GRAY TELEVISION INC - Quarter Report: 2015 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015 or

For the transition period from _________ to _________ .

Commission file number: 1-13796

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

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

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

INDEX

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.     Financial Statements

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

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

Seasonality and Cyclicality

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

Use of Estimates

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

Earnings Per Share

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

The following table reconciles basic weighted-average shares outstanding to diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

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

Our comprehensive income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 consisted entirely of net income. Therefore, a consolidated statement of comprehensive income is not presented for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

Property and Equipment

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

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

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

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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

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

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 amends previous guidance to require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU. The standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. We expect that the affected amounts on our balance sheets will be reclassified within our balance sheets to conform to this standard. We do not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements.

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, long-term debt primarily consisted of obligations under our 2014 Senior Credit Facility (the “Senior Credit Facility”), and our 7½% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”), as follows (in thousands): 

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

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

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

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $7.1 million and $7.4 million, respectively, related to the Senior Credit Facility; and we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $10.8 million and $11.3 million, respectively, related to our 2020 Notes.

Our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our consolidated subsidiaries' assets, including real estate. In addition, substantially all of our subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors of, and our ownership interests in those subsidiaries are pledged to collateralize, our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility. Gray Television, Inc. is a holding company with no material independent assets or operations. For all periods presented, the 2020 Notes have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several, senior unsecured basis, by substantially all of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries. Any subsidiaries which do not guarantee such notes are "minor" (as defined in Rule 3-10(h) of Regulation S-X). As of March 31, 2015, there were no significant restrictions on the ability of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries to distribute cash to Gray or to the guarantor subsidiaries. 

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

On March 31, 2015, we completed an underwritten offering of 13.5 million shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. The net proceeds from the offering were $167.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts of $7.5 million and expenses of $0.7 million. We have placed the net proceeds from the offering in our corporate treasury for general corporate purposes, and such proceeds may be used from time to time for, among other things, repayment of outstanding debt, capital expenditures, the financing of possible future business expansions and acquisitions, increasing our working capital and the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead.

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

Our Board of Directors has authorized Gray to repurchase an aggregate of up to 5 million shares of its common stock and Class A common stock at times as management deems appropriate, subject to any contractual or other restrictions. As of March 31, 2015, 279,200 shares of our common stock and Class A common stock remain available for repurchase under these authorizations. There is no expiration date for these authorizations. Shares repurchased are held as treasury shares and used for general corporate purposes including, but not limited to, satisfying obligations under our employee benefit plans and long term incentive plans. Treasury stock is recorded at cost. During the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we did not make any repurchases under these authorizations.

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

Under our various employee benefit plans, we may, at our discretion, issue authorized and unissued shares, or previously issued shares held in treasury, of our common stock or our Class A common stock. As of March 31, 2015, we had reserved 6,965,301 shares and 476,193 shares of our common stock and Class A common stock, respectively, for future issuance under various employee benefit plans. As of December 31, 2014, we had reserved 7,116,171 shares and 763,706 shares of our common stock and Class A common stock, respectively, for future issuance under various employee benefit plans.

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

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

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

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

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

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for our pension plans for the three- month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (in thousands):  

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we did not make a contribution to our pension plans. During the remainder of 2015, we expect to contribute between $2.0 million and $5.3 million to our pension plans.

We recognize compensation expense for stock-based payment awards made to our employees and directors, including stock options and restricted shares under our 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2007 Incentive Plan”) and our Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. The following table provides our stock-based compensation expense and related income tax benefit for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively (in thousands).  

2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan

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

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

Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan

The Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan authorizes the grant of restricted stock awards to our non-employee directors. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we did not grant any restricted stock awards under the Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan.

A summary of restricted common stock activity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows: 

A summary of restricted Class A common stock activity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

A summary of stock option activity related to our common stock for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is as follows: 

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, we did not have any stock options outstanding for our Class A common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of our outstanding stock options was $3.3 million based on the closing market price of our common stock on March 31, 2015.

Acquisition Commitments

As of March 31, 2015, we were party to one acquisition agreement pursuant to which we have committed to pay an aggregate of approximately $17.5 million to complete a pending acquisition of two television stations in the Twin Falls, Idaho, market (the “Twin Falls Acquisition”). On April 23, 2015, we announced that we had entered into an acquisition agreement pursuant to which we have committed to pay approximately $10.25 million to acquire a television station in the Presque Isle, Maine, market (the “Presque Isle Acquisition”). Completion of these acquisitions is subject to various conditions, some of which are outside of our control, including applicable regulatory approvals. No assurances of the timing of such approvals can be provided, although we currently anticipate closing both acquisitions in the third quarter of 2015.

Legal Proceedings and Claims

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

Our intangible assets are primarily comprised of broadcast licenses. There were no triggering events that required a test of impairment of our goodwill or intangible assets during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, our income tax expense and effective income tax rates were as follows (dollars in thousands): 

We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarter is based upon these full year projections, which are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits to adjust our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 41.3% as follows: state income taxes added 4.6%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.6%, a discrete share based compensation adjustment added 1.0% and adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.9%. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 40.2% as follows: state income taxes added 4.4%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.0%, and adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.2%.

On April 23, 2015, we announced that we had entered into an agreement with NEPSK, Inc. to acquire WAGM-TV in Presque Isle, Maine, for $10.25 million in cash. WAGM-TV’s two digital channels are affiliated with the CBS Network and the FOX Network. Also on April 23, 2015 we paid a deposit of $1.0 million into escrow related to this acquisition. We expect to finance the transaction with cash on hand. The transaction is subject to receipt of regulatory and other approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015.

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

Executive Overview

Introduction

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

Overview

We are a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and operates television stations and leading digital assets in markets throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2015, we owned and operated television stations in 44 television markets broadcasting a total of 140 programming streams, including 26 affiliates of the CBS Network (“CBS”), 24 affiliates of the NBC Network (“NBC”), 16 affiliates of the ABC Network (“ABC”) and ten affiliates of the FOX Network (“FOX”).

In addition to our primary broadcast channels we can also broadcast secondary digital channels within a market. Our secondary digital channels are generally affiliated with networks different from those affiliated with our primary broadcast channels, and are operated by us to make better use of our broadcast spectrum by providing supplemental and/or alternative programming in addition to our primary channels. Certain of our secondary digital channels are affiliated with more than one network simultaneously. In addition to affiliations with ABC, CBS and FOX, our secondary channels are affiliated with the following networks: the CW Network or the CW Plus Network, MyNetworkTV, the MeTV Network, This TV Network, Antenna TV, Telemundo, Heroes and Icons, and MOVIES! Network. We also broadcast ten local news/weather channels in certain of our existing markets. Our combined TV station group encompasses markets that comprise approximately 8.0% of total United States television households.

As of the date hereof, we have two pending acquisitions comprised of a total of three television stations broadcasting two CBS programming streams and two FOX streams in two new markets, Twin Falls, Idaho, and Presque Isle, Maine. The purchase prices for these acquisitions will be $17.5 million and $10.25 million, respectively. We anticipate closing both acquisitions in the third quarter of 2015 using cash on hand.

Recent Acquisitions

During 2014 and 2013, we completed a number of acquisitions which are described in detail in our 2014 Form 10-K. In 2014, our acquisitions included: the KNDX Acquisition, the KEVN Acquisition, the WQCW Acquisition, the Hoak Acquisition, the SJL Acquisition, the Parker Acquisition and the Helena Acquisition (collectively, the “2014 Acquisitions”). The 2014 Acquisitions were completed at various times during 2014, and therefore have a significant impact on the comparability of our results of operations for the first quarter of 2015, compared to the first quarter of 2014. The 2014 Acquisitions also had a significant impact on our liquidity and capital resources.

Recent Stock Offering

On March 31, 2015, we completed an underwritten public offering of 13.5 million shares of our common stock pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, at a price to the public of $13.00 per share. The net proceeds of the offering were $167.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts of $7.5 million and expenses of $0.7 million. We have placed the net proceeds from the public offering in our corporate treasury for general corporate purposes, and such proceeds may be used from time to time for, among other things, repayment of outstanding debt, capital expenditures, the financing of possible future business expansions and acquisitions, increasing our working capital and the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead.

Television Industry Background

The Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) grants broadcast licenses to television stations. Historically, there have been a limited number of channels available for broadcasting in any one geographic area.

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

Cyclicality and Seasonality

Broadcast stations like ours rely on advertising revenue and this revenue is sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy. Continuing improvement in general economic conditions resulted in improvements of our non-political advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014.

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

For the three month period ended March 31, 2015, our largest advertising customer category was automotive. For each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we earned approximately 25% of our total broadcast advertising revenue from automotive customers. Our business and operating results could be materially adversely affected if advertising revenue from automotive customers were to decrease significantly. Our business and operating results could also be materially adversely affected if revenue decreased from one or more other significant advertising categories, such as the medical, restaurant, communications, furniture and appliances, entertainment, or financial service industries.

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

Revenue

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

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 (“2015 three-month period”) Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 (“2014 three-month period”)

Revenue. Total revenue increased $42.0 million, or 46%, to $133.3 million in the 2015 three-month period. The 2014 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $32.6 million of our total revenue in the 2015 three-month period. Our total revenue for all of our stations increased primarily due to increases in local advertising revenue and retransmission consent revenue. Local advertising revenue increased $17.3 million, or 34%, to $68.3 million. Our local advertising revenue increased primarily due to increased spending in an improving economy. National advertising revenue increased $4.4 million, or 33%, to $17.8 million in the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period. Local and national advertising revenue in the 2014 three-month period benefited from approximately $3.8 million earned from the broadcast of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games on our then fourteen NBC affiliated stations. There was no corresponding Olympic Games advertising revenue during the 2015 three-month period. Local and national advertising revenue included approximately $1.5 million of revenue from the broadcast of the 2015 Super Bowl on our 24 NBC channels, an increase of approximately $1.3 million compared to the $0.2 million of revenue from the broadcast of the 2014 Super Bowl on our then five FOX channels. Political advertising revenue decreased $1.6 millon, or 58%, to $1.2 million in the 2015 three-month period, due to 2015 being the “off year” of the two year election cycle which resulted in decreased spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups. Retransmission consent revenue increased $20.1 million, or 125%, to $36.3 million due to increased retransmission consent rates.

Our five largest local and national advertising categories on a combined local and national basis by customer type, excluding political advertising, demonstrated the following changes during the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period: automotive decreased 1%; medical decreased 2%; communications decreased 1%; restaurant decreased 3%; and furniture and appliances increased 13%.

Broadcast Expenses. Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and gain or loss on disposal of assets) increased $26.5 million, or 44%, to $86.8 million in the 2015 three-month period due primarily to increases in non-compensation expense of $15.9 million and compensation expense of $10.6 million. The 2014 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $19.8 million of broadcast expense in the 2015 three-month period. Non-compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in network affiliation fees, programming costs, software license fees and consulting fees, and utilities. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in salaries, incentive compensation, and healthcare and pension expenses, offset, in part by decreases in non-cash stock-based compensation expenses. During the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, we recorded broadcast non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Broadcast non-cash stock-based compensation expense decreased primarily due to differences in the timing of grants of restricted common stock to certain of our employees in the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods, and the vesting periods associated with those grants.

Corporate and Administrative Expenses. Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and gain or loss on disposal of assets) increased $0.3 million, or 5%, to $6.8 million, due primarily to increases in compensation expense of $0.5 million and decreases in non-compensation expense of $0.2 million. Compensation expense increased primarily due to increases in bonuses and relocation expense. Non-compensation expense decreased primarily due to decreases in legal and other professional fees associated with the 2014 Acquisitions. During the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, we recorded corporate non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Corporate non-cash stock-based compensation expense decreased primarily due to differences in the timing of grants of restricted Class A common stock and restricted common stock, to certain of our employees and non-employee directors in the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods and the vesting periods associated with those grants.

Depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment totaled $8.8 million and $6.4 million for the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, respectively. Depreciation increased primarily due to the addition of depreciable assets acquired as a part of the 2014 Acquisitions.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $3.3 million, or 21%, to $18.5 million for the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period. This increase was attributable to an increase in the average borrowings outstanding, partially offset by a decrease in our average interest rates. The average interest rate on our total outstanding debt balance was 5.8% and 7.0% during the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, respectively. Our average outstanding debt balance was $1.2 billion and $0.8 billion during the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, respectively.

Income tax expense. We recognized income tax expense of $3.9 million and $0.9 million in the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, respectively. For the 2015 three-month period and the 2014 three-month period, our effective income tax rate was 41.3% and 40.2%, respectively. We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarter is based upon these full year projections which are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the 2015 three-month period, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 41.3% as follows: state income taxes added 4.6%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.6%, a discrete share based compensation adjustment added 1.0% and adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.9%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

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

Our Senior Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a term loan. Excluding accrued interest, the amount outstanding under our Senior Credit Facility as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consisted solely of a term loan balance of $556.4 million. Our maximum borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility is limited by our required compliance with certain restrictive covenants, including a first lien net leverage ratio covenant. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility was $50 million.

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

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

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $7.1 million and $7.4 million, respectively, related to the Senior Credit Facility; and we had a deferred loan cost balance, net of accumulated amortization, of $10.8 million and $11.3 million, respectively, related to our 2020 Notes.

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

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

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

Net cash provided by operating activities was $29.2 million in the 2015 three-month period compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $16.4 million in the 2014 three-month period. The increase of $12.8 million in the 2015 period was the result of a $4.3 million increase in net income and a $9.3 million increase in non-cash expenses, primarily depreciation, amortization of intangible assets and deferred taxes, partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in cash from working capital accounts, each primarily due to the impact of the 2014 Acquisitions.

Net cash used in investing activities was $2.9 million in the 2015 three-month period compared to net cash used in investing activities of $2.7 million for the 2014 three-month period. The increase in cash used in investing activities was largely due to normal purchases of property and equipment at a greater number of stations in the 2015 three-month period compared to the 2014 three-month period.

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $167.5 million in the 2015 three-month period compared to net cash used in financing activities of $0.2 million in the 2014 three-month period. Cash provided by financing activities increased primarily due to our March 31, 2015 completion of an underwritten public offering of 13.5 million shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share. The net proceeds of the offering were $167.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts of $7.5 million, and expenses of $0.7 million.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2015, we have no required debt principal payments due over the next twelve months. We estimate that we will make approximately $71.8 million in debt interest payments over the twelve months immediately following March 31, 2015. Excluding our pending acquisitions, our capital expenditures may increase to between $20.0 million and $25.0 million during the twelve months immediately following March 31, 2015. We also estimate that we will be required to pay approximately $25.0 million to complete our pending acquisitions. These acquisitions are subject to a number of conditions, including regulatory approvals, some of which may be out of our control. No assurances of the timing of the satisfaction of these conditions can be provided. Although our cash flows from operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, we anticipate that our cash on hand, future cash expected to be generated from operations, borrowings from time to time under the Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility as may be in place at the appropriate time) and, potentially, external equity or debt financing, will be sufficient to fund any debt service obligations, estimated capital expenditures and acquisition-related obligations. Any potential equity or debt financing would depend upon, among other things, the costs and availability of such financing at the appropriate time. We also presently believe that our future cash expected to be generated from operations and borrowing availability under the Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility) will be sufficient to fund our future capital expenditures and long-term debt service obligations until at least June 13, 2021, which is the maturity date of the term loan under the Senior Credit Facility.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures in the 2015 and 2014 three-month periods were $2.8 million and $3.8 million, respectively. We anticipate that our capital expenditures for the remainder of 2015 will range between approximately $20.0 million and $25.0 million.

Acquisition Commitments

As of March 31, 2015, we were party to an acquisition agreement pursuant to which we have committed to pay an aggregate of approximately $17.5 million to acquire two television stations in the Twin Falls, Idaho, market (the “Twin Falls Acquisition”). On April 23, 2015, we announced that we had entered into an acquisition agreement pursuant to which we have committed to pay an aggregate of approximately $10.25 million to acquire a television station in the Presque Isle, Maine, market (the “Presque Isle Acquisition”). Completion of these acquisitions is subject to various conditions, including regulatory approvals, some of which may be outside of our control. No assurances of the timing of such approvals can be provided, although we expect to close both acquisitions in the third quarter of 2015. During the three month period ended March 31, 2015, we paid a deposit of $1.75 million towards the total purchase price for the Twin Falls Acquisition.

Other

We file a consolidated federal income tax return and such state or local tax returns as are required. Although we may earn taxable operating income in future years, as of March 31, 2015, we anticipate that through the use of our available loss carryforwards we will not pay significant amounts of federal or state income taxes prior to 2017.

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

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we did not make a contribution to our pension plans. During the remainder of 2015, we expect to contribute between $2.0 million and $5.3 million to our pension plans.

Critical Accounting Policies

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

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

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

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

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 identified in connection with this evaluation that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

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

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report:

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.

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