NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC. - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

OR

For the transition period from                     to                     .

Commission File Number: 000-50478

NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(972) 373-8800

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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 it 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 Web site, 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, 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.

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   ☒

As of November 6, 2017, the registrant had 45,566,127 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share information, unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share information, unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

(in thousands, except share information, unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands, unaudited)

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  Organization and Business Operations

As of September 30, 2017, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“Nexstar”) owned, operated, programmed or provided sales and other services to 170 full power television stations, including those owned by variable interest entities (“VIEs”), in 100 markets in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The stations are affiliates of ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and other broadcast television networks. Through various local service agreements, Nexstar provided sales, programming, and other services to 36 full power television stations owned and/or operated by independent third parties.

On January 17, 2017, Nexstar completed its merger (the “Merger”) with Media General, Inc., a Virginia corporation (“Media General”), whereby Nexstar acquired the latter’s outstanding equity in exchange for cash and stock, plus additional consideration in the form of a non-tradeable contingent value right (“CVR”). As a result of the Merger, Nexstar acquired 71 full power stations (net of seven stations divested) in 42 markets. See Note 3 for additional information.

2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Nexstar and the accounts of independently-owned VIEs for which Nexstar is the primary beneficiary (See Note 2—Variable Interest Entities). Nexstar and the consolidated VIEs are collectively referred to as the “Company.” Noncontrolling interests represent the VIE owners’ share of the equity in the consolidated VIEs and are presented as a component separate from Nexstar Media Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Nexstar management evaluates each arrangement that may include variable interests and determines the need to consolidate an entity where it determines Nexstar is the primary beneficiary of a VIE in accordance with related authoritative literature and interpretive guidance.

Effective January 17, 2017, Nexstar assumed local service agreements to provide sales, programming and other services to stations owned by VIEs with whom Media General had agreements. Nexstar became the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and consolidated these entities as of this date. On August 2, 2016, Nexstar became the primary beneficiary of certain stations owned by West Virginia Media Holdings, LLC (“WVMH”) which were consolidated into Nexstar’s financial statements as of this date. Nexstar completed the acquisition of these stations on January 31, 2017 and they are no longer VIEs. See Note 2—Variable Interest Entities for additional information on these transactions.

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The following are assets of consolidated VIEs that are not available to settle the obligations of Nexstar and the liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which their creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Nexstar (in thousands):

Liquidity

Nexstar is highly leveraged, which makes it vulnerable to changes in general economic conditions. Nexstar’s ability to repay or refinance its debt will depend on, among other things, financial, business, market, competitive and other conditions, many of which are beyond Nexstar’s control.

Interim Financial Statements

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2017 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of the financial information included herein in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Nexstar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. The balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

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Variable Interest Entities

The Company may determine that an entity is a VIE as a result of local service agreements entered into with an entity. The term local service agreement generally refers to a contract between two separately owned television stations serving the same market, whereby the owner-operator of one station contracts with the owner-operator of the other station to provide it with administrative, sales and other services required for the operation of its station. Nevertheless, the owner-operator of each station retains control and responsibility for the operation of its station, including ultimate responsibility over all programming broadcast on its station. A local service agreement can be (1) a time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) or a local marketing agreement (“LMA”) which allows Nexstar to program most of a station’s broadcast time, sell the station’s advertising time and retain the advertising revenue generated in exchange for monthly payments, based on the station’s monthly operating expenses, (2) a shared services agreement (“SSA”) which allows the Nexstar station in the market to provide services including news production, technical maintenance and security, in exchange for Nexstar’s right to receive certain payments as described in the SSA, or (3) a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) which permits Nexstar to sell certain of the station’s advertising time and retain a percentage of the related revenue, as described in the JSA.

Consolidated VIEs

Mission Broadcasting, Inc. (“Mission”), Marshall Broadcasting Group, Inc. (“Marshall”) and White Knight Broadcasting (“White Knight”) are consolidated by Nexstar because Nexstar is deemed under U.S. GAAP to have controlling financial interests in these entities for financial reporting purposes as a result of (1) local service agreements Nexstar has with the stations owned by these entities, (2) Nexstar’s guarantees of the obligations incurred under Mission’s and Marshall’s senior secured credit facilities (see Note 7), (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting these entities’ economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, certain advertising sales and, for Mission and White Knight, hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Mission and White Knight which permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission and White Knight station, subject to Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) consent.

In connection with Nexstar’s Merger with Media General consummated on January 17, 2017, Nexstar began to provide sales, programming and other services to stations owned by VIEs with whom Media General had agreements. These VIEs are Shield Media, LLC (“Shield”), Vaughan Media, LLC (“Vaughan”), Tamer Media, LLC (“Tamer”) and Super Towers, Inc. (“Super Towers”). Nexstar became the primary beneficiary of these VIEs as of the closing date of the Merger because of (1) the local service agreements Nexstar assumed with these VIEs’ stations, (2) Nexstar’s guarantee of the outstanding obligations under Shield’s senior secured credit facility (Note 7), (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting these entities’ economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, advertising sales and hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Shield, Vaughan, Tamer and Super Towers that permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each of these VIEs’ stations at any time, subject to FCC consent. Therefore, the financial results and financial position of these entities have been consolidated by Nexstar in accordance with the VIE accounting guidance as of January 17, 2017.

Nexstar had variable interests in the stations previously owned by WVMH as a result of TBAs effective December 1, 2015 and an agreement to acquire the assets of these stations dated November 16, 2015. On August 2, 2016, Nexstar received approval from the FCC to acquire these stations. Nexstar re-evaluated the business arrangements with these stations as of this date and determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because it had the ultimate power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the stations, including developing the annual operating budget, programming and oversight and control of sales management personnel. Therefore, Nexstar consolidated the WVMH stations as of August 2, 2016. The final closing of this acquisition was completed on January 31, 2017. Thus, Nexstar no longer has variable interests in these stations. See Note 3 for additional information.

Nexstar had a variable interest in Parker Broadcasting of Colorado, LLC (“Parker”), the owner of station KFQX, pursuant to a TBA which Nexstar assumed effective June 13, 2014. Nexstar evaluated the business arrangement with Parker as of this date and determined that it was the primary beneficiary of the variable interest because it had the ultimate power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the station, including developing the annual operating budget, programming and oversight and control of sales management personnel. Therefore, Nexstar consolidated Parker as of June 13, 2014. On March 31, 2017, Mission acquired the outstanding equity of Parker and effectively acquired Parker’s TBA with Nexstar. Thus, Nexstar no longer has a variable interest in Parker and deconsolidated its accounts. However, since Nexstar is the primary beneficiary of variable interests in Mission, it retained a beneficial financial interest in KFQX and, therefore, continued to consolidate this station. See Note 3 for additional information.

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The following table summarizes the various local service agreements Nexstar had in effect as of September 30, 2017 with Mission, Marshall, White Knight, Shield, Vaughan, Tamer and Super Towers:

Nexstar’s ability to receive cash from Mission, Marshall, White Knight, Shield, Vaughan, Tamer and Super Towers is governed by the local service agreements. Under these agreements, Nexstar has received substantially all of the consolidated VIEs’ available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. Nexstar anticipates it will continue to receive substantially all of the consolidated VIEs’ available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. In compliance with FCC regulations for all the parties, Mission, Marshall, White Knight, Shield, Vaughan, Tamer and Super Towers maintain complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances, personnel and operations of their stations.

The carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs which have been included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in thousands):

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Non-Consolidated VIEs

Nexstar has an outsourcing agreement with Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (“Cunningham”), which continues through December 31, 2017. Under the outsourcing agreement, Nexstar provides certain engineering, production, sales and administrative services for WYZZ, the FOX affiliate in the Peoria, Illinois market, through WMBD, the Nexstar television station in that market. During the term of the outsourcing agreement, Nexstar retains the broadcasting revenue and related expenses of WYZZ and is obligated to pay a monthly fee based on the combined operating cash flow of WMBD and WYZZ, as defined in the agreement.

Nexstar has determined that it has a variable interest in WYZZ. Nexstar has evaluated its arrangements with Cunningham and has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the variable interest in this station because it does not have the ultimate power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the station’s economic performance, including developing the annual operating budget, programming and oversight and control of sales management personnel. Therefore, Nexstar has not consolidated WYZZ under authoritative guidance related to the consolidation of VIEs. Under the local service agreement for WYZZ, Nexstar pays for certain operating expenses, and therefore may have unlimited exposure to any potential operating losses. Nexstar’s management believes that Nexstar’s minimum exposure to loss under the WYZZ agreement consists of the fees paid to Cunningham. Additionally, Nexstar indemnifies the owners of Cunningham from and against all liability and claims arising out of or resulting from its activities, acts or omissions in connection with the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments Nexstar could be required to make for such indemnification is undeterminable at this time. There were no significant transactions arising from Nexstar’s outsourcing agreement with Cunningham.

Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, broadcast rights, accounts payable, broadcast rights payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

See Note 3 for fair value disclosures of spectrum asset, contingent consideration liability (CVR) and liability to surrender spectrum in connection with Nexstar’s merger with Media General. See Note 7 for fair value disclosures related to the Company’s debt.

Pension plans and postretirement benefits

A determination of the liabilities and cost of the Company’s pension and other postretirement plans requires the use of assumptions. The actuarial assumptions used in the Company’s pension and postretirement reporting are reviewed annually with independent actuaries and are compared with external benchmarks, historical trends and the Company’s own experience to determine that its assumptions are reasonable. The assumptions used in developing the required estimates include the following key factors: discount rates, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates, health care cost trends, retirement rates and expected contributions. The amount by which the projected benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of the pension plan assets is recorded in other noncurrent liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Income Per Share

Basic income per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to Nexstar by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares are calculated using the treasury stock method. They consist of stock options and restricted stock units outstanding during the period and reflect the potential dilution that could occur if common stock were issued upon exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units. The following table shows the amounts used in computing the Company’s diluted shares (in thousands):

Stock options and restricted stock units to acquire a weighted average of 20,000 shares and 224,000 shares for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 199,000 shares and 468,000 shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, of Class A common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share, because their impact would have been anti-dilutive.

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Basis of Presentation

Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or stockholders’ equity as previously reported.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which updates the accounting guidance on revenue recognition. This standard is intended to provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues, improve comparability of revenue recognition practices, and improve disclosure requirements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations to clarify the implementation of guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies the implementation guidance in identifying performance obligations in a contract and determining whether an entity’s promise to grant a license provides a customer with either a right to use the entity’s intellectual property (which is satisfied at a point in time) or a right to access the entity’s intellectual property (which is satisfied over time). In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. This update amends the guidance in the new revenue standard on collectability, noncash consideration, presentation of sales tax, and transition and is intended to address implementation issues that were raised by stakeholders and provide additional practical expedients. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which makes minor corrections or minor improvements that are not expected to have a significant effect on current accounting practice or create a significant administrative cost to most entities. In September 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-13, Revenue recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840) and Leases (Topic 842), which allows certain public entities to use the private company effective dates for adoption of ASC 606 and supersedes certain SEC paragraphs in the Codification. The amendments are intended to address implementation issues that were raised by stakeholders and provide additional practical expedients to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the new revenue standard.

The above updates are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will adopt these updates effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective approach. Based on our evaluation performed to date, we believe that approximately 90% of the reported gross revenue in 2016 will not be materially impacted by the new guidance. Our television spot advertising contracts, which comprise approximately 60% of the reported gross revenue in 2016, are short-term in nature. We expect revenue will continue to be recognized when commercials are aired. We also expect that revenue earned under retransmission agreements will be recognized under the licensing of intellectual property guidance in the standard, which will not have a material change to our current revenue recognition. This revenue source comprised approximately 30% of the 2016 reported gross revenue. The Company is in the process of finalizing its evaluation of online digital and other revenue sources.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02). The new guidance requires the recording of assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet accompanied by enhanced qualitative and quantitative disclosures in the notes to the financial statements.  The new guidance is expected to provide transparency of information and comparability among organizations. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of the accounting standard update.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2016-09). The standard is intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements, including the income tax impact, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company has applied the change in accounting as of January 1, 2017 and excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to stock-based compensation are now recognized within income tax expense. Additionally, excess tax benefits are now classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. As such, the amounts previously reported as cash flows from operating activities were increased by $13.4 million and the amount previously reported as cash flows from financing activities were decreased by $13.4 million in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The change in accounting principle did not impact the Company’s stockholders’ equity.

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In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (ASU 2016-16). The amendments of ASU 2016-16 were issued to improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The current guidance prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party which has resulted in diversity in practice and increased complexity within financial reporting. The amendments of ASU 2016-16 would require an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs and do not require new disclosure requirements. The amendments of ASU 2016-16 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has applied the change in accounting as of January 1, 2017 using the modified retrospective approach. This adoption impacted Nexstar’s previous treatment of tax gain on the sale of WTVW to Mission in 2011. As such, the amounts previously reported as other noncurrent assets, deferred tax liabilities and accumulated deficit in the condensed consolidated balance sheet were decreased by $1.3 million, $2.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (ASU 2016-18), which provides guidance on the presentation of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for public business entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these updates on its financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01). ASU 2017-01 provides clarification on the definition of a business and adds guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. To be considered a business under the new guidance, it must include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. The amendment removes the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and will be applied prospectively. The potential impact of this new guidance will be assessed for future acquisitions or dispositions, but it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04). The standard removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a company to perform procedures to determine the fair value of a reporting unit's assets and liabilities following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, a goodwill impairment charge will now be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. ASU No. 2017-04 will be effective for fiscal years beginning on January 1, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and early adoption as of January 1, 2017 is permitted. The new guidance is required to be applied on a prospective basis and as such, the Company will use the simplified test in its annual fourth quarter 2017 testing. The new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07). ASU 2017-07 requires entities to (1) disaggregate the current-service-cost component from the other components of net benefit cost (the “other components”) and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement and (2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. In addition, ASU 2017-07 requires entities to disclose the income statement lines that contain the other components if they are not presented on appropriately described separate lines. The amendment should be applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component. ASU 2017-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted at the beginning of any annual period for which an entity’s financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this accounting standard update.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) – Scope of Modification Accounting (ASU 2017-09).  ASU 2017-09 clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. The new guidance will reduce diversity in practice and result in fewer changes to the terms of an award being accounted for as modifications. Under ASU 2017-09, an entity will not apply modification accounting to a share-based payment award if the award’s fair value, vesting conditions and classification as an equity or liability instrument are the same immediately before and after the change. ASU 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. ASU 2017-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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3.  Acquisitions and Dispositions

Merger with Media General

On January 17, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), Nexstar completed its previously announced Merger with Media General. Prior to the completion of the Merger, Media General owned, operated or serviced 78 full power television stations in 48 markets. In connection with the Merger, Nexstar sold the assets of seven of Media General’s full power television stations in seven markets. The full power television stations acquired and/or consolidated by Nexstar as a result of the Merger, net of divestitures, are as follows:

As discussed in Note 2, Nexstar is the primary beneficiary of its variable interests in Shield, Tamer, Vaughan and Super Towers and has consolidated these entities, including the stations they own.

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Upon the completion of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of common stock, no par value, of Media General (“Media General Common Stock”) immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, other than shares or other securities representing capital stock in Media General owned, directly or indirectly, by Nexstar or any subsidiary of Media General, was converted into the right to receive (i) $10.55 in cash, without interest (the “Cash Consideration”), (ii) 0.1249 of a share of Nexstar’s Class A Common Stock (the “Nexstar Common Stock”), par value $0.01 per share (the “Stock Consideration”), and (iii) one non-tradeable CVR representing the right to receive a pro rata share of the net proceeds from the disposition of Media General’s spectrum in the FCC’s recently concluded spectrum auction (the “FCC auction”), subject to and in accordance with the contingent value rights agreement governing the CVRs (the CVR, together with the Stock Consideration and the Cash Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”). The CVRs are not transferable, except in limited circumstances specified in the agreement governing the CVRs.

Upon the completion of the Merger, each unvested Media General stock option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time became fully vested and was converted into an option to purchase Nexstar Common Stock at the same aggregate price as provided in the underlying Media General stock option, with the number of shares of Nexstar Common Stock adjusted to account for the Cash Consideration and the exchange ratio for the Stock Consideration. Additionally, the holders of Media General stock options received one CVR for each share subject to the Media General stock option immediately prior to the Effective Time. All other equity-based awards of Media General outstanding immediately prior to the Merger vested in full and were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

The following table summarizes the components of the total consideration paid, payable or issued on the Closing Date in connection with the Merger (in thousands):

Concurrent with the closing of the Merger, Nexstar sold the assets of 12 full power television stations in 12 markets, five of which were previously owned by Nexstar and seven of which were previously owned by Media General. Nexstar sold the Media General stations for a total consideration of $427.6 million and recognized a loss on disposal of $4.7 million (the “Media General Divestitures”). Nexstar sold its stations for $114.4 million and recognized gain on disposal of $62.4 million (the “Nexstar Divestitures”). The gain and loss recognized from these divestitures were included as a separate line item in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.