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BOSTON OMAHA Corp - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

bomn20190630_10q.htm
 
 

 

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(MARK ONE)

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020

 

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 001-38113

 


BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

  

Delaware

 

27-0788438

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1411 Harney St., Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68102

(Address of principal executive offices, Zip Code)

 

(857) 256-0079

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of Class

Trading Symbol

Name of Exchange on Which Registered

Class A common stock,
$0.001 par value per share

BOMN

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(NASDAQ Capital Market)

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒   No ☐ 

 

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

 

    

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

    

Non-accelerated filer

☐ 

Smaller reporting company

    
  

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 26,175,555 shares of Class A common stock and 1,055,560 shares of Class B common stock as of November 6, 2020.

 

 

 

 


 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

Part I – Financial Information

4
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited). 4
Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 4
Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 6
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity – September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 9
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 12

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

30

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

49

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

49

Part II – Other Information

51

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

51

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

51

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

51

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

51

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

51

Item 5. Other Information.

51

Item 6. Exhibits.

51

Exhibit Index

52

Signatures

53

 

References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the Company, “our Company,” “we,” “us,” ”our” and “Boston Omaha” refer to Boston Omaha Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise noted.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

Unaudited

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Unaudited

 

ASSETS

                 
   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Current Assets:

               
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 42,270,664     $ 16,028,514  
Restricted cash     381,113       343,518  
Accounts receivable, net     3,585,966       4,190,543  
Interest receivable     64,892       456,827  
Short-term investments     7,294,663       6,547,171  
Marketable equity securities     63,794,553       55,907,927  
U. S. Treasury securities available for sale     76,667,538       75,409,199  
Funds held as collateral assets     6,385,197       1,858,161  
Prepaid expenses     1,876,055       1,422,637  
                 

Total Current Assets

    202,320,641       162,164,497  
                 

Property and Equipment, net

    41,379,338       36,825,019  
                 

Other Assets:

               
Goodwill     113,416,446       106,272,501  
Intangible assets, net     35,418,574       32,271,581  
Investments     19,698,400       42,638,240  
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates     16,026,812       771,805  
Deferred policy acquisition costs     975,276       2,349,699  
Right of use assets     50,242,563       53,249,985  
Other     426,963       364,883  
                 

Total Other Assets

    236,205,034       237,918,694  
                 

Total Assets

  $ 479,905,013     $ 436,908,210  

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)

Unaudited

 

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST, AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

         
  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
         

Current Liabilities:

        

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 $5,964,495  $5,675,096 

Short-term payables for business acquisitions

  814,416   416,166 

Lease liabilities

  3,723,843   3,801,727 

Funds held as collateral

  6,385,197   1,858,161 

Unearned premiums

  4,775,163   8,035,756 
Current maturities of long-term debt  1,278,363   504,170 

Deferred revenue

  1,612,915   1,390,154 
         

Total Current Liabilities

  24,554,392   21,681,230 
         

Long-term Liabilities:

        

Asset retirement obligations

  2,247,533   2,044,705 

Lease liabilities

  45,366,930   48,199,652 
Long-term debt, less current maturities  22,074,639   17,555,830 

Other long-term liabilities

  120,595   398,750 

Deferred tax liability

  57,000   57,000 
         

Total Liabilities

  94,421,089   89,937,167 
         

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

  1,655,121   1,730,058 
         

Stockholders' Equity:

        

Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding

  -   - 

Class A common stock, $.001 par value, 38,838,884 shares authorized, 26,175,555 and 22,455,100 shares issued and outstanding

  26,176   22,455 

Class B common stock, $.001 par value, 1,161,116 shares authorized, 1,055,560 shares issued and outstanding

  1,056   1,056 

Additional paid-in capital

  423,481,777   367,029,421 

Accumulated deficit

  (39,680,206)  (21,811,947)
         

Total Stockholders' Equity

  383,828,803   345,240,985 
         

Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, and Stockholders' Equity

 $479,905,013  $436,908,210 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Unaudited

 

  

For the Three Months Ended

  

For the Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 

Revenues:

                

Billboard rentals, net

 $7,121,957  $7,182,884  $20,991,755  $21,113,266 

Broadband services

  1,144,343   -   2,575,676   - 

Premiums earned

  2,880,544   3,065,490   9,538,183   7,435,389 

Insurance commissions

  382,493   442,824   1,065,013   1,200,927 

Investment and other income

  77,499   131,610   338,953   323,512 
                 

Total Revenues

  11,606,836   10,822,808   34,509,580   30,073,094 
                 

Costs and Expenses:

                
                 

Cost of billboard revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

  2,780,359   2,857,680   8,472,265   8,333,967 

Cost of broadband revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

  129,414   -   379,073   - 

Cost of insurance revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

  1,758,451   2,025,320   5,367,231   4,742,025 

Employee costs

  3,311,885   3,109,483   9,542,845   8,953,935 

Professional fees

  630,604   944,862   2,582,961   3,005,543 

General and administrative

  1,544,334   1,445,859   4,655,960   4,933,960 

Amortization

  1,031,805   3,656,612   3,012,641   9,361,736 

Depreciation

  978,672   463,410   2,744,376   2,167,815 

Loss on disposition of assets

  20,751   2,760   89,685   28,293 

Bad debt expense

  104,722   72,767   322,483   226,422 

Accretion

  36,462   33,154   105,964   99,086 
                 

Total Costs and Expenses

  12,327,459   14,611,907   37,275,484   41,852,782 
                 

Net Loss from Operations

  (720,623)  (3,789,099)  (2,765,904)  (11,779,688)
                 

Other Income (Expense):

                

Interest income

  104,125   1,266,731   884,125   2,431,923 

Dividend income

  106,716   315,897   967,864   315,897 

Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates

  1,342,826   159,564   2,406,151   323,333 

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

  819,130   2,813,544   (24,413,748)  2,864,060 

Gain on disposition of investments

  2,026,193   7,565   5,696,068   432,409 

Interest expense

  (212,196)  (106,597)  (600,631)  (106,597)
                 

Net Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

  3,466,171   667,605   (17,826,075)  (5,518,663)

Income tax (provision) benefit

  -   -   -   - 
                 

Net Income (Loss)

  3,466,171   667,605   (17,826,075)  (5,518,663)

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary income

  (2,500)  (32,606)  (42,184)  (39,072)
                 

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders

 $3,463,671  $634,999  $(17,868,259) $(5,557,735)
                 

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share

 $0.13  $0.03  $(0.71) $(0.25)
                 

Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Class A and Class B Common Shares Outstanding

  27,231,115   22,798,738   25,145,700   22,563,527 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements. 

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

Unaudited

 

   

No. of shares

                                         
   

Class A Common Stock

   

Class B Common Stock

   

Class A Common Stock

   

Class B Common Stock

   

Additional Paid-in Capital

   

Accumulated Deficit

   

Total

 
                                                         

Beginning Balance, December 31, 2018

    21,029,324       1,055,560     $ 21,029     $ 1,056     $ 335,518,323     $ (20,325,024 )   $ 315,215,384  
                                                         

Stock issued for cash

    154,003       -       154       -       3,864,547       -       3,864,701  
                                                         

Offering costs

    -       -       -       -       (124,563 )     -       (124,563 )
                                                         

Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest

    -       -       -       -       (136,483 )     -       (136,483 )
                                                         

Net loss attributable to common stockholders, March 31, 2019

    -       -       -       -       -       (4,078,386 )     (4,078,386 )
                                                         

Ending Balance, March 31, 2019

    21,183,327       1,055,560       21,183       1,056       339,121,824       (24,403,410 )     314,740,653  
                                                         
Stock issued for cash     435,994       -       436       -       10,741,720       -       10,742,156  
                                                         
Offering costs     -       -       -       -       (325,952 )     -       (325,952 )
                                                         
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest     -       -       -       -       (134,605 )     -       (134,605 )
                                                         
Net loss attributable to common stockholders, June 30, 2019     -       -       -       -       -       (2,114,348 )     (2,114,348 )
                                                         
Ending Balance, June 30, 2019     21,619,321       1,055,560       21,619       1,056       349,402,987       (26,517,758 )     322,907,904  
                                                         
Stock issued for cash     662,378       -       662       -       14,622,003       -       14,622,665  
                                                         
Stock issued for business acquisition     34,673       -       35       -       710,068       -       710,103  
                                                         
Offering costs     -       -       -       -       (474,227 )     -       (474,227 )
                                                         
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest     -       -       -       -       (209,123 )     -       (209,123 )
                                                         
Net income attributable to common stockholders, September 30, 2019     -       -       -       -       -       634,999       634,999  
                                                         
Ending Balance, September 30, 2019     22,316,372       1,055,560     $ 22,316     $ 1,056     $ 364,051,708     $ (25,882,759 )   $ 338,192,321  

 

 See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Continued)

Unaudited

 

   

No. of shares

                                         
   

Class A Common Stock

   

Class B Common Stock

   

Class A Common Stock

   

Class B Common Stock

   

Additional Paid-in Capital

   

Accumulated Deficit

   

Total

 
                                                         

Beginning Balance, December 31, 2019

    22,455,100       1,055,560     $ 22,455     $ 1,056     $ 367,029,421     $ (21,811,947 )   $ 345,240,985  
                                                         

Offering costs

    -       -       -       -       (2,252 )     -       (2,252 )
                                                         

Decrease in redeemable noncontrolling interest due to redemption

    -       -       -       -       323,649       -       323,649  
                                                         
Net loss attributable to common stockholders, March 31, 2020     -       -       -       -       -       (24,734,238 )     (24,734,238 )
                                                         
Ending Balance, March 31, 2020     22,455,100       1,055,560       22,455       1,056       367,350,818       (46,546,185 )     320,828,144  
                                                         
Stock issued for cash     3,720,455       -       3,721       -       59,546,030       -       59,549,751  
                                                         
Offering costs     -       -       -       -       (3,415,071 )     -       (3,415,071 )
                                                         
Net income attributable to common stockholders, June 30, 2020     -       -       -       -       -       3,402,308       3,402,308  
                                                         
Ending Balance, June 30, 2020     26,175,555       1,055,560       26,176       1,056       423,481,777       (43,143,877 )     380,365,132  
                                                         
Net income attributable to common stockholders, September 30, 2020     -       -       -       -       -       3,463,671       3,463,671  
                                                         
Ending Balance, September 30, 2020     26,175,555       1,055,560     $ 26,176     $ 1,056     $ 423,481,777     $ (39,680,206 )   $ 383,828,803  

 

 

 

 See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Unaudited

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

               
Net Loss   $ (17,826,075 )   $ (5,518,663 )

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

               
Amortization of right of use assets     2,977,876       2,674,760  
Depreciation, amortization, and accretion     5,862,981       11,628,637  
Loss on disposition of assets     89,685       28,293  
Bad debt expense     322,483       226,422  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates     (2,406,151 )     (323,333 )
Unrealized (gain) loss on securities     24,413,748       (2,864,060 )
Gain on disposition of investments     (5,696,068 )     (432,409 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities exclusive of the effects of business combinations:

               
Accounts receivable     282,094       (1,139,927 )
Interest receivable     391,935       (446,840 )
Prepaid expenses     (435,830 )     (957,151 )
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates     326,144       503,431  
Deferred policy acquisition costs     1,374,423       (1,017,756 )
Other assets     (24,730 )     34,989  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     (40,677 )     1,217,448  
Lease liabilities     (3,082,000 )     (2,649,400 )
Unearned premiums     (3,260,593 )     3,729,211  
Deferred revenue     222,761       341,803  
                 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities     3,492,006       5,035,455  
                 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

               
Payments on short-term payables for business acquisitions     (500 )     (1,964,990 )
Proceeds from disposition of assets     -       38,729  
Purchase of preferred units     -       (12,000,000 )
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired     (12,341,242 )     (6,516,751 )
Proceeds from redemption of preferred units     12,000,000       -  
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate     (3,175,000 )     (225,978 )
Purchase of non-controlling interest in subsidiary     (1,406,409 )     -  
Purchases of equipment and related assets     (6,299,968 )     (2,226,229 )
Proceeds from sales of investments     420,522,907       876,095,912  
Purchase of investments     (448,185,708 )     (912,716,556 )
                 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

    (38,885,920 )     (59,515,863 )

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

Unaudited

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

               
Proceeds from issuance of stock   $ 59,549,751     $ 29,229,522  
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt     5,500,000       18,060,000  
Contributions from noncontrolling interest     248,229       -  
Principal payments of long-term debt     (206,998 )     -  
Offering costs     (3,417,323 )     (924,742 )
                 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

    61,673,659       46,364,780  
                 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

    26,279,745       (8,115,628 )
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period     16,372,032       18,143,839  
                 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, End of Period

  $ 42,651,777     $ 10,028,211  
                 

Interest Paid in Cash

  $ 585,534     $ 106,597  
                 

Income Taxes Paid in Cash

  $ -     $ -  

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

and SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

Supplemental Schedules of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities

Unaudited

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Asset retirement obligations

  $ -     $ 69,294  
                 
Payable as consideration for business acquisition     -       398,750  
                 
Class A common stock issued for business acquisition     -       710,103  
                 
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest of broadband subsidiary     1,371,249       -  
                 
(Decrease) increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest of insurance subsidiary     (323,649 )     480,211  

 

 

See accompanying notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 1.     ORGANIZATION AND BACKGROUND

 

Boston Omaha was organized on August 11, 2009 with present management taking over operations in February 2015. Our operations include (i) our outdoor advertising business with multiple billboards across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin; (ii) our insurance business that specializes in surety bond underwriting and brokerage; (iii) our broadband business that provides high-speed broadband services to its customers, and (iv) our minority investments primarily in real estate services, homebuilding, and banking. Our billboard operations are conducted through our subsidiary, Link Media Holdings, LLC, our insurance operations are conducted through our subsidiary, General Indemnity Group, LLC, and our broadband operations are conducted through our subsidiary, FIF AireBeam LLC.

 

We completed an acquisition of an outdoor advertising business and entered the outdoor advertising industry on June 19, 2015. Since our initial acquisition, we have completed seventeen additional acquisitions of outdoor advertising businesses.

 

On April 20, 2016, we completed an acquisition of a surety bond brokerage business. On December 7, 2016, we acquired a fidelity and surety bond insurance company. From July through November 2017 we completed the acquisition of two surety brokerage businesses and acquired a majority stake in a third surety brokerage business, thus expanding our operations in insurance. During the first quarter of 2020, we purchased the non-controlling interest in our third surety brokerage business from the minority owner. 

 

On March 10, 2020, we completed an acquisition of a rural broadband internet provider.

 

In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of unaudited consolidated financial position and the unaudited consolidated results of operations for interim periods presented have been reflected herein. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Notes to the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements which would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the audited financial statements for the years ended  December 31, 2019 and 2018 as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” on March 13, 2020, have been omitted.

 

 

NOTE 2.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Consolidation Policy

 

The financial statements of Boston Omaha Corporation include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, as follows:

 

Link Media Holdings, LLC which we refer to as “LMH”

Link Media Alabama, LLC which we refer to as “LMA”

Link Media Florida, LLC which we refer to as “LMF”

Link Media Wisconsin, LLC which we refer to as “LMW”

Link Media Georgia, LLC which we refer to as “LMG”

Link Media Midwest, LLC which we refer to as “LMM”

Link Media Omaha, LLC which we refer to as “LMO”

Link Media Properties, LLC which we refer to as “LMP”

Link Media Southeast, LLC which we refer to as “LMSE”

Link Media Services, LLC which we refer to as “LMS”

General Indemnity Group, LLC which we refer to as “GIG”

The Warnock Agency, Inc. which we refer to as “Warnock”

United Casualty and Surety Insurance Company which we refer to as “UCS”

Surety Support Services, Inc. which we refer to as “SSS”

South Coast Surety Insurance Services, LLC which we refer to as “SCS”

Boston Omaha Investments, LLC which we refer to as “BOIC”

Boston Omaha Asset Management, LLC which we refer to as “BOAM”

BOC DFH, LLC which we refer to as “BOC DFH”

BOC Yellowstone LLC which we refer to as "BOC Yellowstone"

Fiber is Fast, LLC which we refer to as "FIF"

FIF AireBeam LLC, which we refer to as “AireBeam”

 

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 2.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

Consolidation Policy (Continued)

 

All significant intercompany profits, losses, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Revenues

 

A majority of our billboard contracts had been accounted for under Financial Accounting Standards Board, which we refer to as the “FASB,” Accounting Standards Codification, which we refer to as “ASC,” 840. Contracts which began prior to January 1, 2019 and are accounted for under ASC 840 will continue to be accounted for as a lease until the contract ends or is modified. Contracts beginning or modified on or after January 1, 2019 which do not meet the criteria of a lease under ASC 842 are accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The majority of our advertising space contracts do not meet the definition of a lease under ASC 842.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Billboard Rentals

 

We generate revenue from outdoor advertising through the leasing of advertising space on billboards. The terms of the operating leases generally range from less than one month to three years and are generally billed monthly. Revenue for advertising space rental is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. Advertising revenue is reported net of agency commissions. Agency commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing revenue for operations. Payments received in advance of being earned are recorded as deferred revenue. Another component of billboard rentals consists of production services which include creating and printing advertising copy. Contract revenues for production services are accounted for under ASC 606 and are recognized at a point in time upon satisfaction of the contract, which is typically less than one week. 

 

Deferred Revenues

 

We record deferred revenues when cash payments are received in advance of being earned or when we have an unconditional right to consideration before satisfying our performance obligation. The term between invoicing and when a payment is due is not significant. For certain services we require payment before the product or services are delivered to the customer. The balance of deferred revenue is considered short-term and will be recognized in revenue within twelve months.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 2.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

Revenue Recognition (Continued)

 

Premiums and Unearned Premium Reserves

 

Premiums written are recognized as revenues based on a pro-rata daily calculation over the respective terms of the policies in-force. The cost of reinsurance ceded is initially written as prepaid reinsurance premiums and is amortized over the reinsurance contract period in proportion to the amount of insurance protection provided. Premiums ceded are netted against premiums written.

 

Commissions

 

We generate revenue from commissions on surety bond sales through third party carriers and account for commissions under ASC 606. Insurance commissions are earned from various insurance companies based upon our agency agreements with them. We arrange with various insurance companies for the provision of a surety bond for entities that require a surety bond. The insurance company sets the price of the bond. The contract with the insurance company is fulfilled when the bond is issued by the insurance agency on behalf of the insurance company. The insurance commissions are calculated based upon a stated percentage applied to the gross premiums on bonds. Commissions are recognized at a point in time, on a bond-by-bond basis as of the policy effective date and are generally nonrefundable.

 

Broadband Revenues

 

Broadband revenue is derived principally from internet services and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract in the period the services are rendered.  Revenue received or receivable in advance of the delivery of services is included in deferred revenue.

 

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

 

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses represent estimates for the ultimate cost of unpaid reported and unreported claims incurred and related expenses. Estimates for losses and loss adjustment expenses are based on past experience of investigating and adjusting claims and consideration of the level of premiums written during the current and prior year. Since the reserves are based on estimates, the ultimate liability may differ from the estimated reserve. The effects of changes in estimated reserves are included within cost of insurance revenues in our results of operations in the period in which the estimates are updated. The Company’s liability for accrued losses and loss adjustment expenses recorded in accounts payable and accrued expenses as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is $2,414,613 and $1,203,492, respectively.  The incurred claims for insured events during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $2,237,541.  The claims paid for insured events during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $1,026,421. 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and improves consistent application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for other areas by clarifying and amending existing guidance. This guidance is effective January 1, 2021. We do not expect adoption will have a material impact on our disclosures.

 

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01, Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Investments—Equity Securities, Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures, and Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. This ASU clarifies that when accounting for certain equity securities, a company should consider observable transactions before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method of accounting for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative. This guidance is effective January 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect adoption will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

14

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 3.     RESTRICTED CASH

 

Restricted cash consists of the following:

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
         

Insurance premium escrow

 $381,113  $343,518 

 

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows that agrees to the total of those amounts as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows. 

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
         

Cash and cash equivalents

 $42,270,664  $16,028,514 

Restricted cash

  381,113   343,518 
         

Total Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash as Presented in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 $42,651,777  $16,372,032 

 

 

NOTE 4.     ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

Accounts receivable consist of the following:

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Trade accounts

  $ 3,259,830     $ 3,346,215  

Premiums

    521,935       971,963  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

    (195,799 )     (127,635 )
                 

Total Accounts Receivable, net

  $ 3,585,966     $ 4,190,543  

 

15

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 5.     PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment consist of the following:

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
                 

Structures and displays

  $ 42,321,894     $ 41,320,458  
Fiber, towers, and broadband equipment     5,170,038       -  

Vehicles and equipment

    1,920,392       1,245,210  

Office furniture and equipment

    1,416,268       990,810  

Accumulated depreciation

    (9,449,254 )     (6,731,459 )
                 

Total Property and Equipment, net

  $ 41,379,338     $ 36,825,019  

 

Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $2,744,376 and $2,167,815, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we realized losses on the disposition of assets in the amount of $89,685 and $28,293, respectively.

 

 

NOTE 6.     BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS

 

2020 Acquisitions

 

Broadband Acquisition

 

On March 10, 2020, FIF AireBeam, LLC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired substantially all of the business assets of FibAire Communications, LLC, which we refer to as "FibAire", a broadband services provider, as well as other assets used in the business operations owned by entities related to FibAire. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the provisions of ASC 805. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, all purchased assets were sold on a debt-free basis to AireBeam. The total purchase price of $13,712,491 was paid 90% in cash and the remaining 10% of the purchase price was paid by issuing to FibAire 10% of the outstanding equity of AireBeam. $1,851,186 of the cash proceeds will be held in escrow for a minimum of one year from the closing to provide indemnification for certain representations and warranties made by FibAire in the asset purchase agreement. At any time, FibAire has the option, but not the obligation, to sell AireBeam its entire ownership interest in AireBeam. AireBeam would be obligated to purchase the units and pay for the purchase over a three-year period if FibAire elects to exercise this option. At any time after December 31, 2023, AireBeam has the option, but not the obligation, to purchase FibAire’s ownership interest in AireBeam, with payment due in full upon exercise of the option. The purchase price for the units under either of these put/call options is based upon a multiple of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and certain other expenses.

 

We are in the process of obtaining a final third-party valuation of the tangible and intangible assets, and therefore the initial allocation of the purchase price is subject to refinement. The purchase was recorded at fair value and preliminarily allocated as follows:

 

  

AireBeam

 

Assets Acquired

    

Property, plant and equipment

 $3,112,459 

Customer relationships

  1,480,000 
Permits  260,000 

Trade names and trademarks

  970,000 

Goodwill

  7,124,158 
Software  990,000 
Right of use assets  337,966 
Other  184,737 
     

Total Assets Acquired

  14,459,320 
     

Liabilities Assumed

    

Accounts payable and deferred revenue

  317,768 
Lease liabilities  337,966 
Other  91,095 
     

Total Liabilities Assumed

  746,829 
     

Total

 $13,712,491 

 

AireBeam's results of operations are recognized from March 10, 2020, the date of acquisition, through September 30, 2020. Revenues for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 were $1,144,343 and $2,575,676 respectively.  Earnings for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 were $25,006 and $421,841 respectively. Acquisition costs of $287,934 were expensed in professional fees during the year. Included in our property, plant, and equipment caption are fiber, tower, and broadband equipment assets acquired in the transaction which have useful lives ranging from five to twenty years. 

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

NOTE 6.     BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

 

2019 Acquisitions

 

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we completed two acquisitions of billboards and related assets. These acquisitions were accounted for as business combinations under the provisions of ASC 805. A summary of the acquisitions is provided below.

 

Billboard Acquisitions

 

Image Outdoor Advertising, Inc.

 

On August 30, 2019, our subsidiary, LMSE, acquired from Image Outdoor Advertising, LLC, which we refer to as “Image”, 61 billboard structures and related assets located in West Virginia. The acquisition was completed for the purpose of expanding our presence in the outdoor advertising market in the Southeastern United States. The purchase price consisted of $6,915,501 in cash, net of adjustments, and 34,673 shares of our Class A common stock for a total purchase price of $7,625,604 and includes $398,750 that was held back by LMSE and will be disbursed, subject to any claims for indemnification, over an 18 month period. The final purchase price allocation related to Image includes property, plant and equipment, intangibles, and goodwill of $1,544,970, $3,152,000 and $3,058,633, respectively, as well as other net liabilities of $129,999. 

 

Alpha Displays, Inc.

 

On October 1, 2019, our subsidiary, LMO, acquired certain billboard assets in Missouri from Alpha Displays, Inc. The purchase price for the acquired assets was $1,337,685 and includes $380,546 that was held back by LMO and will be disbursed, subject to any claims for indemnification, over an 18 month period. The assets were acquired for the purpose of expanding our presence in the outdoor advertising market in the Midwestern United States.

 

17

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

NOTE 6.     BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

 

Pro Forma Information

 

The following is the unaudited pro forma information assuming all business acquisitions occurred on January 1, 2019. For all of the business acquisitions depreciation and amortization have been included in the calculation of the pro forma information provided below, based upon the actual acquisition costs. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated remaining economic lives of the assets, ranging from two years to fifteen years. Amortization is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from two to fifty years.

 

  

For the Three Months Ended

  

For the Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 

Revenue

 $11,606,836  $12,222,223  $35,512,843  $34,486,051 
                 

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders

 $3,463,671  $949,232  $(17,647,527) $(5,120,446)
                 

Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) per Share

 $0.13  $0.04  $(0.70) $(0.23)
                 

Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Class A and Class B Common Shares Outstanding

  27,231,115   22,833,411   25,145,700   22,598,200 

 

The information included in the pro forma amounts is derived from historical information obtained from the sellers of the businesses. The pro forma amounts above for basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding in 2019 have been adjusted to include the stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Image.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

 

NOTE 7.     INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 

  

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 
      

Accumulated

          

Accumulated

     
  

Cost

  

Amortization

  

Balance

  

Cost

  

Amortization

  

Balance

 
                         

Customer relationships

 $39,321,524  $(19,926,167) $19,395,357  $37,743,900  $(17,890,487) $19,853,413 

Permits, licenses, and lease acquisition costs

  10,720,023   (2,166,042)  8,553,981   10,305,521   (1,443,337)  8,862,184 

Site location

  849,347   (179,229)  670,118   849,347   (136,839)  712,508 

Noncompetition agreements

  626,000   (358,981)  267,019   626,000   (269,318)  356,682 

Technology

  1,128,000   (187,410)  940,590   138,000   (138,000)  - 

Trade names and trademarks

  1,692,200   (340,693)  1,351,507   722,200   (267,900)  454,300 

Nonsolicitation agreement

  28,000   (28,000)  -   28,000   (28,000)  - 

Easements

  4,240,002   -   4,240,002   2,032,494   -   2,032,494 
                         

Total

 $58,605,096  $(23,186,522) $35,418,574  $52,445,462  $(20,173,881) $32,271,581 

 

During the fourth quarter of 2019, we updated our analysis of economic lives of customer relationships and extended the amortization period to 10 years to better reflect the estimated economic lives of our billboard customers.

 

Future Amortization

 

The future amortization associated with the intangible assets is as follows:

 

  

September 30,

         
  

2021

  

2022

  

2023

  

2024

  

2025

  

Thereafter

  

Total

 
                             

Customer relationships

 $2,439,725  $2,408,935  $2,408,935  $2,408,935  $2,408,935  $7,319,892  $19,395,357 

Permits, licenses, and lease acquisition costs

  986,582   986,582   986,582   986,582   979,913   3,627,740   8,553,981 

Site location

  56,623   56,623   56,623   56,623   56,623   387,003   670,118 

Noncompetition agreements

  104,971   95,206   64,839   2,003   -   -   267,019 
Technology  99,000   99,000   99,000   99,000   99,000   445,590   940,590 

Trade names and trademarks

  113,400   113,400   113,400   113,400   113,400   784,507   1,351,507 
                             

Total

 $3,800,301  $3,759,746  $3,729,379  $3,666,543  $3,657,871  $12,564,732  $31,178,572 

 

Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $3,012,641 and $9,361,736, respectively.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 7.     INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued)

 

The weighted average amortization period, in months, for intangible assets is as follows:

 

Customer relationships

  84 

Permits, licenses, and lease acquisition costs

  105 

Site location

  142 

Noncompetition agreements

  29 
Technology  114 

Trade names and trademarks

  143 

 

 

NOTE 8.     INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD

 

Short-term Investments

 

Short-term investments consist of certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury securities, and corporate bonds.  Certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury securities and corporate bonds held by UCS are classified as held to maturity, mature in less than twelve months, and are reported at amortized cost which approximates fair value. Other corporate bonds are classified as available for sale and reported at fair value. Because we have elected the fair value option for debt securities classified as available for sale, any unrealized holding gains and losses during the period are included in earnings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, gains on redemptions of U.S. Treasury notes held to maturity were $7,318. For the  nine months ended September 30, 2020, unrealized losses on corporate bonds were $161,068. 

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
         

Certificates of deposit

 $1,022,582  $987,599 
Corporate bonds available for sale  852,000   910,000 

U.S. Treasury notes and corporate bond

  5,420,081   4,649,572 
         

Total

 $7,294,663  $6,547,171 

 

 

Marketable Equity Securities

 

Our marketable equity securities are publicly traded stocks measured at fair value using quoted prices for identical assets in active markets and classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Our marketable equity securities are held by UCS and Boston Omaha. Marketable equity securities as of  September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are as follows:

 

      

Gross

     
      

Unrealized

  

Fair

 
  

Cost

  

Gain (Loss)

  

Value

 
             

Marketable equity securities, September 30, 2020

 $81,823,525  $(18,028,972) $63,794,553 
             
Marketable equity securities, December 31, 2019 $49,554,926  $6,353,001  $55,907,927 

 

20

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

NOTE 8.     INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD (Continued)

 

U.S. Treasury Securities Available for Sale

 

We classify our investments in debt securities that we intend to hold for indefinite periods of time as “available for sale.” Our securities available for sale are carried at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. Because we have elected the fair value option for these securities, unrealized holding gains and losses during the period are included in earnings. Interest income is recognized at the coupon rate.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, proceeds from sales of US Treasury securities available for sale were $333,109,337. US Treasury securities available for sale as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are as follows:

 

 

      

Gross

     
      

Unrealized

  

Fair

 
  

Cost

  

Gain (Loss)

  

Value

 
             

U.S. Treasury securities, September 30, 2020

 $76,645,205  $22,333  $76,667,538 
             

U.S. Treasury securities, December 31, 2019

 $75,488,863  $(79,664) $75,409,199 

 

Long-term Investments

 

Long-term investments consist of certificates of deposit having maturity dates in excess of twelve months, U.S. Treasury securities, and certain equity investments. The certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury securities have maturity dates ranging from 2021 through 2023. We have the intent and the ability to hold the certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury securities to maturity. Certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury securities are stated at amortized cost which approximates fair value and are held by UCS.

 

Long-term investments consist of the following:

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
         

U.S. Treasury securities, held to maturity

 $535,896  $1,094,983 

Certificates of deposit

  -   380,753 

Preferred stock

  104,019   104,019 
Non-voting preferred units of Dream Finders Holdings, LLC  -   12,000,000 

Non-voting common units of Dream Finders Holdings, LLC

  -   10,000,000 

Voting common stock of CBT Holding Corporation

  19,058,485   19,058,485 
         

Total

 $19,698,400  $42,638,240 

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 8.     INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD (Continued)

 

Equity Investments

 

On May 31, 2018, we invested $19,058,485 in voting common stock of CB&T Holding Corporation, which we refer to as “CBT,” the privately held parent company of Crescent Bank & Trust. Our investment represents 14.99% of CBT’s outstanding common stock. CBT is a closely held corporation, whose majority ownership rests with one family.

 

In late December 2017, we invested $10 million in non-voting common units of Dream Finders Holdings LLC, which we refer to as “DFH”, the parent company of Dream Finders Homes, LLC, a national home builder with operations in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Colorado and the greater northern Virginia and Maryland areas. During the first quarter of 2020, we obtained additional non-voting shares of DFH which increased our ownership in the company to approximately 5.6%. As a result, we began applying the equity method of accounting for our investment in DFH prospectively from January 1, 2020, the date we obtained the additional shares. 

 

In May 2019, our subsidiary BOC DFH, LLC invested an additional $12 million in DFH through the purchase of preferred units. DFH was required to pay to us a mandatory preferred return of at least 14% per annum on such preferred units and 25% of our preferred units were convertible, at our option, into non-voting common units after May 29, 2020 and the remaining preferred units were convertible, at our option, into non-voting common units after May 29, 2021. The mandatory 14% preferred return increased if the preferred units purchased were not redeemed or converted within one year of purchase. Also, we obtained additional beneficial conversion terms if the preferred units were not redeemed by May 29, 2021. During the first nine months of 2020, DFH redeemed all $12 million of the preferred units purchased in May 2019.

 

During January 2018, we exchanged our convertible note receivable from Breezeway Homes, Inc., which we refer to as “Breezeway,” for 31,227 shares of preferred stock. The preferred stock is noncumulative and has a dividend rate of $.2665 per share, should dividends be declared. The preferred stock has one vote per share and is convertible into whole shares of common stock, determined according to the conversion formula contained in Breezeway’s amended and restated articles of incorporation. In addition, our investment provides us with a multi-year right to sell insurance and/or warranty products through Breezeway's software platform to its customers.

 

We reviewed our investments as of September 30, 2020 and concluded that no impairment to the carrying value was required.

 

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates

 

We have various investments in equity method affiliates, whose businesses are in home building, real estate, real estate services, and asset management. Our interest in these affiliates ranges from 5.6% to 30%. Two of the investments in affiliates, Logic Real Estate Companies, LLC and 24th Street Holding Company, LLC, having a combined carrying amount of $753,904 as of  September 30, 2020, are managed by an entity controlled by a member of our board of directors.

 

During the first nine months of 2020, we invested $3,000,000 in 24th Street Fund I, LLC. The fund is managed by 24th Street Asset Management LLC, a subsidiary of 24th Street Holding Company, LLC, and will focus on opportunities within secured lending and direct investments in commercial real estate.

 

On September 25, 2020, we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of units of a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) named Yellowstone Acquisition Company, which we refer to as “Yellowstone”. Our subsidiary, BOC Yellowstone LLC, which we refer to as “BOC Yellowstone”, served as the sponsor of Yellowstone. Under the terms of the proposed public offering, we would own approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding common stock and units sold in the offering through BOC Yellowstone. The purpose of the offering is to pursue a business combination in an industry other than the three industries in which we currently own and operate businesses: outdoor advertising, surety insurance and broadband services businesses.

 

The following table is a reconciliation of our investments in equity affiliates as presented in investments in unconsolidated affiliates on our consolidated balance sheets, together with combined summarized financial data related to the unconsolidated affiliates:

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
         

Beginning of period

 $771,805  $568,713 

Additional investment in unconsolidated affiliates

  13,175,000   264,834 

Distributions received

  (326,144)  (541,108)

Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates

  2,406,151   479,366 
         

End of period

 $16,026,812  $771,805 

 

Combined summarized financial data for these affiliates is as follows:

 

  

For the Three Months Ended

  

For the Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 
Revenue $288,403,203  $189,128,487  $676,336,442  $500,120,488 

Gross profit

  44,856,872   35,123,562   99,618,080   90,727,565 

Income from continuing operations

  23,983,417   11,657,183   41,911,245   27,144,185 

Net income

  23,429,704   10,693,812   41,162,122   24,710,096 

 

22

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 9.     FAIR VALUE

 

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our financial instruments included cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, marketable equity securities, certain investments, accounts payable, and long-term debt. The carrying value of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, and accounts payable approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated using quoted prices for similar debt (level 2 in the fair value hierarchy). At September 30, 2020 , the estimated fair value of our long-term debt was $24,246,402 which exceeds the carrying amount of $23,353,002.

 

Marketable equity securities, corporate bonds, and U.S. Treasury securities available for sale are reported at fair value. Substantially all of the fair value is determined using observed prices of publicly traded securities, level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Fair values for equity investments in private companies are not readily available, but are estimated to approximate fair value.

 

  

Total Carrying

  

Quoted Prices

      

Total Changes

 
  

Amount in

  

in Active

      

in Fair Values

 
  

Consolidated

  

Markets for

      

Included in

 
  

Balance Sheet

  

Identical

  

Realized Gains

  

Current Period

 
  

September 30, 2020

  

Assets

  

and (Losses)

  

Earnings (Loss)

 
                 

Marketable equity securities, securities available for sale and corporate bonds

 $141,314,091  $141,314,091  $5,688,750  $(24,413,748)
                 

 

 

NOTE 10.     ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

Our asset retirement obligations include the costs associated with the removal of structures, resurfacing of the land and retirement cost, if applicable, related to our outdoor advertising and broadband assets. The following table reflects information related to our asset retirement obligations:

 

Balance, December 31, 2019

 $2,044,705 

Additions

  96,864 

Accretion expense

  105,964 

Liabilities settled

  - 
     

Balance, September 30, 2020

 $2,247,533 

 

23

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 11.     CAPITAL STOCK

 

In February 2018, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC allowing us to sell up to $200,000,000 of our securities. This registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on February 9, 2018. We subsequently entered into a Sales Agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC, which we refer to as “Cowen,” relating to the sale of shares of our Class A common stock to be offered. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell from time to time up to $50,000,000 of shares of our Class A common stock through Cowen acting as our agent. Cowen is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Cowen and us. The compensation to Cowen for sales of Class A common stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any shares of Class A common stock sold under the Sales Agreement. From March 2018 through August 20, 2019, we sold through Cowen an aggregate of 2,141,452 shares of our Class A common stock under this “at the market” offering, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $49,999,625. For the period from January 1, through August 20, 2019, we sold through Cowen 942,223 shares of our Class A common stock under this at-the-market offering, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $22,753,943 and net proceeds of $22,059,015 after offering costs of $694,928.

 

On August 13, 2019, we entered into a second Sales Agreement with Cowen, relating to the sale of additional shares of our Class A common stock to be offered. In accordance with the terms of the second Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell from time to time up to $75,000,000 of shares of our Class A common stock through Cowen acting as our agent. Cowen is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Cowen and us. The compensation to Cowen for sales of Class A common stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any shares of Class A common stock sold under the Sales Agreement. From August 21, 2019 through December 31, 2019, we sold through Cowen 448,880 shares of our Class A common stock under the second “at the market” offering, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $9,450,789 and net proceeds of $9,122,227, after offering costs of $328,562. During the first half of fiscal 2020, we sold under the new "at the market" offering 40,455 shares of our Class A common stock for gross proceeds of $669,751. During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we did not sell any shares of our Class A common stock under the new "at the market" offering.

 

On March 18, 2020, our Board of Directors authorized and approved a share repurchase program for us to repurchase up to $20,000,000 worth of shares of our Class A common stock, which we refer to as the “Repurchase Program.” Under the Repurchase Program, we may repurchase shares, from time to time, in solicited or unsolicited transactions in the open market, privately-negotiated transactions, or transactions pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan. The Repurchase Program does not obligate us to purchase any particular number of shares and will run through the earlier of June 30, 2021, or our decision that the Repurchase Program is no longer consistent with our short-term and long-term objectives. We have not repurchased any shares during fiscal year 2020.

 

On May 28, 2020, we entered into an underwriting agreement, which we refer to as the “underwriting agreement,” with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC, as joint lead book-running managers for a public offering of 3,200,000 shares, which we refer to as the “firm shares,” of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $16.00 per share. Under the terms of the underwriting agreement, we granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase up to an additional 480,000 shares of Class A common stock at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions, which we refer to as the “option shares.” Adam Peterson and Alex Rozek, our Co-Chairmen, together with another member of our board of directors and another employee, purchased, directly or through their affiliates, an aggregate of 39,375 shares of Class A common stock in the offering at the public offering price.  On June 2, 2020, we announced the completion of the public offering for a total of 3,680,000 shares, including both the firm shares and all of the option shares issued as a result of the underwriters’ exercise in full of their over-allotment option, resulting in total gross proceeds to us of approximately $58.9 million. We raised this capital to fund the planned expansion of our recently acquired fiber-to-the-home broadband, telecommunication business, to seek to grow our Link billboard business through the acquisitions of additional billboard businesses, and for general corporate purposes. We do not have current agreements, commitments or understandings for any specific material acquisitions at this time. The shares were sold in the offering pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-222853) that was declared effective on February 9, 2018, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement dated May 28, 2020.

 

Our Board of Directors also authorized us to enter into written trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act.” Adopting a trading plan that satisfies the conditions of Rule 10b5-1 allows a company to repurchase its shares at times when it might otherwise be prevented from doing so due to self-imposed trading blackout periods or pursuant to insider trading laws. Under any Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, our third-party broker, subject to Securities and Exchange Commission regulations regarding certain price, market, volume and timing constraints, would have authority to purchase our Class A common stock in accordance with the terms of the plan. We may from time to time, enter into Rule 10b5-1 trading plans to facilitate the repurchase of our Class A common shares pursuant to our Repurchase Program.

 

As of  September 30, 2020, there were 104,772 outstanding warrants for our Class B common stock and 784 outstanding warrants for our Class A common stock. A summary of warrant activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is presented in the following table.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 11.     CAPITAL STOCK (Continued)

 

  

Shares Under Warrants

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price

  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)  

Aggregate Intrinsic Value of Vested Warrants

 
                 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2019

  105,556  $9.95   5.50  $1,170,616 
                 

Issued

  -             

Exercised

  -             

Expired

  -             
                 

Outstanding as of September 30, 2020

  105,556  $9.95   4.75  $638,614 

 

 

 

NOTE 12.    LONG-TERM DEBT

 

On August 12, 2019, Link Media Holdings, Inc., (“Link”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corporation (“BOC”), which owns and operates BOC’s billboard businesses, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with First National Bank of Omaha (the “Lender”) under which Link may borrow up to $40,000,000 (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Agreement provides for an initial term loan (“Term Loan 1”), an incremental term loan (“Term Loan 2”) and a revolving line of credit. These loans are secured by all assets of Link and its operating subsidiaries, including a pledge of equity interests of each of Link’s subsidiaries. In addition, each of Link’s subsidiaries has joined as a guarantor to the obligations under the Credit Agreement. These loans are not guaranteed by BOC or any of BOC’s non-billboard businesses.

 

As of September 30, 2020, Link has borrowed $18,060,000 through Term Loan 1 and $5,500,000 through Term Loan 2 under the Credit Facility. Principal amounts under each of Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2 are payable in monthly installments according to a 15-year amortization schedule. These principal payments commenced on  July 1, 2020 for Term Loan 1 and will commence on October 1, 2020 for Term Loan 2. Both term loans are payable in full on August 12, 2026. Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2 have fixed interest rates of 4.25% and 3.375%, respectively, per annum.

 

The revolving line of credit loan facility has a $5,000,000 maximum availability. Interest payments are based on the 30-day LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin ranging between 2.00 and 2.50% dependent on Link’s consolidated leverage ratio. The revolving line of credit is due and payable on August 11, 2021.

 

Long-term debt included within our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2020 consists of Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2 borrowings of $23,353,002, of which $1,278,363 is classified as current.  There were no amounts outstanding related to the revolving line of credit as of September 30, 2020.  

 

During the term of the Credit Facility, Link is required to comply with the following financial covenants: A consolidated leverage ratio for any test period ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter of Link (a) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2019 of not greater than 3.50 to 1.00, (b) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020 of not greater than 3.25 to 1.00, and (c) beginning with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2021 and thereafter, of not greater than 3.00 to 1.0; minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.15 to 1.00 measured quarterly, based on rolling four quarters, with testing to commence as of December 31, 2019 based on the December 31, 2019 audited financial statements. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of September 30, 2020.

 

The Credit Agreement includes representations and warranties, reporting covenants, affirmative covenants, negative covenants, financial covenants and events of default customary for financings of this type. Upon the occurrence of an event of default the Lender may accelerate the loans. Upon the occurrence of certain insolvency and bankruptcy events of default the loans will automatically accelerate. 

 

 

NOTE 13.     LEASES

 

We enter into operating lease contracts primarily for land and office space. Arrangements are evaluated at inception to determine whether such arrangements contain a lease. Operating leases include land lease contracts and contracts for the use of office space. In accordance with the transition guidance of ASC 842, such arrangements are included in our balance sheet as of January 1, 2019.

 

Right of use assets, which we refer to as “ROU assets,” represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the respective lease term. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Certain of our operating lease agreements include rental payments based on a percentage of revenue and others include rental payments adjusted periodically for inflationary changes. Percentage rent contracts, in which lease expense is calculated as a percentage of advertising revenue, and payments due to changes in inflationary adjustments are included within variable rent expense, which is accounted for separately from periodic straight-line lease expense.

 

25

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 13.     LEASES (Continued)

 

Many of our leases entered into in connection with land provide options to extend the terms of the agreements. Generally, renewal periods are included in minimum lease payments when calculating the lease liabilities as, for most leases, we consider exercise of such options to be reasonably certain. As a result, optional terms and payments are included within the lease liability. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

 

The implicit rate within our lease agreements is generally not determinable. As such, we use the incremental borrowing rate, which we refer to as "IBR," to determine the present value of lease payments at the commencement of the lease. The IBR, as defined in ASC 842, is "the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment."

 

Operating Lease Cost

 

Operating lease cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 is as follows:

 

  

For the Three Months Ended

  

For the Nine Months Ended

  
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

  
  

2020

  

2020

 

Statement of Operations Classification

          

Lease cost

 $1,574,042  $4,758,399 

Cost of billboard revenues and general and administrative

Variable and short-term lease cost

  41,865   328,610 

Cost of billboard revenues and general and administrative

          

Total Lease Cost

 $1,615,907  $5,087,009  

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases is as follows:

 

  

For the Three Months Ended

  

For the Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 
  

2020

  

2020

 
         

Cash payments for operating leases

 $1,477,218  $4,862,521 

New operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

 $79,451  $744,397 

 

Operating Lease Assets and Liabilities

 

  September 30,  
  

2020

 

Balance Sheet Classification

      

Lease assets

 $50,242,563 

Other Assets: Right of use assets

      

Current lease liabilities

 $3,723,843 

Current Liabilities: Lease liabilities

Noncurrent lease liabilities

  45,366,930 

Long-term Liabilities: Lease liabilities

      

Total Lease Liabilities

 $49,090,773  

 

26

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 13.      LEASES (Continued)

 

Maturity of Operating Lease Liabilities

 

  

September 30, 2020

 
     

2021

 $5,975,410 

2022

  5,605,971 

2023

  5,302,979 

2024

  4,909,766 

2025

  4,615,923 

Thereafter

  49,243,772 
     

Total lease payments

  75,653,821 

Less imputed interest

  (26,563,048)
     

Present Value of Lease Liabilities

 $49,090,773 

 

As of September 30, 2020, our operating leases have a weighted-average remaining lease term of 17.46 years and a weighted-average discount rate of 4.87%.

 

 

NOTE 14.     INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

 

This summary presents our current segments, as described below.

 

General Indemnity Group, LLC

 

GIG conducts our insurance operations through its subsidiaries, Warnock, SSS, SCS, and UCS. SSS clients are multi-state and UCS, SCS, and Warnock clients are nationwide. Revenue consists of surety bond sales and insurance commissions. Currently, GIG’s corporate resources are used to support Warnock, SSS, SCS, and UCS and to make additional business acquisitions in the insurance industry.

 

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 14.     INDUSTRY SEGMENTS (Continued)

 

Link Media Holdings, LLC

 

LMH conducts our billboard rental operations. LMH advertisers are located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

 

Fiber is Fast, LLC

 

FIF conducts our broadband operations through its subsidiary, AireBeam.  Airebeam serves clients located in Arizona. 

 

 

                  

Total

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

GIG

  

LMH

  

FIF

  

Unallocated

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Revenue

 $3,340,536  $7,121,957  $1,144,343  $-  $11,606,836 

Segment gross profit

  1,582,085   4,341,598   1,014,929   -   6,938,612 

Segment income (loss) from operations

  (100,811)  323,815   26,600   (970,227)  (720,623)

Capital expenditures

  -   604,990   1,400,310   160,215   2,165,515 

Depreciation and amortization

  129,497   1,671,045   209,935   -   2,010,477 

 

                  

Total

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

GIG

  

LMH

  

FIF

  

Unallocated

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Revenue

 $3,639,924  $7,182,884  $-  $-  $10,822,808 

Segment gross profit

  1,614,604   4,325,204   -   -   5,939,808 

Segment loss from operations

  (595,974)  (2,278,483)  -   (914,642)  (3,789,099)

Capital expenditures

  5,943   8,410,950   -   -   8,416,893 

Depreciation and amortization

  285,625   3,834,397   -   -   4,120,022 

 

                  

Total

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

GIG

  

LMH

  

FIF

  

Unallocated

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Revenue

 $10,942,149  $20,991,755  $2,575,676  $-  $34,509,580 

Segment gross profit

  5,574,918   12,519,490   2,196,603   -   20,291,011 

Segment income (loss) from operations

  14,841   277,440   423,435   (3,481,620)  (2,765,904)

Capital expenditures

  -   3,760,171   16,252,283   160,215   20,172,669 

Depreciation and amortization

  413,693   4,960,939   382,385   -   5,757,017 

 

                  

Total

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

GIG

  

LMH

  

FIF

  

Unallocated

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Revenue

 $8,959,828  $21,113,266  $-  $-  $30,073,094 

Segment gross profit

  4,217,803   12,779,299   -   -   16,997,102 

Segment loss from operations

  (2,652,352)  (5,592,959)  -   (3,534,377)  (11,779,688)

Capital expenditures

  43,704   9,808,129   -   -   9,851,833 

Depreciation and amortization

  896,935   10,632,616   -   -   11,529,551 

 

28

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
and SUBSIDIARIES


Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 

 

NOTE 14.     INDUSTRY SEGMENTS (Continued)

 

 

                  

Total

 

As of September 30, 2020

 

GIG

  

LMH

  

FIF

  

Unallocated

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Accounts receivable, net

 $1,027,009  $2,558,957  $-  $-  $3,585,966 

Goodwill

  8,719,294   97,572,994   7,124,158   -   113,416,446 

Total assets

  49,885,595   220,449,123   17,584,232   191,986,063   479,905,013 

 

                  

Total

 

As of December 31, 2019

 

GIG

  

LMH

  

FIF

  

Unallocated

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Accounts receivable, net

 $1,213,823  $2,976,720  $-  $-  $4,190,543 

Goodwill

  8,719,294   97,553,207   -   -   106,272,501 

Total assets

  45,956,410   224,258,311   -   166,693,489   436,908,210 

 

 

NOTE 15.     CUSTODIAL RISK

 

As of September 30, 2020, we had approximately $46,130,380 in excess of federally insured limits on deposit with financial institutions comprised of cash funds, funds held as collateral assets, and short-term CDs.

 

 

NOTE 16.     SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On October 2, 2020, we provided an unsecured term loan of $20,000,000 to Dream Finders Holdings, LLC to be used in expanding DFH's footprint in the Southeast United States. The effective interest rate on this term loan is approximately 14% and matures on May 1, 2021.

 

On October 26, 2020, Yellowstone consummated its initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 12,500,000 units (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), and one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one whole share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds to Yellowstone of $125,000,000, and are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC under the ticker symbol “YSACU”. After the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the shares of Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “YSAC” and “YSACW,” respectively.

 

Also on October 26, 2020, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, BOC Yellowstone purchased 7,500,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to Yellowstone of $7,500,000. In addition, BOC Yellowstone acquired 3,593,750 shares of Yellowstone's Class B common stock (up to 468,750 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) for a purchase price of $25,000.  The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time, if any, when Yellowstone completes an initial business combination, on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments.  In the event a business combination is not consummated within 15 months of the IPO, then $127,500,000 of the proceeds raised in the IPO and the sale of the private placement warrants will be paid to redeem the shares of Class A common stock sold to the public. 

 

 

29

 
 

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

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other federal securities laws, PARTICULARLY THOSE ANTICIPATING FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, BUSINESS PROSPECTS, GROWTH, OPERATING STRATEGIES AND SIMILAR MATTERS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON OUR BUSINESS, OPERATIONS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, LIQUIDITY, INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONWe have based these forward-looking statements on our current intent, expectations and projections about future events, and these forward-looking statements are not guaranteed to occur and may not occur. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “intend,” “project,” “contemplate,” “potential,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These statements are only predictions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those described in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. 

 

THE OUTCOME OF THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT ALSO CONTAINS STATISTICAL AND OTHER INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY THAT WE OBTAINED FROM INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH, SURVEYS AND STUDIES CONDUCTED BY US AND THIRD PARTIES, AS WELL AS OUR ESTIMATES OF POTENTIAL MARKET OPPORTUNITIES. INDUSTRY PUBLICATIONS, THIRD-PARTY AND OUR OWN RESEARCH, SURVEYS AND STUDIES GENERALLY INDICATE THAT THEIR INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF SUCH INFORMATION. THIS MARKET DATA INCLUDES PROJECTIONS THAT ARE BASED ON A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS. IF THESE ASSUMPTIONS TURN OUT TO BE INCORRECT, ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER FROM THE PROJECTIONS BASED ON THESE ASSUMPTIONS. AS A RESULT, OUR MARKETS MAY NOT GROW AT THE RATES PROJECTED BY THIS DATA, OR AT ALL. THE FAILURE OF THESE MARKETS TO GROW AT THESE PROJECTED RATES MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in other public reports and statements we make may turn out to be inaccurate as a result of our beliefs and assumptions we make in connection with the factors set forth above or because of other unidentified and unpredictable factors. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM OUR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE: THE SCOPE AND DURATION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AND OTHER THIRD PARTY RESPONSES TO IT AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ECONOMY, AS WELL AS THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE, UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING WHEN THE RISKS OF THE PANDEMIC WILL SUBSIDE, AND ITS IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS, OPERATIONS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY, MANY OF THE OTHER RISK FACTORS AFFECTING US ARE CURRENTLY ELEVATED BY, AND LIKELY WILL CONTINUE TO BE ELEVATED BY, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION, OUR BUSINESS AND FUTURE RESULTS ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE FACTORS SET FORTH IN THE “risk factors” SECTION OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED December 31, 2019, in exhibit 99.1 to our form 8-k as filed with the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE commission on APRIL 13, 2020, IN EXHIBIT 99.1 TO OUR FORM 8-K AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 27, 2020, THE DISCUSSION UNDER THE HEADING "RECENT DEVELOPMENTS - IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 DISEASE ON OUR BUSINESS” SET FORTH BELOW IN MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" OF THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q AND FROM TIME TO TIME IN OUR OTHER SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE "SEC") FILINGS. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements and you should not rely on such statements. We undertake no obligation to publish revised forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances after the date hereof. These risks could cause our actual results for 2020 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by or on behalf of us, and could negatively affect our financial condition, liquidity and operating and stock price performance.

 

 

Overview

 

We are currently engaged in outdoor billboard advertising and surety insurance and related brokerage businesses and commenced a broadband business in March 2020. In addition, we hold minority investments in commercial real estate management and brokerage services, a bank focused on servicing the automotive loan market, and a homebuilding company with operations located primarily in the Southeast United States.

 

Billboards: In June 2015, we commenced our billboard business operations through acquisitions by Link, our wholly-owned subsidiary, of smaller billboard companies located in the Southeast United States and Wisconsin. During July and August 2018, we acquired the membership interest or assets of three larger billboard companies. These transactions include our acquisition on July 31, 2018 of Tammy Lynn for approximately $16 million, our acquisition on August 22, 2018 of substantially all of the assets of Key for approximately $38 million, and our acquisition on August 31, 2018 of Waitt for approximately $84 million. We believe that the acquisitions of Waitt and Key, with over 1,600 and 700 billboard structures, respectively, make us a leading outdoor billboard advertising company in the markets we serve in the Midwest. As of October 31, 2020, we operate approximately 3,000 billboards with approximately 5,600 advertising faces. One of our principal business objectives is to continue to acquire additional billboard assets through acquisitions of existing billboard businesses in the United States when they can be made at what we believe to be attractive prices relative to other opportunities generally available to us.

 

Surety Insurance: In April 2016, our surety insurance business commenced with the acquisition of a surety insurance brokerage business with a national internet-based presence. In December 2016, we completed the acquisition of UCS a surety insurance company, which at that time was licensed to issue surety bonds in only nine states. UCS now has licenses to operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, over the last three years, we have also acquired additional surety insurance brokerage businesses located in various regions of the United States.

 

Broadband Services: In March 2020, we commenced our broadband services business with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of FibAire. We provide these services to over 7,000 customers located in Arizona and hope to continue to expand this business in Arizona and other locales.

 

Investments:

 

 

Since September 2015, we have made a series of investments in commercial real estate, a commercial real estate management, brokerage and related services business as well as an asset management business. We currently own 30% of Logic and approximately 49.9% of 24th Street Holding Company, LLC, both directly and indirectly through our ownership in Logic. In addition, we have invested, through one of our subsidiaries, $3 million in 24th Street Fund I, LLC. The fund is managed by 24th Street Asset Management, LLC, a subsidiary of 24th Street Holding Company, LLC, and will focus on opportunities within secured lending and direct investments in commercial real estate.

 

 

In December 2017, we invested $10 million in common stock of Dream Finders Holdings LLC, the parent company of Dream Finders Homes, LLC, a national home builder with operations in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Texas and northern Virginia. In addition to its homebuilding operations, DFH’s subsidiaries provide mortgage loan origination and title insurance services to homebuyers. In May 2019, we invested, through one of our subsidiaries, an additional $12 million in DFH through the purchase of preferred units with a mandatory preferred return of at least 14% per annum. In January 2020, DFH redeemed $6 million of the preferred units and then redeemed the remaining $6 million of preferred units in July 2020.

 

 

In May 2018, we invested, through one of our subsidiaries, approximately $19 million through the purchase of common stock of CBT Holding Corporation, the privately-held parent company of Crescent Bank & Trust, Inc. Crescent is located in New Orleans and generates the majority of its revenues from indirect subprime automobile lending across the United States.

 

In each of our businesses, we hope to expand our geographic reach and market share and seek to develop a competitive advantage and/or brand name for our services, which we hope will be a differentiating factor for customers. Our insurance market primarily services small contractors, small and medium-sized businesses and individuals required to provide surety bonds (i) in connection with their work for government agencies and others, (ii) in connection with contractual obligations, or (iii) to meet regulatory requirements and other needs. We have expanded the licensing of the UCS business to all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  In outdoor advertising, our plan is to continue to grow this business through acquisitions of billboard assets. We also expect to expand our broadband services in Arizona and in the future in other locations. We also expect to continue to make additional investments in real estate management service businesses, as well as in other businesses. In the future, we may expand the range of services we provide in the insurance sector, seek to continue to expand our billboard operations and broadband services and to possibly consider acquisitions of other businesses, as well as investments, in other sectors. Our decision to expand outside of these current business sectors we serve or in which we have made investments will be based on the opportunity to acquire businesses which we believe provide the potential for sustainable earnings at an attractive level relative to capital employed and, with regard to investment, we believe have the potential to provide attractive returns.

 

We seek to enter markets where we believe demand for our services will grow in the coming years due to certain barriers to entry and/or to anticipated long-term demand for these services. In the outdoor billboard business, government restrictions often limit the number of additional billboards that may be constructed. At the same time, advances in billboard technology provide the opportunity to improve revenues through the use of digital display technologies and other new technologies. In the surety insurance business, new insurance companies must be licensed by state agencies that impose capital, management and other strict requirements on these insurers. These hurdles are at the individual state level, with statutes often providing wide latitude to regulators to impose judgmental requirements upon new entrants. In addition, new distribution channels in certain areas of surety may provide a new opportunity. In the real estate management services market, we believe the continued growth of commercial real estate in many sections of the United States will provide opportunities for management services for the foreseeable future. We also believe our investment in both CBT and DFH provides the opportunity for each company to significantly grow its business.  We invest our available capital and the surplus capital from UCS in a wide range of securities, including equity securities of large cap public companies, various corporate and government bonds and U.S. treasuries. In broadband services, we believe that our fiber to the home services provide higher rates of transmission and improved speed to consumers and that, once built, other competitors may be less willing to compete in communities which we serve.

 

 

Recent Developments - Impact of the COVID-19 Disease on Our Business

 

The global outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") has had a significant impact on many industries and companies, and is also impacting our business. We cannot presently estimate the significance, extent or duration of the overall operational and financial impact of COVID-19 on our business. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainties have arisen which are likely to negatively impact our net income and surplus. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, net income, surplus, as well as our capital and liquidity position, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be estimated, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had various impacts on us, and is expected to have additional impacts on us, including, among other things, the following, which have had an adverse effect and may in the future have a material adverse effect on our business, financial performance and condition, operating results and cash flows and stock price:

 

 

We expect that the impact of “stay at home” and other governmental mandates closing retail and other businesses will adversely impact revenues for our billboard business and the ability of certain customers to pay outstanding invoices. For the quarter ended September 30, 2020, our revenues from our billboard business decreased by 0.8% from revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. For the quarter ended September 30, 2020, bad debt expense for our billboard business increased to $104,449 from $71,009 in the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

 

 

We expect to sell fewer surety bonds as some of the markets we serve (contractors, small businesses, residential and commercial lease) have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus. In New York and other states where we previously sold residential lease bonds, eviction actions have been suspended and it is unclear what impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on lease defaults. Due to the current disruption in this market, we have suspended issuing new rental insurance bonds in most instances, which could significantly reduce the revenues at our UCS business as we currently do not intend to reenter this market based on current market trends. These bonds accounted for approximately 46% of GIG’s written premium during the year ended December 31, 2019 and 24% of our written premium during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. UCS has also implemented an increasingly conservative loss reserve methodology for this program. While UCS believes that these increased loss reserve levels will adequately cover the possibility of greater risk exposures, this is not assured and these reserves may prove inadequate if defaults exceed projected loss estimates. Furthermore, various state and local legislators are actively contemplating new laws and civil actions which could meaningfully impact the insurance industry generally and, specifically our surety business. We recognize revenues from the sale of these bonds over the life of the bond so the suspension of certain rental bond sales and decreases in other surety bond sales may not immediately impact our reported revenues in the short term.

 

 

In our insurance business, we rely in significant part on reinsurance arrangements for some of our insurance business. Although we do not currently anticipate any loss of our reinsurance and have recently renewed reinsurance arrangements, insurance markets are currently highly volatile, and any loss would place our other UCS assets at risk. We also anticipate that our reinsurance premium costs could increase substantially, which higher costs we may not be able to pass through to our customers.

 

 

In the broadband telecommunications business, we expect demand for services to remain high but we may experience reduced revenues if customers are unable to pay their bills due to loss of employment or other causes related to the pandemic.

 

 

We expect to continue to seek additional acquisitions of businesses. Current market conditions may result in fewer companies wishing to be acquired, which could delay certain of our growth plans. Other companies available for sale may have had their operations severely impacted due to the pandemic and may not generate the returns we generally seek from acquisitions. While the cost to acquire such companies would potentially be lower than the purchase price we might pay in a more normal market environment, the risks associated with any newly acquired company may also be greater.

 

 

We hold minority investments in Logic, DFH and CBT. Financial results for both Logic and DFH are included in our results of operations. We expect the COVID-19 pandemic to adversely impact all three investments.

 

 

For Logic, we expect that a significant portion of its fee income from brokerage and property management will be adversely impacted but that some of its other real estate finance operations may experience growth.

 

 

For DFH, we expect that new home sales may decrease during the crisis due to potential buyers’ concerns about the general economy and the impact of higher unemployment rates, however, inventories remain relatively low relative to other macro-economic downturns. Through September 30, 2020, DFH is reporting higher revenues and income than in 2019 but the long-term impact of the pandemic on the economy could result in a reduction in demand in the future.

 

 

For CBT, we expect a reduction in demand for vehicle purchases in the near term.

 

 

Both DFH and CBT borrow and we do not have guidance on what impact this pandemic will have on their ability to continue to borrow in the future and pay down any debt. We believe in the potential long-term value and success of both DFH and CBT and would consider providing additional funding if necessary. In October 2020, we provided DFH with a $20 million unsecured short-term loan which matures on May 1, 2021. This loan allowed DFH to acquire a homebuilding business.

 

 

Any increase in unemployment or underemployment may lead to an increase in the number of loan delinquencies and auto repossessions and have an adverse impact on CBT. The unemployment rate has risen significantly this year from its pre-pandemic levels and could continue to rise to a level that is uncertain at this time. People who are not employed, are underemployed, or are concerned about the loss of their jobs are less likely to purchase new homes and automobiles, may be forced to try to sell the homes they own, and may face difficulties in making required auto loan payments. Therefore, any increase in unemployment or underemployment may lead to an increase in the number of loan delinquencies experienced by CBT and have an adverse impact on DFH both by reducing demand for the homes DFH builds and by increasing the supply of homes for sale. CBT has significantly increased its loss reserves for 2020 in anticipation of future losses.

 

 

 

We held $63.8 million in a few publicly traded investment securities at September 30, 2020. Since the pandemic started in the United States in early March, the market prices for these securities have dropped significantly. We believe that the prices for these securities will continue to be volatile during the pandemic and any ongoing economic downturn which may follow the cessation of the pandemic. Our investments in publicly traded securities are solely in larger market capitalized companies (market capitalizations in excess of $4 billion at the time of purchase).

 

 

Boston Omaha is debt free as are some of our subsidiaries. However, Link’s billboard business has borrowed to date $23.5 million under two term loan arrangements which are due in August 2026 and which provide for monthly principal payments amortized over a 15-year term commencing July 1, 2020. Under its credit arrangement, Link may borrow additional funds through a $5 million revolver, which has not been drawn upon since the inception of the loan in August 2019. Any loans are guaranteed by Link’s operating subsidiaries but these loans are not guaranteed by us or any of our other non-Link subsidiaries. Link’s term loan requires monthly principal repayments which commenced in July 2020 and we can cure certain financial covenant defaults by paying any monthly principal payment then due. As a result, we do not currently anticipate any adverse impact to the Link credit facility.

 

 

All our acquisitions involve assets with anticipated long lives, and while we do not currently anticipate any material write-off of goodwill or other significant impairment of assets, any unforeseen extensive economic downturn could cause us to incur significant impairment charges. At September 30, 2020, we recorded goodwill of approximately $113.4 million, or 23.6% of our total assets at September 30, 2020. Any significant impairment charges could materially adversely impact our balance sheet.

 

 

Our ability to conduct our business operations has not been materially impacted by the pandemic and absent a future larger scale pandemic or illnesses involving a significant portion of our work force, we do not foresee a significant impact on our ability to continue to deliver services. Our information technology systems allow for remote computing by most of our employees who require access to these systems. Our accounting systems also allow us to fully monitor all financial activities and we do not expect the pandemic to have a materially adverse impact on our system of internal controls. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we moved to a "remote work" model for office personnel in March 2020. This model has significantly increased the use of remote networking and online conferencing services that enable employees to work outside of our corporate infrastructure and, in some cases, use their own personal devices. This has resulted in increased demand for information technology resources and exposes us to additional cybersecurity risks, including unauthorized access to sensitive information as a result of increased remote access and the risk of other cybersecurity related incidents. None of our businesses require a manufacturing facility or other physical assets which cannot currently operate.

 

 

As a result of these recent developments, we have implemented work-from-home policies for almost all our employees. The effects of these orders, government-imposed quarantines and our work-from-home policies may negatively impact productivity, disrupt our business and could delay timelines, the magnitude of which will depend, in part, on the length and severity of the restrictions and other limitations on our ability to conduct our business in the ordinary course. Quarantines, shelter-in-place and similar government orders, or the perception that such orders, shutdowns or other restrictions on the conduct of business operations could occur, related to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases could impact personnel at third-party supplier facilities in the United States and other countries. 

 

 

At September 30, 2020, we had $42.3 million in unrestricted cash, $76.7 million in U.S. treasury securities and $63.8 million in marketable equity securities. We may also continue to sell shares of our Class A common stock through our "at the market" offering. Concerns over the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic have caused extreme volatility in financial and other capital markets which has and may continue to adversely impact our stock price and our ability to access capital markets.

 

 

To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of both our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2020, and our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on May 27, 2020, including but not limited to, those relating to our products and services, financial performance, credit rating of our insurance subsidiary and debt obligations of our billboard business.

 

 

In the second half of March 2020, we announced the implementation of a stock buyback plan. We have not repurchased any shares as of this date. We may in the future repurchase shares of our Class A common stock, which could reduce our cash available for working capital and other purposes. 

 

 

How We Generate Our Revenues and Evaluate Our Business

 

We currently generate revenues primarily through billboard advertising and related services, from the sale of surety insurance and related brokerage activities and by providing high-speed broadband services. Revenue for outdoor advertising space rental is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract and advertising revenue is reported net of agency commissions. Payments received in advance of being earned are recorded as deferred revenue. In our surety insurance business, premiums written are recognized as revenues based on a pro rata daily calculation over the respective terms of the policies in-force. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written applicable to the unexpired term of the policies in-force. In connection with our surety agency business, insurance commissions are recognized at a point in time, on a bond-by-bond basis as of the policy effective date and are generally nonrefundable. In our broadband business, revenue is derived principally from internet services and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract in the period the services are rendered. Revenue received or receivable in advance of the delivery of services is included in deferred revenue.

 

Segment gross profit is a key metric that we use to evaluate segment operating performance and to determine resource allocation between segments. We define segment gross profit as segment revenues less segment direct cost of services. In our billboard business, direct cost of services includes land leases, utilities, repairs and maintenance of equipment, sales commissions, contract services, and other billboard level expenses. In our surety business, direct cost of services includes commissions, premium taxes, fees and assessments, and losses and loss adjustment expenses. In our broadband business, direct costs of services includes network operations and data costs, programming costs, cell site rent and utilities, and other broadband level expenses.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

The following is a comparison of our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2020, which we refer to as the “third quarter of fiscal 2020,” compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019, which we refer to as the “third quarter of fiscal 2019.” Our results for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 include the operating results of our broadband services business which was acquired during the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Therefore, comparisons of our results for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 to the third quarter of fiscal 2019 may not be meaningful.

 

Revenues. For the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and the third quarter of fiscal 2019, our revenues in dollars and as a percentage of total revenues were as follows:

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020 vs 2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

         
           

Total

           

Total

         
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

$ Variance

 

Revenues:

                                     

Billboard rentals, net

  $ 7,121,957     61.3%     $ 7,182,884       66.4%     $ (60,927 )
Broadband services     1,144,343     9.9%       -       -       1,144,343  

Premiums earned

    2,880,544     24.8%       3,065,490       28.3%       (184,946 )

Insurance commissions

    382,493     3.3%       442,824       4.1%       (60,331 )

Investment and other income

    77,499     0.7%       131,610       1.2%       (54,111 )

Total Revenues

  $ 11,606,836     100.0%     $ 10,822,808       100.0%     $ 784,028  

 

We realized total revenues of $11,606,836 during the third quarter of fiscal 2020, an increase of 7.2% over revenues of $10,822,808 during the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The increase in total revenues was driven by our acquisition of FibAire in March 2020 and was partially offset by lower revenue within our UCS insurance subsidiary, mainly due to the suspension of its rental guarantee bond program, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on our billboard operations and surety brokerage operations.

 

 

Net billboard rentals in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 0.8% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019, reflecting a reduction in rental and occupancy rates across a number of our markets due to COVID-19. The decline due to COVID-19 was partially offset by the acquisition of billboards from Image in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, which accounted for approximately 4% of our billboard revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

 

 

Revenue from broadband services in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 was $1,144,343, reflecting the acquisition of our broadband services business in March 2020.

 

 

Premiums earned from our UCS insurance subsidiary in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 6.0% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease in premiums earned was primarily due to the suspension of issuing new bonds under its rental guarantee bond program, which is expected to reduce future revenues at UCS. We recognize revenues for written premium over the life of the surety bond and, as a result, an increase in sales activities is not fully reflected in the quarter in which the surety bond is issued.

 

 

Revenue from insurance commissions generated by our surety brokerage operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased by 13.6% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019, primarily because our agents are able to place more surety bond business through UCS but also due to a reduction in demand as some of the markets we serve (contractors, small businesses, residential and commercial lease) were impacted by COVID-19.

 

 

Investment and other income at UCS decreased 41.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 from $131,610 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 due to the decline in interest rates over the past year.

 

 

Expenses. For the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and the third quarter of fiscal 2019, our expenses, in dollars, and as a percentage of total revenues, were as follows:

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020 vs 2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

         
           

Total

           

Total

         
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

$ Variance

 

Costs and Expenses:

                                   

Cost of billboard revenues

  $ 2,780,359     24.0%     $ 2,857,680     26.4%     $ (77,321 )
Cost of broadband revenues     129,414     1.1%       -     -       129,414  

Cost of insurance revenues

    1,758,451     15.2%       2,025,320     18.7%       (266,869 )

Employee costs

    3,311,885     28.5%       3,109,483     28.7%       202,402  

Professional fees

    630,604     5.4%       944,862     8.7%       (314,258 )

Depreciation

    978,672     8.4%       463,410     4.3%       515,262  

Amortization

    1,031,805     8.9%       3,656,612     33.8%       (2,624,807 )

General and administrative

    1,544,334     13.3%       1,445,859     13.4%       98,475  

Loss on disposition of assets

    20,751     0.2%       2,760     0.0%       17,991  

Accretion

    36,462     0.3%       33,154     0.3%       3,308  

Bad debt expense

    104,722     0.9%       72,767     0.7%       31,955  

Total Costs and Expenses

  $ 12,327,459     106.2%     $ 14,611,907     135.0%     $ (2,284,448 )

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we had total costs and expenses of $12,327,459, as compared to total costs and expenses of $14,611,907 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Total costs and expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased from 135.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 to 106.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This improvement reflects our increase in total revenues, a reduction in amortization expense due to extending the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years for customer relationships within our billboard segment during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and our continued focus on reducing general and administrative expenses as well as professional fees. In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, cost of billboard revenues, cost of insurance revenues, employee costs, professional fees, amortization and general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of total revenues as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, cost of billboard revenues decreased by $77,321, from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease was mainly related to lower commissions paid and ground rent expense.

 

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, cost of insurance revenues decreased by $266,869, or 13.2%, from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease was driven by lower commissions paid which was partially offset by increased loss reserves at UCS related to its rental guarantee bond program due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19 which has led to higher losses and loss adjustment expense.

 

 

Employee costs increased $202,402 from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The increase was mainly driven by our broadband services business, which we acquired in March 2020, and was partially offset by lower employee costs within our billboard and insurance businesses.

 

 

 

Professional fees in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 were $630,604, or 5.4% of total revenues, as compared to $944,862, or 8.7% of total revenues, in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Professional fees mainly include costs associated with third-party accounting, audit, legal, and acquisition related expenses.

 

 

Non-cash expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 included $1,031,805 in amortization expense, $978,672 in depreciation expense, and $36,462 in accretion expense related to asset retirement obligations for certain billboard and broadband assets. Amortization expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased by 71.8% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019 as we extended the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years to better reflect the estimated economic lives of our customer relationships within our billboard segment.

 

 

General and administrative expenses increased from $1,445,859 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 to $1,544,334 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, an increase of 6.8%. The increase was mainly driven by our broadband services business, which was acquired in March 2020, and was partially offset by lower general and administrative expenses within our billboard and insurance businesses.

 

Net Loss from Operations. Net loss from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 was $720,623, or 6.2% of total revenues, as compared to a net loss from operations of $3,789,099, or 35.0% of total revenues, in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease in net loss from operations in dollars was primarily due to the addition of our broadband services operations, as well as a decrease in amortization expense after extending the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years for customer relationships within our billboard segment. Our net loss from operations included $2,046,939 from non-cash amortization, depreciation and accretion expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, as compared to $4,153,176 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

Other Income (Expense).  During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we had net other income of $4,186,794. Net other income included $2,026,193 in realized gains mainly from the sale of large publicly traded equity securities held at Boston Omaha, $1,342,826 in equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates, $819,130 in unrealized gains mainly on large publicly traded equity securities held by UCS, $106,716 in dividend income from public equity securities held by Boston Omaha, and interest income of $104,125. These items were partially offset by interest expense of $212,196 mainly incurred under Link's term loan which commenced in August 2019. During the third quarter of fiscal 2019, we had net other income of $4,456,704, which included $2,813,544 in unrealized gains on securities, $1,266,731 of interest income, $315,897 in dividend income, $159,564 in equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates, $7,565 in realized gains on disposition of investments, and then $106,597 in interest expense.

 

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders. We had net income attributable to common stockholders in the amount of $3,463,671 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, or income per share of $0.13, based on 27,231,115 weighted average shares outstanding. This is compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $634,999 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, or income per share of $0.03, based on 22,798,738 weighted average shares outstanding.

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

The following is a comparison of our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, which we refer to as the “first nine months of fiscal 2020,” compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019, which we refer to as the “first nine months of fiscal 2019.”  Our results for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 include the operating results of our broadband services business which was acquired during the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Therefore, comparisons of our results for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 to the first nine months of fiscal 2019 may not be meaningful.

 

Revenues. For the first nine months of fiscal 2020 and the first nine months of fiscal 2019, our revenues in dollars and as a percentage of total revenues were as follows:

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020 vs 2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

         
           

Total

           

Total

         
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

$ Variance

 

Revenues:

                                   

Billboard rentals, net

  $ 20,991,755     60.8%     $ 21,113,266     70.2%     $ (121,511 )
Broadband services     2,575,676     7.5%       -     -       2,575,676  

Premiums earned

    9,538,183     27.6%       7,435,389     24.7%       2,102,794  

Insurance commissions

    1,065,013     3.1%       1,200,927     4.0%       (135,914 )

Investment and other income

    338,953     1.0%       323,512     1.1%       15,441  

Total Revenues

  $ 34,509,580     100.0%     $ 30,073,094     100.0%     $ 4,436,486  

 

We realized total revenues of $34,509,580 during the first nine months of fiscal 2020, an increase of 14.8% over revenues of $30,073,094 during the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The increase in total revenues was largely driven by our acquisition of FibAire in March 2020 as well as premiums earned at UCS, reflecting our ability to issue surety bonds in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and prior quarter growth within our rental guarantee bond program. However, due to the current disruption in this market, we have suspended issuing new rental guarantee bonds, which could significantly reduce future revenues at UCS. We recognize revenues for written premium over the life of the surety bond, and, as a result, increased sales activities are not fully reflected in the quarter in which the surety bond is issued.

 

 

Net billboard rentals in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 decreased 0.6% from the first nine months of fiscal 2019, reflecting a reduction in rental and occupancy rates across a number of our markets due to COVID-19. The decline due to COVID-19 was partially offset by the acquisition of billboards from Image in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, which accounted for approximately 4% of our billboard revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2020.

 

 

Revenue from broadband services in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 was $2,575,676, reflecting the acquisition of our broadband services business in March 2020.

 

 

Premiums earned from our UCS insurance subsidiary in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 increased 28.3% from the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The increase in premiums earned was primarily due to an increase in gross written premium now that UCS is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and prior quarter growth within our rental guarantee bond program. However, due to the current disruption in this market, we have suspended issuing new rental guarantee bonds, which is expected to reduce future revenues at UCS. We recognize revenues for written premium over the life of the surety bond and, as a result, an increase in sales activities is not fully reflected in the quarter in which the surety bond is issued.

 

 

Revenues from insurance commissions generated by our surety brokerage operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 decreased by 11.3% from the first nine months of fiscal 2019, primarily because our agents are able to place more surety bond business through UCS but also due to a reduction in demand as some of the markets we serve (contractors, small businesses, residential and commercial lease) were impacted by COVID-19.

 

 

Investment and other income at UCS increased 4.8% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 from $323,512 in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

 

 

Expenses. For the first nine months of fiscal 2020 and the first nine months of fiscal 2019, our expenses, in dollars, and as a percentage of total revenues, were as follows:

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020 vs 2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

         
           

Total

           

Total

         
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

$ Variance

 

Costs and Expenses:

                                   

Cost of billboard revenues

  $ 8,472,265     24.5%     $ 8,333,967     27.7%     $ 138,298  
Cost of broadband revenues     379,073     1.1%       -     -       379,073  

Cost of insurance revenues

    5,367,231     15.6%       4,742,025     15.8%       625,206  

Employee costs

    9,542,845     27.6%       8,953,935     29.8%       588,910  

Professional fees

    2,582,961     7.5%       3,005,543     10.0%       (422,582 )

Depreciation

    2,744,376     8.0%       2,167,815     7.2%       576,561  

Amortization

    3,012,641     8.7%       9,361,736     31.1%       (6,349,095 )

General and administrative

    4,655,960     13.5%       4,933,960     16.4%       (278,000 )

Loss on disposition of assets

    89,685     0.3%       28,293     0.1%       61,392  

Accretion

    105,964     0.3%       99,086     0.3%       6,878  

Bad debt expense

    322,483     0.9%       226,422     0.8%       96,061  

Total Costs and Expenses

  $ 37,275,484     108.0%     $ 41,852,782     139.2%     $ (4,577,298 )

 

During the first nine months of fiscal 2020, we had total costs and expenses of $37,275,484, as compared to total costs and expenses of $41,852,782 in the first nine months of fiscal 2019. Total costs and expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased from 139.2% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to 108.0% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. This improvement reflects our increase in total revenues, a reduction in amortization expense due to extending the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years for customer relationships within our billboard segment during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and our continued focus on reducing general and administrative expenses as well as professional fees. In the first nine months of fiscal 2020, cost of billboard revenues, cost of insurance revenues, employee costs, professional fees, amortization and general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of total revenues as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

 

 

During the first nine months of fiscal 2020, cost of billboard revenues increased by $138,298, or 1.7%, when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The increase was mainly related to the acquisition of billboards from Image in the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

 

During the first nine months of fiscal 2020, cost of insurance revenues increased by $625,206, or 13.2%, when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The increase was mainly driven by increased loss reserves at UCS related to its rental guarantee bond program due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19 which has led to higher losses and loss adjustment expense.

 

 

Employee costs in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 increased $588,910 from the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The increase was mainly driven by our broadband services business, which we acquired in March 2020, and was partially offset by lower employee costs within our billboard and insurance businesses.

 

 

 

Professional fees in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 were $2,582,961, or 7.5% of total revenues, as compared to $3,005,543, or 10.0% of total revenues, in the first nine months of fiscal 2019. Professional fees mainly include costs associated with third-party accounting, audit, legal, and acquisition related expenses.

 

 

Non-cash expenses in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 included $3,012,641 in amortization expense, $2,744,376 in depreciation expense, and $105,964 in accretion expense related to asset retirement obligations for certain billboard and broadband assets. Amortization expense decreased by 67.8% from the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to the first nine months of fiscal 2020 as we extended the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years to better reflect the estimated economic lives of our customer relationships within our billboard segment.

 

 

General and administrative expenses decreased from $4,933,960 in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to $4,655,960 in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, a decrease of 5.6%. As a percentage of total revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased from 16.4% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to 13.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020.

 

Net Loss from Operations. Net loss from operations for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 was $2,765,904, or 8.0% of total revenues, as compared to a net loss from operations of $11,779,688, or 39.2% of total revenues, in the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The decrease in net loss from operations in dollars was primarily due to increased revenue within our insurance operations, the addition of our broadband services operations, as well as a decrease in amortization expense after extending the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years for customer relationships within our billboard segment. Our net loss from operations included $5,862,981 from non-cash amortization, depreciation and accretion expenses in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, as compared to $11,628,637 in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

 

Other Income (Expense).  During the first nine months of fiscal 2020, we had net other expense of $15,060,171. Net other expense included $24,413,748 from unrealized losses mainly on large publicly traded equity securities held by Boston Omaha as well as UCS, $5,696,068 in realized gains from the sale of large publicly traded equity securities mainly held at Boston Omaha, $2,406,151 in equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates$967,864 in dividend income from public equity securities held by Boston Omaha, interest income of $884,125, primarily derived from our DFH preferred units as well as from our investments in short-term treasury securities, and interest expense of $600,631 mainly incurred under Link's term loan which commenced in August 2019. During the first nine months of fiscal 2019, we had net other income of $6,261,025, which included $2,864,060 in unrealized gains on securities, $2,431,923 of interest income, $432,409 in realized gains on disposition of investments, $323,333 in equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates, $315,897 in dividend income, and then $106,597 in interest expense.

 

As a result of a change in GAAP effective in 2018, we are required to include the unrealized changes in market prices of investments in public equity securities in our reported earnings. As stated above, we experienced unrealized losses of $24,413,748 in the value of our securities during the first nine months of fiscal 2020. This contrasts with unrealized gains in the value of our securities of $6,273,337 during all of fiscal 2019. While we intend to hold our current securities for the longer term, we may in the future choose to sell them for a variety of reasons resulting in realized losses or gains.

 

Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders. We had a net loss attributable to common stockholders in the amount of $17,868,259 in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, or a loss per share of $0.71, based on 25,145,700 weighted average shares outstanding. This is compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $5,557,735 in the first nine months of fiscal 2019, or a loss per share of $0.25, based on 22,563,527 weighted average shares outstanding.

 

 

  Results of Operations by Segment

 

The following tables report results for the following three segments in which we operate, billboards, insurance and broadband, for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and the third quarter of fiscal 2019:

 

Results of Billboard Operations

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

 
           

Segment

           

Segment

 
           

Operating

           

Operating

 
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

 

Operating Revenues

                           

Billboard rentals, net

  $ 7,121,957     100.0%     $ 7,182,884     100.0%  

Cost of Revenues

                           

Ground rents

    1,479,596     20.8%       1,511,537     21.0%  

Utilities

    297,782     4.2%       298,611     4.2%  

Commissions paid

    688,780     9.6%       729,302     10.2%  

Other costs of revenues

    314,201     4.4%       318,230     4.4%  

Total cost of revenues

    2,780,359     39.0%       2,857,680     39.8%  

Gross margin

    4,341,598     61.0%       4,325,204     60.2%  

Other Operating Expenses

                           

Employee costs

    1,364,457     19.2%       1,601,792     22.3%  

Professional fees

    202,027     2.8%       334,968     4.7%  

Depreciation

    843,575     11.8%       456,958     6.3%  

Amortization

    827,470     11.6%       3,377,439     47.0%  

General and administrative

    632,314     8.9%       725,607     10.1%  

Accretion

    34,740     0.5%       33,154     0.5%  

Loss on disposition of assets

    8,751     0.1%       2,760     0.0%  

Bad debt expense

    104,449     1.5%       71,009     1.0%  

Total expenses

    4,017,783     56.4%       6,603,687     91.9%  

Segment Income (Loss) from Operations

    323,815     4.5%       (2,278,483 )   (31.7%)  
Interest expense, net     (209,432 )   (2.9%)       (127,725 )   (1.8%)  

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders

  $ 114,383     1.6%     $ (2,406,208 )   (33.5%)  

 

Comparison of the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2020 to the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2019. In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, there was a 0.8% decrease in net billboard revenues from the third quarter of fiscal 2019, reflecting a reduction in rental and occupancy rates across a number of our markets due to COVID-19. The decline due to COVID-19 was partially offset by the acquisition of billboards from Image in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, which accounted for approximately 4% of our billboard revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Segment loss from billboard operations improved mainly due to the reduction in amortization expense. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, we updated our analysis of economic lives of customer relationships and extended the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years to better reflect the estimated economic lives of our billboard customers. The key factors affecting our billboard operations results during the third quarter of fiscal 2020 were as follows:



 

Ground rent expense as a percentage of total segment operating revenues decreased from 21.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 to 20.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

 

 

Commissions paid as a percentage of total segment operating revenues decreased from 10.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 to 9.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

 

 

Employee costs in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 14.8% when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

 

Amortization expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased by $2,549,969 from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease is primarily due to extending the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years for customer relationships.

 

 

General and administrative expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 12.9% when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in travel related expenses as well as other cost savings initiatives due to COVID-19.

 

 

Net interest expense of $209,432 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to net interest expense of $127,725 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The increase in interest expense was related to Link's $18 million and $5.5 million term loans, which commenced in August 2019 and August 2020, respectively.



 

Results of Insurance Operations

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

 
           

Segment

           

Segment

 
           

Operating

           

Operating

 
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

 

Operating Revenues

                           

Premiums earned

  $ 2,880,544     86.2%     $ 3,065,490     84.2%  

Insurance commissions

    382,493     11.5%       442,824     12.2%  

Investment and other income

    77,499     2.3%       131,610     3.6%  

Total operating revenues

    3,340,536     100.0%       3,639,924     100.0%  

Cost of Revenues

                           

Commissions paid

    845,380     25.3%       1,408,551     38.7%  

Premium taxes, fees, and assessments

    98,243     2.9%       130,783     3.6%  

Losses and loss adjustment expense

    814,828     24.4%       485,986     13.4%  

Total cost of revenues

    1,758,451     52.6%       2,025,320     55.7%  

Gross margin

    1,582,085     47.4%       1,614,604     44.3%  

Other Operating Expenses

                           

Employee costs

    1,072,551     32.1%       1,295,545     35.6%  

Professional fees

    69,507     2.1%       43,600     1.2%  

Depreciation

    5,835     0.2%       6,452     0.2%  

Amortization

    123,662     3.7%       279,173     7.7%  
Bad debt expense     273     0.0%       1,758     0.0%  

General and administrative

    411,068     12.3%       584,050     16.0%  

Total expenses

    1,682,896     50.4%       2,210,578     60.7%  

Segment Loss from Operations

    (100,811 )   (3.0%)       (595,974 )   (16.4%)  

Interest income

    5     0.0%       36     0.0%  

Unrealized gain on securities

    1,770,261     53.0%       204,354     5.6%  

Gain (loss) on sale of investments

    3,601     0.1%       (3,060 )   (0.1%)  

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary income

    -     -       (32,606 )   (0.8%)  

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Stockholders

  $ 1,673,056     50.1%     $ (427,250 )   (11.7%)  

 

Comparison of the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2020 to the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2019. In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, total operating revenues declined by 8.2% when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019, mainly due to the suspension of UCS's rental guarantee bond program as well as the impact of COVID-19 on our surety brokerage operations. Segment loss from insurance operations improved mainly due to lower operating expenses when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The key factors affecting our insurance operations results during the third quarter of fiscal 2020 were as follows:

 

 

Premiums earned from our UCS insurance subsidiary in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 6.0% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease in premiums earned was primarily due to the suspension of its rental guarantee bond program, which is expected to reduce future revenues at UCS.

 

 

● 

Our brokerage operations realized a 13.6% decrease in insurance commissions from other insurance carriers in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The decrease is mainly due to our agents being able to place more surety bond business through UCS as well as a reduction in overall demand during the third quarter of fiscal 2020 as some of the markets we serve (contractors, small businesses, residential and commercial lease) were impacted by COVID-19.

 

 

● 

Commissions paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased by $563,171 from the third quarter of fiscal 2019 primarily due to the suspension of UCS's rental guarantee bond program, which generally provided a higher commission structure.

 

 

Our losses and loss adjustment expense as a percentage of insurance revenues increased from 13.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 to 24.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. During the second and third quarters of fiscal 2020, UCS increased its loss reserves related to its rental guarantee bond program due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

 

 

Employee costs and general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of revenue to 32.1% and 12.3%, respectively, during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. This is compared to 35.6% and 16.0%, respectively, during the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

 

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, our segment loss from insurance operations of $100,811 was offset by unrealized gains of $1,770,261 from our investments in publicly traded securities. We expect to continue to invest a portion of our excess capital in accordance with insurance regulatory limitations in both large-cap publicly traded equity securities and bonds. These investments are subject to the risk of loss in value depending upon market conditions and factors outside of our control.

 

 

Results of Broadband Operations

 

   

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

 
           

Segment

           

Segment

 
           

Operating

           

Operating

 
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

 

Operating Revenues

                           

Broadband revenues

  $ 1,144,343     100.0%     $ -     -  

Cost of Revenues

                           
Network operations and data costs     64,913     5.7%       -     -  
Programming costs     23,336     2.0%       -     -  
Cell site rent and utilities     12,275     1.1%       -     -  

Other costs of revenues

    28,890     2.5%       -     -  

Total cost of revenues

    129,414     11.3%       -     -  

Gross margin

    1,014,929     88.7%       -     -  

Other Operating Expenses

                           

Employee costs

    557,096     48.7%       -     -  

Professional fees

    10,343     0.9%       -     -  

Depreciation

    129,262     11.3%       -     -  

Amortization

    80,673     7.1%       -     -  

General and administrative

    197,233     17.2%       -     -  
Accretion     1,722     0.2%       -     -  
Loss on disposition of assets     12,000     1.0%       -     -  

Total expenses

    988,329     86.4%       -     -  

Segment Income from Operations

    26,600     2.3%       -     -  

Interest income

    (1,596 )   (0.1%)       -     -  
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary income     (2,500 )   (0.2%)       -     -  

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders

  $ 22,504     2.0%     $ -     -  

 

Comparison of the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2020 to the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2019. In March 2020, we commenced our broadband services business with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of FibAire. Therefore, comparisons of our broadband results for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 to the third quarter of fiscal 2019 may not be meaningful.

 

 

Results of Billboard Operations

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

 
           

Segment

           

Segment

 
           

Operating

           

Operating

 
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

 

Operating Revenues

                           

Billboard rentals, net

  $ 20,991,755     100.0%     $ 21,113,266     100.0%  

Cost of Revenues

                           

Ground rents

    4,592,406     21.9%       4,617,444     21.9%  

Utilities

    929,397     4.4%       843,011     4.0%  

Commissions paid

    2,018,314     9.6%       1,975,287     9.4%  

Other costs of revenues

    932,148     4.5%       898,225     4.2%  

Total cost of revenues

    8,472,265     40.4%       8,333,967     39.5%  

Gross margin

    12,519,490     59.6%       12,779,299     60.5%  

Other Operating Expenses

                           

Employee costs

    4,313,414     20.6%       4,479,344     21.2%  

Professional fees

    464,565     2.2%       587,194     2.8%  

Depreciation

    2,498,514     11.9%       2,151,314     10.2%  

Amortization

    2,462,425     11.7%       8,481,302     40.2%  

General and administrative

    1,999,367     9.5%       2,321,746     11.0%  

Accretion

    104,242     0.5%       99,086     0.5%  

Loss on disposition of assets

    77,685     0.4%       28,293     0.1%  

Bad debt expense

    321,838     1.5%       223,979     1.0%  

Total expenses

    12,242,050     58.3%       18,372,258     87.0%  

Segment Income (Loss) from Operations

    277,440     1.3%       (5,592,959 )   (26.5%)  

Interest expense, net

    (595,088 )   (2.8%)       (56,638 )   (0.3%)  

Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders

  $ (317,648 )   (1.5%)     $ (5,649,597 )   (26.8%)  

 

Comparison of the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2020 to the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2019. In the first nine months of fiscal 2020, net billboard revenues decreased by 0.6% from the first nine months of fiscal 2019, reflecting a reduction in rental and occupancy rates across a number of our markets due to COVID-19. The decline due to COVID-19 was partially offset by the acquisition of billboards from Image in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, which accounted for approximately 4% of our billboard revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. Segment income from billboard operations improved mainly due to the reduction in amortization expense. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, we updated our analysis of economic lives of customer relationships and extended the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years to better reflect the estimated economic lives of our billboard customers. The key factors affecting our billboard operations results during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 were as follows:



 

Ground rent as a percentage of total segment operating revenues was 21.9% during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 as well as during the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

 

 

Commissions paid as a percentage of total segment operating revenues increased from 9.4% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to 9.6% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. For additional comparison, commissions paid as a percentage of total segment operating revenues was 9.5% for all of fiscal 2019.

 

 

Employee costs in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 decreased 3.7% when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

 

 

Amortization expense in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 decreased by $6,018,877 from the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The decrease was primarily due to extending the amortization period from 3 years to 10 years for customer relationships.

 

 

General and administrative expenses in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 decreased 13.9% when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in travel related expenses as well as other cost savings initiatives due to COVID-19.

 

 

Net interest expense of $595,088 in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared to net interest expense of $56,638 the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The increase in interest expense was related to Link's $18 million and $5.5 million term loans, which commenced in August 2019 and August 2020, respectively.



 

Results of Insurance Operations

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

 
           

Segment

           

Segment

 
           

Operating

           

Operating

 
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

 

Operating Revenues

                           

Premiums earned

  $ 9,538,183     87.2%     $ 7,435,389     83.0%  

Insurance commissions

    1,065,013     9.7%       1,200,927     13.4%  

Investment and other income

    338,953     3.1%       323,512     3.6%  

Total operating revenues

    10,942,149     100.0%       8,959,828     100.0%  

Cost of Revenues

                           

Commissions paid

    2,884,197     26.4%       3,122,583     34.9%  

Premium taxes, fees, and assessments

    244,956     2.2%       350,884     3.9%  

Losses and loss adjustment expense

    2,238,078     20.5%       1,268,558     14.1%  

Total cost of revenues

    5,367,231     49.1%       4,742,025     52.9%  

Gross margin

    5,574,918     50.9%       4,217,803     47.1%  

Other Operating Expenses

                           

Employee costs

    3,286,309     30.0%       3,893,542     43.5%  

Professional fees

    428,922     3.9%       182,474     2.0%  

Depreciation

    17,240     0.2%       16,501     0.2%  

Amortization

    396,453     3.6%       880,434     9.8%  

Bad debt expense

    645     0.0%       2,443     0.0%  

General and administrative

    1,430,508     13.1%       1,894,761     21.2%  

Total expenses

    5,560,077     50.8%       6,870,155     76.7%  

Segment Income (Loss) from Operations

    14,841     0.1%       (2,652,352 )   (29.6%)  

Interest income (expense), net

    (365 )   (0.0%)       104     0.0%  

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

    (2,448,251 )   (22.3%)       291,827     3.3%  

Gain on sale of investments

    263,860     2.4%       417,508     4.7%  

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary income

    -     -       (39,072 )   (0.5%)  

Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders

  $ (2,169,915 )   (19.8%)     $ (1,981,985 )   (22.1%)  

 

Comparison of the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2020 to the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2019. In the first nine months of fiscal 2020, total operating revenues increased by 22.1% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019, primarily due to a 28.3% increase in premiums earned at UCS. At the same time, operating expenses decreased as a percentage of revenue when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019, resulting in positive segment income from insurance operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. The key factors affecting our insurance operations results during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 were as follows:

 

 

Premiums earned from our UCS insurance subsidiary rose, reflecting an increase in gross written premium now that UCS is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and prior quarter growth within our rental guarantee bond program. However, due to the current disruption in this market, we have suspended issuing new rental guarantee bonds, which is expected to reduce future revenues at UCS.

 

 

● 

Our brokerage operations realized a 11.3% decrease in insurance commissions from other insurance carriers in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The decrease is mainly due to our agents being able to place more surety bond business through UCS but also due to a reduction in overall demand during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 as some of the markets we serve (contractors, small businesses, residential and commercial lease) were impacted by COVID-19.

 

 

● 

Commissions paid in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 decreased by $238,386 from the first nine months of fiscal 2019 primarily due to the suspension of UCS's rental guarantee bond program, which generally provided a higher commission structure.

 

 

Our losses and loss adjustment expense as a percentage of insurance revenues increased from 14.1% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 to 20.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. During the second and third quarters of fiscal 2020, UCS increased its loss reserves related to its rental guarantee bond program due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

 

 

Employee costs and general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 30.0% and 13.1%, respectively, during the first nine months of fiscal 2020. This is compared to 43.5% and 21.2%, respectively, during the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

 

 

During the first nine months of fiscal 2020, our segment income from insurance operations of $14,841 was reduced by unrealized losses of $2,448,251 from our investments in publicly traded securities. We expect to continue to invest a portion of our excess capital in accordance with insurance regulatory limitations in both large-cap publicly traded equity securities and bonds. These investments are subject to the risk of loss in value depending upon market conditions and factors outside of our control.

 

 

Results of Broadband Operations

 

   

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

(unaudited)

 
   

2020

   

2019

 
           

As a % of

           

As a % of

 
           

Segment

           

Segment

 
           

Operating

           

Operating

 
   

Amount

   

Revenues

   

Amount

   

Revenues

 

Operating Revenues

                           

Broadband revenues

  $ 2,575,676     100.0%     $ -     -  

Cost of Revenues

                           
Network operations and data costs     172,704     6.7%       -     -  
Programming costs     51,871     2.0%       -     -  
Cell site rent and utilities     42,724     1.7%       -     -  

Other costs of revenues

    111,774     4.3%       -     -  

Total cost of revenues

    379,073     14.7%       -     -  

Gross margin

    2,196,603     85.3%       -     -  

Other Operating Expenses

                           

Employee costs

    1,021,554     39.6%       -     -  

Professional fees

    25,146     1.0%       -     -  

Depreciation

    228,622     8.9%       -     -  

Amortization

    153,763     5.9%       -     -  

General and administrative

    330,361     12.8%       -     -  
Accretion     1,722     0.1%       -     -  
Loss on disposition of assets     12,000     0.5%       -     -  

Total expenses

    1,773,168     68.8%       -     -  

Segment Income from Operations

    423,435     16.5%       -     -  

Interest expense, net

    (1,594 )   (0.1%)       -     -  
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary income     (42,184 )   (1.7%)       -     -  

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders

  $ 379,657     14.7%     $ -     -  

 

Comparison of the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2020 to the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2019. In March 2020, we commenced our broadband services business with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of FibAire. Therefore, comparisons of our broadband results for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 to the first nine months of fiscal 2019 may not be meaningful.

 

 

Cash Flows

 

Cash Flows for the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2020 compared to the First Nine Months of Fiscal 2019

 

The table below summarizes our cash flows, in dollars, for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 and the first nine months of fiscal 2019:

 

   

Nine Months

   

Nine Months

 
   

Ended

   

Ended

 
   

September 30, 2020

   

September 30, 2019

 
   

(unaudited)

   

(unaudited)

 
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 3,492,006     $ 5,035,455  
Net cash used in investing activities     (38,885,920 )     (59,515,863 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     61,673,659       46,364,780  

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

  $ 26,279,745     $ (8,115,628 )

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $3,492,006 for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared to a cash inflow of $5,035,455 for the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 was primarily attributable to improved operating results within our insurance business, the addition of our broadband services business, and interest income and dividend income earned at Boston Omaha, which was offset by a decrease in unearned premiums at UCS and an increase in interest expense incurred under Link's term loan which commenced in August 2019.

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities.  Net cash used in investing activities was $38,885,920 for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 as compared with net cash used in investing activities of $59,515,863 for the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The net cash used in investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 is primarily attributable to our investments in U.S. Treasury securities available for sale, the purchase of the remaining thirty percent interest in SCS for $1,406,409, the purchase of certain billboard assets and easements in Nevada for $1,995,832, commencing our broadband services business with the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of FibAire for a cash purchase price of $12,341,242, and investing $3,000,000 in 24th Street Fund I, LLC. These investments were partially offset by DFH's $12,000,000 redemption of a portion of the preferred units as well as $5,696,068 in realized gains from the sale of large publicly traded equity securities mainly held at Boston Omaha.

 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities.  Net cash provided by financing activities was $61,673,659 during the first nine months of fiscal 2020 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $46,364,780 during the first nine months of fiscal 2019. During the first nine months of fiscal 2020, net cash provided by financing activities mainly consisted of $58,880,000 in gross proceeds raised through our public offering of Class A common stock on June 2, 2020, $5,500,000 borrowed under Link's credit facility on August 31, 2020, and gross proceeds of $669,751 raised through our “at the market" offering during April 2020, offset by offering costs of $3,417,323.

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Currently, we own billboards in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin, surety insurance brokerage firms we acquired in 2016 and 2017, a surety insurance company we acquired in December 2016, a broadband service provider whose assets we acquired in March 2020 and minority investments in several real estate management entities, a builder of residential homes, and a bank holding entity whose primary source of revenue is in subprime automobile lending. At September 30, 2020, we had approximately $42.3 million in unrestricted cash. Our strategy is to continue to acquire other billboard locations and insurance businesses as well as acquire other businesses which we believe have the potential to generate positive cash flows and when made at what we believe to be attractive prices relative to other opportunities generally available to us. We currently expect to finance any future acquisitions and investments with cash, debt, and seller or third-party financing. Similar to our previous issuance in connection with the acquisitions of Tammy Lynn and Image, in the future, we may satisfy all or a portion of the purchase price for an acquisition with our equity securities. In addition, we have made investments in several companies and expect to continue to make investments in the securities of both publicly traded and privately held companies.

 

There can be no assurance that we will consummate any subsequent acquisitions. Furthermore, our acquisitions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including as to when, whether and to what extent the anticipated benefits and cost savings of a particular acquisition will be realized. Our failure to successfully identify and complete future acquisitions of assets or businesses could reduce future potential earnings, available cash, and slow our anticipated growth.

 

In February 2018, we announced the entry into a stock purchase agreement relating to the issuance and sale of up to $150,000,000 of our unregistered Class A common stock, which we refer to as the “2018 private placement.” 3,300,000 shares were issued in the initial closing, which occurred on March 6, 2018, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $76,890,000. The remaining 3,137,768 shares were issued during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 in a subsequent closing on May 15, 2018, resulting in gross proceeds to us of approximately $73,110,000. Under the 2018 private placement, all shares were sold at $23.30, a slight premium to the $23.29 closing price of the Class A common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market, as reported by NASDAQ on the date of the Class A Common Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Since March 2018, we have utilized our “at the market” offering that is part of our shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-222853) that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” and declared effective in February 2018, which authorizes us to sell up to $200,000,000 through the sales of securities to the public. The original “at the market” offering was pursuant to a Sales Agreement entered into on March 2, 2018 with Cowen and Company, LLC, which we refer to as “Cowen,” and related to the sale of shares of our Class A common stock. In accordance with the terms of that Sales Agreement, we had the option to sell from time to time up to $50,000,000 of shares of our Class A common stock through Cowen acting as our agent. Cowen was not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but acted as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices on mutually agreed terms between Cowen and us. The compensation to Cowen for sales of Class A common stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement was an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of any shares of Class A common stock sold under the Sales Agreement. From March 2018 through August 20, 2019, we sold through Cowen an aggregate of 2,141,452 shares of our Class A common stock under this “at the market” offering, resulting in gross proceeds to us of $49,999,625. We subsequently entered into a new Sales Agreement with Cowen which allows us to sell up to an additional $75,000,000 of our Class A common stock under the same compensation arrangement to Cowen. This new "at the market" offering provides us with the flexibility to seek to raise additional capital in amounts we deem appropriate and at price levels approved by us, with lower costs than a traditional underwritten public offering. We have no specific plans for the use of any proceeds from this new “at the market” offering of our Class A common stock. During fiscal 2019, we sold 448,880 shares of our Class A common stock under this new "at the market" offering for gross proceeds of $9,450,789. During the first half of fiscal 2020, we sold under the new "at the market" offering 40,455 shares of our Class A common stock for gross proceeds of $669,751. During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we did not sell any shares of our Class A common stock under the new "at the market" offering.

 

On May 28, 2020, we entered into an underwriting agreement, which we refer to as the “underwriting agreement,” with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC, as joint lead book-running managers for a public offering of 3,200,000 shares, which we refer to as the “firm shares,” of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $16.00 per share. Under the terms of the underwriting agreement, we granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase up to an additional 480,000 shares of Class A common stock at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions, which we refer to as the “option shares.” Adam Peterson and Alex Rozek, our Co-Chairmen, together with another member of our board of directors and another employee, purchased, directly or through their affiliates, an aggregate of 39,375 shares of Class A common stock in the offering at the public offering price.  On June 2, 2020, we announced the completion of the public offering for a total of 3,680,000 shares, including both the firm shares and all of the option shares issued as a result of the underwriters’ exercise in full of their over-allotment option, resulting in total gross proceeds to us of approximately $58.9 million.  We raised this capital to fund the planned expansion of our recently acquired fiber-to-the-home broadband, telecommunication business, to seek to grow our Link billboard business through the acquisitions of additional billboard businesses, and for general corporate purposes. We do not have current agreements, commitments or understandings for any specific material acquisitions at this time. The shares were sold in the offering pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-222853) that was declared effective on February 9, 2018, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement dated May 28, 2020.

 

On August 12, 2019, Link, our wholly owned subsidiary which owns and operates our billboard businesses, entered into a Credit Agreement, which we refer to as the “Credit Agreement,” with First National Bank of Omaha, which we refer to as the “Lender,” under which Link may borrow up to $40,000,000, which we refer to as the "Credit Facility." The Credit Agreement provides for an initial term loan, which we refer to as “Term Loan 1,” an incremental term loan, which we refer to as "Term Loan 2,” and a revolving line of credit. These loans are secured by all assets of Link and its operating subsidiaries, including a pledge of equity interests of each of Link’s subsidiaries. In addition, each of Link’s subsidiaries has joined as a guarantor to the obligations under the Credit Agreement. These loans are not guaranteed by Boston Omaha Corporation or any of our non-billboard businesses. On August 12, 2019, Link borrowed $18,060,000 through Term Loan 1 under the Credit Facility. On August 31, 2020, Link borrowed $5,500,000 through Term Loan 2 under the Credit Facility. We may not borrow additional funds under the Credit Facility. Term Loan 1 has a fixed interest rate of 4.25% per annum with interest only payments due through July 1, 2020. Term Loan 2 has a fixed interest rate of 3.375% per annum. Principal amounts under each of Term Loan 1 and Term Loan 2 are payable in monthly installments according to a 15-year amortization schedule. For Term Loan 1, these payments commenced on July 1, 2020. For Term Loan 2, these payments commenced on October 1, 2020. Both term loans are payable in full on August 12, 2026. During the first three years of the term loans, Link may prepay up to 10% of the loan principal in each year without paying any prepayment penalty. Otherwise, there is a prepayment penalty ranging between 2.0% and 0.5%. After three years, there is no prepayment penalty. In addition to the term loans, the Credit Agreement allows Link to borrow up to $5,000,000 through August 12, 2021 under a revolving line of credit. Interest payments on the revolving line of credit are based on the 30 day LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin ranging between 2.00% and 2.50% dependent on Link's consolidated leverage ratio.

 

 

The Credit Agreement includes representations and warranties, reporting covenants, affirmative covenants, negative covenants, financial covenants and events of default customary for financings of this type. Upon the occurrence of an event of default the Lender may accelerate the loans. Upon the occurrence of certain insolvency and bankruptcy events of default the loans will automatically accelerate. The foregoing summary of the Credit Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be a complete description and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and Security Agreement, copies of which are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively to our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on August 13, 2019 and a First Amendment to Credit Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on October 29, 2019, and a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on June 30, 2020. 

 

We believe that our existing cash and short-term investments, funds that we may receive in the current “at the market” offering, funds available through the Credit Agreement Link entered into on August 12, 2019, and any funds that we may receive from cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements and anticipated capital expenditures for the next 12 months. We have also taken steps to suspend the future issuance of certain rental surety bonds issued by UCS and have taken other steps to reduce certain costs of our operations. At September 30, 2020, we had $42.3 million in unrestricted cash, $76.7 million in U.S. treasury securities and $63.8 million in marketable equity securities.

 

If future additional significant acquisition opportunities become available in excess of our currently available cash and U.S. Treasury securities, we may need to seek additional capital through long term debt borrowings, the sale of our securities, and/or other financing options and we may not be able to obtain such debt or equity financing on terms favorable to us or at all.

 

On October 2, 2020, we provided a term loan of $20,000,000 to Dream Finders Holdings, LLC to be used in expanding DFH's footprint in the Southeast United States. The effective interest rate on this term loan is approximately 14% and matures on May 1, 2021.

 

On October 26, 2020, we purchased 7,500,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to Yellowstone of $7,500,000. In addition, we acquired 3,593,750 shares of Yellowstone's Class B common stock (up to 468,750 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised) for a purchase price of $25,000. The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time, if any, when Yellowstone completes an initial business combination, on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments.

 

On March 18, 2020, we announced the authorization of a share repurchase program which allows us to repurchase our Class A common stock. We have not yet repurchased any shares under this program and we cannot predict when or if we will repurchase any shares of Class A common stock as any such share repurchases will depend on a number of factors, including constraints specified in any Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, price, general business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities. 

 

In the future, we may use a number of different sources to finance our acquisitions and operations, including current cash on hand, potential future cash flows from operations, seller financing, debt financings including but not limited to long-term debt and line of credit facilities, including additional credit facilities which may or may not be secured by our assets or those of our operating subsidiaries, additional common or preferred equity issuances or any combination of these sources, to the extent available to us, or other sources that may become available from time to time, which could include asset sales and issuance of debt securities.  In addition to our current credit facility, any other future debt that we incur may be recourse or non-recourse and may be secured or unsecured. Link's existing credit facility imposes restrictions on Link that could increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions by limiting our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our billboard and insurance industries. Specifically, these restrictions place limits on Link and its subsidiaries' ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, make additional acquisitions and investments, pay dividends, repurchase stock, create liens, enter into transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate or transfer or sell our billboard assets. Our credit facility requires us to meet a fixed charge coverage ratio and other financial covenants. Our ability to comply with these loan covenants may be affected by factors beyond our control and a breach of any loan covenants would likely result in an event of default under the credit facility, which would permit the lender to declare all amounts incurred thereunder to be immediately due and payable and to terminate their commitment to make future extensions of credit. We also may take advantage of joint venture or other partnering opportunities as such opportunities arise in order to acquire properties that would otherwise be unavailable to us. Any future credit facilities which we or any of our subsidiaries may enter into would likely impose similar restrictions and risks. We may use the proceeds of any future borrowings to acquire assets or for general corporate purposes. In determining when to use leverage, we will assess the appropriateness of new equity or debt capital based on market conditions, including assumptions regarding future cash flow, the creditworthiness of customers and future rental rates.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not limit the amount of debt that we may incur. Our Board of Directors has not adopted a policy limiting the total amount of debt that we may incur. Our Board of Directors will consider a number of factors in evaluating the amount of debt that we may incur. If we adopt a debt policy, our Board of Directors may from time to time modify such policy in light of then-current economic conditions, relative costs of debt and equity capital, market values of our properties, general conditions in the markets for debt and equity securities, fluctuations in the market price of our Class A common stock if then trading on any exchange, growth and acquisition opportunities and other factors. Our decision to use leverage in the future to finance our assets will be at our discretion and will not be subject to the approval of our stockholders, and we are not restricted by our governing documents or otherwise in the amount of leverage that we may use.

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Except for our normal operating leases, we do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, transactions or special purpose entities.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

At September 30, 2020, we held no significant derivative instruments that materially increased our exposure to market risks for interest rates, foreign currency rates, commodity prices or other market price risks. Our operations are currently conducted entirely within the U.S.; therefore, we had no significant exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk.

 

Critical Accounting

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and related notes to the consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We base these estimates on historical results and various other assumptions, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, believed to be reasonable, all of which form the basis for making estimates concerning the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Information with respect to our critical accounting policies that we believe could have the most significant effect on our reported results or require subjective or complex judgments by management is contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements each in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020. We believe that at September 30, 2020, there has been no material change to this information.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable as we are a “smaller reporting company.”

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer each concluded that, as of September 30, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods.

 

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, including our principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include, but are not limited to, the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

Due to the nature of our business, we are, from time to time and in the ordinary course of business, involved in routine litigation or subject to disputes or claims related to our business activities, including, without limitation, workers’ compensation claims and employment-related disputes. In the opinion of our management, none of the pending litigation, disputes or claims against us, if decided adversely, will have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial condition, cash flows or results of operations.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Not applicable as we are a “smaller reporting company.” For a list of risk factors, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on April 13, 2020 and our Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on May 27, 2020.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

On March 18, 2020, we announced the authorization of a share repurchase program which allows us to repurchase up to $20 million of our Class A common stock. We have not yet repurchased any shares under this program and we cannot predict when or if we will repurchase any shares of Class A common stock as the determination whether to effect any share repurchases will depend on a number of factors, including constraints specified in any Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, price, general business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed in the following Exhibit Index are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

Exhibit Description

 

 

3.1 (*) 

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 26, 2017.

 

3.2 (*)

First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 7, 2018.

 

3.3 (*)

Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 2, 2020.

 

3.4 (*)

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed with the Commission on June 5, 2017.

 

3.5 (*)

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s  Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 1, 2020.

 

10.1 (*)

Credit Agreement, dated August 12, 2019 by and between Link Media Holdings, LLC, and First National Bank of Omaha. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 13, 2019).

   

10.2 (*)

Security Agreement, dated August 12, 2019, by and among Link Media Holdings, LLC and the Subsidiary Guarantors in Favor of First National Bank of Omaha (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 13, 2019).

   

10.3 (*)

Subsidiaries Guaranty dated August 12, 2019 by and among the Subsidiary Guarantors in Favor of First National Bank of Omaha  (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 13, 2019).

   

10.4 (*)

$5,000,000 Revolving Note dated August 12, 2019 issued by Link Media Holdings, LLC in favor of First National Bank of Omaha (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 13, 2019).

   

10.5 (*)

$24,900,000 Term Loan Note 1 dated August 12, 2019 issued by Link Media Holdings, LLC to First National Bank of Omaha (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 13, 2019).

   

10.6 (*)

Term Loan 2 Note dated August 31, 2020 issued by Link Media Holdings, LLC to First National Bank of Omaha (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 4, 2020).

   

10.7 (*)

Sales Agreement dated August 13, 2019, by and between Boston Omaha Corporation and Cowen and Company, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 13, 2019).

   

10.8 (*)

First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated October 25, 2019 by and between Link Media Holdings, LLC and First National Bank of Omaha (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 29, 2019).

   

31.1 (#)

Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

 

31.2 (#)

Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

 

31.3 (#)

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

 

32.1 (#)(##)

Certification of the Co-Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.

 

32.2 (#)(##)

Certification of the Co-Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.

 

32.3 (#)(##)

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.

 

101.INS (#)

Inline XBRL Instance Document.

 

101.SCH (#)

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

101.CAL (#)

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

101.DEF (#)

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition.

 

101.LAB (#)

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

101.PRE (#)

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

(*)

Incorporated by reference to the filing indicated.

(#)

Filed herewith.

(##)

The certifications attached as Exhibits 32.1, 32.2, and 32.3 that accompany this Report, are not deemed filed with the SEC and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Boston Omaha Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Report irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION

(Registrant)

 

By: /s/ Alex B. Rozek                                     

Alex B. Rozek

Co-President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

November 9, 2020

 

By: /s/ Adam K. Peterson                                

Adam K. Peterson

Co-President (Principal Executive Officer)

 

November 9, 2020

 

By: /s/ Joshua P. Weisenburger                       

Joshua P. Weisenburger 

Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

November 9, 2020

 

 

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