENTS

 

The Company’s investment strategy is to seek long-term strategic investments to enhance its core business. The investments, noted in the table below, are comprised primarily of equity securities for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee. Certain of these investments are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value based upon quoted market prices and other investments are carried at historical cost when quoted market prices are unavailable. The net unrealized gain or loss, net of taxes (benefit), on these investments is reported in the statements of comprehensive income (loss) and as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Any net realized gains or losses are reported in the statements of operations.

 

The following table summarizes the activities of the Company’s investments for the periods indicated:

 

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Investments

 

 

 

 

 

Carried

 

Available

 

 

 

Total

 

At Cost

 

For Sale

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2007

 

$

1,901

 

$

1,556

 

$

345

 

Additional investment

 

6

 

6

 

 

 

Recovery of investment

 

(9

)

(9

)

 

 

Divestiture of investment

 

(345

)

 

 

(345

)

Fair value or cost adjustments

 

(154

)

(154

)

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2008

 

1,399

 

1,399

 

 

Recovery of investment

 

(19

)

(19

)

 

 

Divestiture of investment

 

(20

)

(20

)

 

 

Fair value or cost adjustments

 

(966

)

(966

)

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2009

 

394

 

394

 

 

Fair value or cost adjustments

 

(174

)

(174

)

 

 

Other adjustments

 

(3

)

(3

)

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

 

$

217

 

$

217

 

$

 

 

For those investments carried at cost, the Company does not estimate fair value unless events or circumstances arise that indicate a change in the fair value of the investment. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, in conjunction with the preparation of its financial statements, the Company concluded it had events that required an assessment of its investments carried at cost. As a result of these assessments, the Company recorded impairments to its consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 that are included in the above table as fair value or cost adjustments. See Note 15 for the amount of the unrealized gain on investments reported for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Unrealized Gains And Losses As Of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008

 

The following chart reflects those cost method investments with unrealized losses that were segregated by the time period over which the investments were in an unrealized loss position (there were no investments carried at fair value or investments reflected under the equity method):

 

 

 

Investments Carried At Cost Where Fair Value Was Not Estimated

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate Fair Value Of Investments

 

 

 

Total

 

With Unrealized Gains And/Or (Losses)

 

 

 

Aggregate

 

Unrealized Gains

 

Unrealized (Losses)

 

 

 

Fair Value Of

 

Less Than

 

1 Year

 

Less Than

 

1 Year

 

Period Ended

 

Investments

 

1 Year

 

Or Greater

 

1 Year

 

Or Greater

 

December 31, 2010

 

$

217

 

$

 

$

 

$

(174

)

$

 

December 31, 2009

 

$

394

 

$

 

$

 

$

(966

)

$

 

December 31, 2008

 

$

1,399

 

$

 

$

 

$

(154

)

$

 

 

21.                               SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)

 

The following table presents unaudited operating results for each quarter within the two most recent years. The Company believes that all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, have been included in the amounts stated below to present fairly the following quarterly results when read in conjunction with the financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Results of operations for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for a full year. The Company’s financial results are also not comparable from quarter to quarter due to: (1) the Company’s acquisitions and dispositions of radio stations and

 

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tower facilities as described in Note 19, Acquisitions, Divestitures And Pro Forma Summary and Note 8, Financing Lease Obligations; and (2) the seasonality of revenues, with revenues usually the lowest in the first quarter of each year.

 

 

 

Quarters Ended

 

 

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

March 31

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

102,088

 

$

102,737

 

$

105,788

 

$

80,834

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

30,157

 

$

26,547

 

$

28,844

 

$

12,161

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

17,285

 

$

10,689

 

$

14,262

 

$

4,200

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

17,285

 

$

10,689

 

$

14,262

 

$

4,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) from continuing operations per common share (1)

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.40

 

$

0.12

 

Basic net income (loss) per common share (1)

 

$

0.48

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.40

 

$

0.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

 

35,731

 

35,723

 

35,714

 

35,623

 

Diluted income (loss) from continuing operations per common share (1)

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.38

 

$

0.11

 

Diluted net income (loss) per common share (1)

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.38

 

$

0.11

 

Weighted average diluted common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

37,536

 

37,310

 

37,582

 

37,571

 

 

 

 

Quarters Ended

 

 

 

December 31

 

September 30

 

June 30 (2)

 

March 31

 

 

 

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

2009 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

95,996

 

$

99,765

 

$

101,300

 

$

75,371

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

24,260

 

$

23,421

 

$

(43,654

)

$

6,794

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

23,700

 

$

18,275

 

$

(41,913

)

$

5,336

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

23,700

 

$

18,275

 

$

(41,913

)

$

5,336

 

Basic income (loss) from continuing operations per common share (1)

 

$

0.67

 

$

0.52

 

$

(1.19

)

$

0.15

 

Basic net income (loss) per common share (1)

 

$

0.67

 

$

0.52

 

$

(1.19

)

$

0.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

 

35,295

 

35,292

 

35,290

 

35,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) from continuing operations per common share (1)

 

$

0.64

 

$

0.50

 

$

(1.19

)

$

0.15

 

Diluted net income (loss) per common share (1)

 

$

0.64

 

$

0.50

 

$

(1.19

)

$

0.15

 

Weighted average diluted common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

37,040

 

36,621

 

35,290

 

35,482

 

 

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(1)                                 Income (loss) from continuing operations per share and net income (loss) per share is computed independently for each quarter and the full year based upon respective average shares outstanding. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal the annual per share amounts reported.

 

(2)                                 During the second quarter of 2009, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $67.7 million that was comprised of: (1) a broadcasting license impairment loss of $60.8 million that affected each of the Company’s radio markets, other than Seattle; and (2) a goodwill impairment loss of $6.9 million for seven of its 22 markets.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 2011.

 

 

ENTERCOM COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ DAVID J. FIELD

 

 

David J. Field, President, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

 

CAPACITY

 

DATE

 

 

 

 

 

Principal Executive Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DAVID J. FIELD

 

President, Chief Executive Officer

 

February 9, 2011

David J. Field

 

and a Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal Financial Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ STEPHEN F. FISHER

 

Executive Vice President — Operations and

 

February 9, 2011

Stephen F. Fisher

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal Accounting Officer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ EUGENE D. LEVIN

 

Vice President, Treasurer and Controller

 

February 9, 2011

Eugene D. Levin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JOSEPH M. FIELD

 

Chairman of the Board

 

February 9, 2011

Joseph M. Field

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DAVID J. BERKMAN

 

Director

 

February 9, 2011

David J. Berkman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JOHN C. DONLEVIE

 

Executive Vice President, Secretary,

 

February 9, 2011

John C. Donlevie

 

General Counsel and a Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DANIEL E. GOLD

 

Director

 

February 9, 2011

Daniel E. Gold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ ROBERT S. WIESENTHAL

 

Director

 

February 9, 2011

Robert S. Wiesenthal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ MICHAEL J WOLF

 

Director

 

February 9, 2011

Michael J. Wolf

 

 

 

 

 

113



Table of Contents

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

3.01

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Entercom Communications Corp. (1)

3.02

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Entercom Communications Corp. (2)

10.01

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between Entercom Communications Corp. and David J. Field. (3)

10.02

 

Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 2007, between Entercom Communications Corp. and Joseph M. Field. (4)

10.03

 

First Amendment To Employment Agreement, dated December 15, 2008, between Entercom Communications Corp. and Joseph M. Field. (5)

10.04

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, between Entercom Communications Corp. and Stephen F. Fisher. (3)

10.05

 

Employment Agreement, dated December 17, 1998, between Entercom Communications Corp. and John C. Donlevie. (6)

10.06

 

Entercom Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy adopted May 18, 2010. (7)

10.07

 

Amended and Restated Entercom Equity Compensation Plan. (8)

10.08

 

Entercom Annual Incentive Plan. (9)

10.09

 

First Amendment dated as of March 11, 2010 to Credit Agreement (dated as of June 18, 2007) among Entercom Radio, LLC, as the Borrower, Entercom Communications Corp., as the Parent, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer and the lenders party thereto. (10)

21.01

 

Information Regarding Subsidiaries of Entercom Communications Corp. (3)

23.01

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. (3)

31.01

 

Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as created by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)

31.02

 

Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as created by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (3)

32.01

 

Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (11)

32.02

 

Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (11)

 


(1)

 

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01 to our Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed on January 27, 1999 (File No. 333-61381), Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on December 21, 2007 and Exhibit 3.02 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, as filed on August 5, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.01 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 21, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

(3)

 

Filed herewith.

 

 

 

 

 

(4)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as filed on November 21, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

(5)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.04 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed on February 26, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

(6)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.03 to our Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed on January 6, 1999. (File No. 333-61381).

 

 

 

 

 

(7)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.04 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, as filed on August 2, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

(8)

 

Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 23, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

(9)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.02 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

(10)

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2010, as filed on May 7, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

(11)

 

These exhibits are submitted as “accompanying” this Annual Report on Form 10-K and shall not be deemed to be “filed” as part of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

114