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Sinclair Broadcast Group, LLC - Quarter Report: 2012 March (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from                      to                       .

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-26076

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Maryland

 

52-1494660

(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)

 

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

 

10706 Beaver Dam Road

Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030

(Address of principal executive office, zip code)

 

(410) 568-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate 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 file). Yes x No o

 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

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

 

Indicate the number of share outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

 

Title of each class

 

Number of shares outstanding as of
May 3, 2012

 

Class A Common Stock

 

52,255,511

 

Class B Common Stock

 

28,933,859

 

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2012

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

 

 

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

3

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

4

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

5

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

6

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

7

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

8

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

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

23

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

30

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

30

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

32

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

32

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

32

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

32

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

32

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

32

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

32

 

 

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

33

 

 

SIGNATURE

34

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

35

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2012

 

As of December 31,
2011

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

26,802

 

$

12,967

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,805 and $3,008, respectively

 

136,242

 

132,915

 

Affiliate receivable

 

835

 

252

 

Income taxes receivable

 

 

225

 

Current portion of program contract costs

 

32,452

 

38,906

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

18,757

 

17,274

 

Deferred barter costs

 

2,661

 

2,238

 

Deferred tax assets

 

4,515

 

4,940

 

Total current assets

 

222,264

 

209,717

 

PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion

 

13,471

 

15,584

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

314,434

 

281,521

 

RESTRICTED CASH

 

38,729

 

58,726

 

GOODWILL

 

728,306

 

660,117

 

BROADCAST LICENSES

 

58,142

 

47,002

 

DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

 

266,695

 

175,341

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

129,204

 

123,409

 

Total assets (a)

 

$

1,771,245

 

$

1,571,417

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

4,941

 

$

8,872

 

Accrued liabilities

 

101,739

 

79,698

 

Income taxes payable

 

10,016

 

 

Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing

 

36,237

 

38,195

 

Current portion of notes and capital leases payable to affiliates

 

3,105

 

3,014

 

Current portion of program contracts payable

 

59,713

 

63,825

 

Deferred barter revenues

 

2,652

 

1,978

 

Total current liabilities

 

218,403

 

195,582

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion

 

1,312,127

 

1,148,271

 

Notes payable and capital leases to affiliates, less current portion

 

15,729

 

16,545

 

Program contracts payable, less current portion

 

23,753

 

27,625

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

241,620

 

247,552

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

46,824

 

47,204

 

Total liabilities (a)

 

1,858,456

 

1,682,779

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 3)

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY (DEFICIT):

 

 

 

 

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT):

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 52,239,805 and 52,022,086 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

 

522

 

520

 

Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized, 28,933,859 and 28,933,859 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, convertible into Class A Common Stock

 

289

 

289

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

620,855

 

617,375

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(714,740

)

(734,511

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(4,744

)

(4,848

)

Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ deficit

 

(97,818

)

(121,175

)

Noncontrolling interests

 

10,607

 

9,813

 

Total deficit

 

(87,211

)

(111,362

)

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)

 

$

1,771,245

 

$

1,571,417

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 


(a)          Our consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include total assets of variable interest entities (VIEs) of $44.0 million and $33.5 million, respectively, which can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIEs.  Our consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include total liabilities of the VIEs of $13.5 million and $14.4 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to us.  See Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

Station broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions

 

$

192,204

 

$

155,961

 

Revenues realized from station barter arrangements

 

17,684

 

17,222

 

Other operating divisions revenues

 

13,948

 

9,426

 

Total revenues

 

223,836

 

182,609

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Station production expenses

 

60,203

 

42,345

 

Station selling, general and administrative expenses

 

36,129

 

30,562

 

Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements

 

16,257

 

15,727

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

14,280

 

12,618

 

Other operating divisions expenses

 

12,290

 

7,963

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

9,489

 

8,060

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

9,367

 

8,664

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets

 

5,899

 

4,796

 

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

 

398

 

Total operating expenses

 

163,914

 

131,133

 

Operating income

 

59,922

 

51,476

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs

 

(27,387

)

(29,167

)

Loss from extinguishment of debt

 

(335

)

(924

)

Income from equity and cost method investments

 

1,276

 

11

 

Gain on insurance settlement

 

19

 

1,723

 

Other income, net

 

452

 

365

 

Total other expense

 

(25,975

)

(27,992

)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

33,947

 

23,484

 

INCOME TAX PROVISION

 

(4,806

)

(8,250

)

Income from continuing operations

 

29,141

 

15,234

 

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, includes income tax provision of $67 and $107, respectively

 

(67

)

(107

)

NET INCOME

 

29,074

 

15,127

 

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

285

 

152

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP

 

$

29,359

 

$

15,279

 

Dividends declared per share

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share from continuing operations

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.19

 

Earnings per share

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.19

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

80,852

 

80,367

 

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

81,127

 

80,690

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

$

29,426

 

$

15,386

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(67

)

(107

)

Net income

 

$

29,359

 

$

15,279

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

4



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SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

29,074

 

$

15,127

 

Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs, net of taxes

 

104

 

41

 

Comprehensive income

 

29,178

 

15,168

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

285

 

152

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

29,463

 

$

15,320

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2012

(In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair Broadcast Group Shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A
Common Stock

 

Class B
Common Stock

 

Additional
Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

 

Noncontrolling

 

Total Equity

 

 

 

Shares

 

Values

 

Shares

 

Values

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Loss

 

Interests

 

(Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, December 31, 2011

 

52,022,086

 

$

520

 

28,933,859

 

$

289

 

$

617,375

 

$

(734,511

)

$

(4,848

)

$

9,813

 

$

(111,362

)

Dividends declared on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,588

)

 

 

(9,588

)

Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans

 

217,719

 

2

 

 

 

3,289

 

 

 

 

3,291

 

Tax benefit on share based awards

 

 

 

 

 

191

 

 

 

 

191

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(88

)

(88

)

Issuance of subsidiary share awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

392

 

392

 

Consolidation of variable interest entity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

775

 

775

 

Amortization of net periodic pension benefit costs, net of taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

104

 

 

104

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,359

 

 

(285

)

29,074

 

BALANCE, March 31, 2012

 

52,239,805

 

$

522

 

28,933,859

 

$

289

 

$

620,855

 

$

(714,740

)

$

(4,744

)

$

10,607

 

$

(87,211

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

29,074

 

$

15,127

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

9,630

 

8,125

 

Recognition of deferred revenue

 

(4,788

)

(3,728

)

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

 

398

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible and other assets

 

5,899

 

4,797

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

14,280

 

12,618

 

Deferred tax (benefit) provision

 

(5,984

)

5,918

 

Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in accounts receivable, net

 

8,370

 

7,579

 

Decrease in income taxes receivable

 

225

 

 

Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(9,153

)

(139

)

Decrease (increase) in other assets

 

395

 

(531

)

Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

21,135

 

17,358

 

Increase in income taxes payable

 

10,016

 

2,218

 

(Decrease) increase in other long-term liabilities

 

(88

)

40

 

Payments on program contracts payable

 

(16,620

)

(18,771

)

Other, net

 

5,092

 

3,948

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

67,483

 

54,957

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

(6,736

)

(6,085

)

Payments for acquisitions of television stations

 

(205,622

)

 

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

(3,035

)

(1,755

)

Decrease in restricted cash

 

20,000

 

5,058

 

Distributions from equity and cost method investees

 

 

832

 

Investments in equity and cost method investees

 

(5,503

)

(8,064

)

Proceeds from the sale of assets

 

 

26

 

Proceeds from insurance settlement

 

19

 

1,736

 

Loans to affiliates

 

(500

)

(61

)

Proceeds from loans to affiliates

 

417

 

89

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

 

(200,960

)

(8,224

)

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

184,482

 

128,333

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(23,529

)

(61,714

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options, including excess tax benefits of share based payments of $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively

 

279

 

1,737

 

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

(9,588

)

(9,591

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

(3,519

)

(4,282

)

Proceeds from Class A Common Stock sold by variable interest entity

 

 

1,808

 

Noncontrolling interests distributions

 

(88

)

(39

)

Repayments of notes and capital leases to affiliates

 

(725

)

(852

)

Net cash flows from financing activities

 

147,312

 

55,400

 

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

13,835

 

102,133

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 

12,967

 

21,974

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

 

$

26,802

 

$

124,107

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.              SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary.  Noncontrolling interests represents a minority owner’s proportionate share of the equity in certain of our consolidated entities.  All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Interim Financial Statements

 

The consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, such financial statements have been presented on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows for these periods as adjusted for the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements discussed below.

 

As permitted under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures normally included with audited consolidated financial statements and, accordingly, should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the SEC.  The consolidated statements of operations presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily representative of operations for an entire year.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE.  We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary.  The assets of our consolidated VIEs can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE.  All the liabilities, including debt held by our VIEs, are non-recourse to us.  However, our senior secured credit facility (Bank Credit Agreement) contains cross-default provisions with the VIE debt of Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham).  See Note 6, Related Person Transactions for more information.

 

We have entered into Local Marketing Agreements (LMAs) to provide programming, sales and managerial services for television stations of Cunningham, the license owner of seven television stations as of March 31, 2012.  We pay LMA fees to Cunningham and also reimburse all operating expenses.  We also have an acquisition agreement in which we have a purchase option to buy the license assets of the television stations which includes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license and certain other assets used to operate the station (License Assets).  Our applications to acquire the FCC licenses are pending approval.  We own the majority of the non-license assets of the Cunningham stations and our Bank Credit Agreement contain certain cross-default provisions with Cunningham whereby a default by Cunningham caused by insolvency would cause an event of default under our Bank Credit Agreement.  We have determined that the Cunningham stations are VIEs and that based on the terms of the agreements, the significance of our investment in the stations and the cross-default provisions with our Bank Credit Agreement, we are the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because we have the power to direct the activities which significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE through the sales and managerial services we provide and we absorb losses and returns that would be considered significant to Cunningham.  See Note 6, Related Person Transactions for more information on our arrangements with Cunningham.  Included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are net revenues of $23.3 million, respectively, that relate to LMAs with Cunningham.

 

We have outsourcing agreements with certain other license owners, under which we provide certain non-programming related sales, operational and administrative services.  We pay a fee to the license owners based on a percentage of broadcast cash flow and we reimburse all operating expenses.  We also have a purchase option to buy the License Assets.  For the same reasons noted above regarding the LMAs with Cunningham, we have determined that the outsourced license station assets are VIEs and we are the primary beneficiary.  Included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are net revenues of $3.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively, that relate to these arrangements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

As of the dates indicated, the carrying amounts and classification of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs mentioned above which have been included in our consolidated balance sheets for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31,
2012

 

As of December 31,
2011

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,867

 

$

2,739

 

Accounts receivable

 

6

 

 

Income taxes receivable

 

86

 

142

 

Current portion of program contract costs

 

380

 

413

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

118

 

99

 

Total current asset

 

3,457

 

3,393

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRAM CONTRACT COSTS, less current portion

 

1,564

 

271

 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

6,502

 

6,658

 

GOODWILL

 

6,357

 

6,357

 

BROADCAST LICENSES

 

4,691

 

4,208

 

DEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

 

8,136

 

6,601

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

13,243

 

5,980

 

Total assets

 

$

43,950

 

$

33,468

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

15

 

$

37

 

Accrued liabilities

 

204

 

315

 

Current portion of notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing

 

8,337

 

11,074

 

Current portion of program contracts payable

 

339

 

373

 

Total current liabilities

 

8,895

 

11,799

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, less current portion

 

2,381

 

2,411

 

Program contracts payable, less current portion

 

2,199

 

173

 

Total liabilities

 

$

13,475

 

$

14,383

 

 

The amounts above represent the consolidated assets and liabilities of the VIEs related to our LMAs with Cunningham and outsourcing agreements, for which we are the primary beneficiary, and have been aggregated as they all relate to our broadcast business.  Excluded from the amounts above are payments made to Cunningham under the LMA which are treated as a prepayment of the purchase price of the stations and capital leases between us and Cunningham which are eliminated in consolidation.  The total payment made under these LMAs as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which are excluded from liabilities above, were $25.4 million and $22.7 million, respectively.  The total capital lease assets excluded from above for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and the year ended December 31, 2011 were $11.8 million, respectively.  The risk and reward characteristics of the VIEs are similar.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2011, we began providing sales, programming and management services to the eight stations owned by Freedom Communications (Freedom) pursuant to an LMA.  We have determined that the Freedom stations are VIEs based on the terms of the agreements.  We are not the primary beneficiary because the owner of the stations has the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs.  In the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are net revenues of $10.0 million and station production expenses of $7.8 million related to the Freedom LMAs.  Effective April 1, 2012, we completed the acquisition of these stations and the LMA was terminated.

 

We have investments in other real estate ventures and investment companies which are considered VIEs.  However, we do not participate in the management of these entities including the day-to-day operating decisions or other decisions which would allow us to control the entity, and therefore, we are not considered the primary beneficiary of these VIEs.  We account for these entities using the equity or cost method of accounting.

 

The carrying amounts of our investments in these VIEs for which we are not the primary beneficiary for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012

 

As of December  31, 2011

 

 

 

Carrying
amount

 

Maximum
exposure

 

Carrying
amount

 

Maximum
exposure

 

Investments in real estate ventures

 

$

14,060

 

$

14,060

 

$

8,009

 

$

8,009

 

Investments in investment companies

 

26,193

 

26,193

 

26,276

 

26,276

 

Total

 

$

40,253

 

$

40,253

 

$

34,285

 

$

34,285

 

 

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The carrying amounts above are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.  The income and loss related to these investments are recorded in income from equity and cost method investments in the consolidated statement of operations.  We recorded income of $1.4 million and less than $0.1 million in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Our maximum exposure is equal to the carrying value of our investments.  Our unfunded commitments related to private equity investment funds totaled $10.9 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued new guidance for fair value measurements.  The purpose of the new guidance is to have a consistent definition of fair value between U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  Many of the amendments to GAAP are not expected to have a significant impact on practice; however, the new guidance does require new and enhanced disclosure about fair value measurements.  The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively.  This guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements but we have included the additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures required for our Level 3 fair value measurements beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and in the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Upon entering into definitive agreements to purchase assets of Four Points Media Group LLC (Four Points) and Freedom in September 2011 and November 2011, respectively, we were required to deposit 10% of the purchase price for each acquisition into an escrow account.  Effective January 1, 2012, we closed the asset acquisition of Four Points for $200.0 million and used $20.0 million of restricted cash towards the asset acquisition.  As of March 31, 2012, $38.5 million of restricted cash classified as noncurrent relates to the amount held in escrow for the acquisition of Freedom, which closed effective April 1, 2012.

 

Additionally, under the terms of certain lease agreements, as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we were required to hold $0.2 million of restricted cash related to the removal of analog equipment from some of our leased towers.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Total revenues include: (i) cash and barter advertising revenues, net of agency commissions; (ii) retransmission consent fees; (iii) network compensation; (iv) other broadcast revenues and (v) revenues from our other operating divisions.

 

Advertising revenues, net of agency commissions, are recognized in the period during which time spots are aired.

 

Our retransmission consent agreements contain both advertising and retransmission consent elements.  We have determined that our retransmission consent agreements are revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables.  Advertising and retransmission consent deliverables sold under our agreements are separated into different units of accounting at fair value.   Revenue applicable to the advertising element of the arrangement is recognized similar to the advertising revenue policy noted above.  Revenue applicable to the retransmission consent element of the arrangement is recognized over the life of the agreement.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our income tax provision for all periods consists of federal and state income taxes.  The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is based on the estimated effective tax rate applicable for the full year after taking into account discrete tax items and the effects of the noncontrolling interests.

 

Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2011 approximated the statutory rate. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was lower than the statutory rate primarily due to a release of $7.7 million of valuation allowance related to certain deferred tax assets of Cunningham, one of our consolidated VIEs, as the weight of all available evidence now supports full realization of those deferred tax assets.

 

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Reclassifications

 

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

 

2.              ACQUISITIONS

 

Four Points

 

Effective January 1, 2012, we completed the previously announced acquisition of the broadcast assets of Four Points Media Group LLC (Four Points), which we had previously operated pursuant to a LMA since October 1, 2011.  The acquired assets consist of the following seven stations in four markets along with the respective network affiliation or program service arrangements: KUTV (CBS) and KMYU (MNT / This TV) in Salt Lake City / St. George, UT; KEYE (CBS) in Austin, TX; WTVX (CW), WTCN (MNT) and WWHB (Azteca) in West Palm Beach / Fort Pierce / Stuart, FL; and WLWC (CW) in Providence, RI / New Bedford, MA.  The Four Points acquisition will extend our national reach.

 

We paid Four Points $200.0 million in cash, less a working capital adjustment of $0.9 million.  The acquisition was financed with a $180.0 million draw under a recently raised incremental Term B Loan commitment under our amended Bank Credit Agreement plus a $20 million cash escrow previously paid.

 

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the results of the acquired operations are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company beginning January 1, 2012.  The initial purchase price has been allocated to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on estimated fair values.  The purchase price allocation is preliminary pending a final determination of the fair values of the assets and liabilities.  The initial allocated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

$

320

 

Program contract costs

 

4,118

 

Property and equipment

 

34,513

 

Broadcast licenses

 

10,658

 

Definite-lived intangible assets

 

90,099

 

Other assets

 

548

 

Accrued liabilities

 

(524

)

Program contracts payable

 

(5,524

)

Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired

 

134,208

 

Goodwill

 

64,868

 

Total

 

$

199,076

 

 

The preliminary allocation presented above is based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches.  In estimating the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair value estimates are based on, but not limited to, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates, and estimated discount rates.  The amount allocated to definite-lived intangible assets represents the estimated fair values of network affiliations of $66.9 million, the decaying advertiser base of $9.4 million, and other intangible assets of $13.8 million.  These intangible assets will be amortized over the estimated remaining useful lives of 15 years for network affiliations, 10 years for the decaying advertiser base and a weighted average of 14 years for the other intangible assets.  Acquired property and equipment will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated remaining useful lives.  Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce and noncontractual relationships, as well as expected future synergies.  We expect that goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.  The initial purchase price allocation is based upon all information available to us at the present time and is subject to change, and such changes could be material.

 

Prior to the acquisition, since October 1, 2011, we provided sales, programming and management services to the stations pursuant to the LMA.  During that period, we funded the working capital needs of the stations, which totaled $8.1 million as of December 31, 2011 and was reflected as cash flows used in operating activities within the consolidated statement of cash flows for that period.  This working capital is not reflected in the purchase price allocation presented above.

 

In connection with the acquisition, we incurred a total of $0.7 million of costs primarily related to legal and other professional services, which were expensed as incurred.  For the three months ended March 31, 2012, $0.3 million of such costs were included in corporate general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.  See Note 4. Notes Payable and Commercial Bank Financing for information related to financing costs associated with the incremental borrowing used to fund the acquisition.

 

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The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 include the results of the Four Points stations since January 1, 2012.  Net broadcast revenues and operating income of the Four Points stations included in our consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $17.8 million and $4.5 million, respectively.

 

The following table sets forth unaudited pro forma results of operations, assuming that the above acquisition, along with transactions necessary to finance the acquisition, occurred on January 1, 2011 (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

223,836

 

$

198,411

 

Net income

 

$

29,287

 

$

15,712

 

Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

29,572

 

$

15,864

 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.20

 

 

This pro forma financial information is based on historical results of operations, adjusted for the allocation of the purchase price and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not necessarily indicative of what our results would have been had we operated the business since January 1, 2011.  The pro forma adjustments reflect depreciation expense, amortization of intangibles and amortization of program contract costs related to the fair value adjustments of the assets acquired, additional interest expense related to the financing of the transaction, exclusion of nonrecurring financing and transaction related costs and the related tax effects of the adjustments.

 

Subsequent event

 

Effective April 1, 2012, we completed the previously announced acquisition of the broadcast assets of Freedom Communications (Freedom), which we had previously operated pursuant to a LMA since December 1, 2011. The acquired assets consist of the following eight stations in seven markets along with the respective network affiliation or program service arrangements: WPEC (CBS) in West Palm Beach, FL; WWMT (CBS) in Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, MI;  WRGB (CBS) and WCWN (CW) in Albany, NY; WTVC (ABC) in Chattanooga, TN; WLAJ (ABC) in Lansing, MI; KTVL (CBS) in Medford-Klamath Falls, OR; and KFDM (CBS) in Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange, TX.  The Freedom acquisition will extend our national reach.

 

We paid Freedom $385.0 million, which is subject to a post close working capital adjustment.  We financed the acquisition and a portion of the closing costs with a draw under a recently raised $157.5 million incremental Term Loan A and a $192.5 million incremental Term B Loan commitment under our amended Bank Credit Facility, plus a $38.5 million cash escrow previously paid in November 2011.

 

Prior to the acquisition, since December 1, 2011, we provided sales, programming and management services to the stations pursuant to the LMA.  During that period, we funded the working capital needs of the stations, which totaled $9.6 million as of March 31, 2012 and was reflected as cash flows used in operating activities within the consolidated statement of cash flows for that period.

 

Due to the limited time since the acquisition date and the filing of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2012, the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete at this time.  As a result, we are unable to provide amounts recognized as of the acquisition date for major classes of assets and liabilities acquired and resulting from the transaction, including the information required for intangible assets and goodwill.  Also, because the initial accounting for the transaction is incomplete, we are unable to provide the supplemental pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity.  We will include this information in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

3.              COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

 

Litigation

 

We are a party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various stages and no material judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

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Various parties have filed petitions to deny our applications for the following stations’ license renewals:  WXLV-TV, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; WMYV-TV, Greensboro, North Carolina; WLFL-TV, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; WRDC-TV, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; WLOS-TV, Asheville, North Carolina, WMMP-TV, Charleston, South Carolina; WTAT-TV, Charleston, South Carolina; WMYA-TV, Anderson, South Carolina; WICS-TV and WICD-TV in Springfield/Champaign, Illinois and WCGV-TV and WVTV-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The FCC is in the process of considering the renewal applications and we believe the petitions have no merit.

 

4.              NOTES PAYABLE AND COMMERCIAL BANK FINANCING

 

In January 2012, we drew $180.0 million of the incremental Term Loan B to fund the asset acquisition of Four Points, which closed January 1, 2012.  In addition, in April 2012, we drew $157.5 million of the incremental Term Loan A and $192.5 million of the incremental Term Loan B under our senior secured credit facility to fund the asset acquisition of Freedom, which closed April 1, 2012.  During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we repaid the $12.0 million we had previously drawn on our revolver, and as of March 31, 2012 we had no amounts drawn on our revolver.

 

5.              EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

The following table reconciles income (numerator) and shares (denominator) used in our computations of earnings per share for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Income (Numerator)

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

29,141

 

$

15,234

 

Income impact of assumed conversion of the 4.875% Notes, net of taxes

 

45

 

42

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations

 

285

 

152

 

Numerator for diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations available to common shareholders

 

29,471

 

15,428

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

 

(67

)

(107

)

Numerator for diluted earnings available to common shareholders

 

$

29,404

 

$

15,321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares (Denominator)

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

80,852

 

80,367

 

Dilutive effect of stock-settled appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and outstanding stock options

 

21

 

69

 

Dilutive effect of 4.875% Notes

 

254

 

254

 

Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

 

81,127

 

80,690

 

 

Potentially dilutive securities representing 1.5 million and 4.2 million shares of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share for these periods because their effect would have been antidilutive.  The decrease in potentially dilutive securities is primarily related to the full redemption of our 6.0% Convertible Debentures (6.0% Notes) in April 2011.  The net income per share amounts are the same for Class A and Class B Common Stock because the holders of each class are legally entitled to equal per share distributions whether through dividends or in liquidation.

 

6.              RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

 

David, Frederick, Duncan and Robert Smith (collectively, the controlling shareholders) are brothers and hold substantially all of the Class B Common Stock and some of our Class A Common Stock.  We engaged in the following transactions with them and/or entities in which they have substantial interests.

 

Related Person Leases.  Certain assets used by us and our operating subsidiaries are leased from Cunningham Communications, Inc., Keyser Investment Group, Gerstell Development Limited Partnership and Beaver Dam, LLC (entities owned by the controlling shareholders).  Lease payments made to these entities were $1.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

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Bay TV.  In January 1999, we entered into a LMA with Bay Television, Inc. (Bay TV), which owns the television station WTTA-TV in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida market.  Our controlling shareholders own a substantial portion of the equity of Bay TV.  Payments made to Bay TV were $1.8 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation.  We have options from trusts established by Carolyn C. Smith, a parent of our controlling shareholders, for the benefit of her grandchildren that will grant us the right to acquire, subject to applicable FCC rules and regulations, 100% of the capital stock of Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (Cunningham) or 100% of the capital stock or assets of Cunningham’s individual subsidiaries.  As of March 31, 2012 Cunningham was the owner-operator and FCC licensee of: WNUV-TV, Baltimore, Maryland; WRGT-TV, Dayton, Ohio; WVAH-TV, Charleston, West Virginia; WTAT-TV, Charleston, South Carolina; WMYA-TV, Anderson, South Carolina; WTTE-TV, Columbus, Ohio; and WDBB-TV, Birmingham, Alabama (collectively the Cunningham Stations).

 

In addition to the option agreement, we entered into five-year LMAs (with five-year renewal terms at our option) with Cunningham pursuant to which we provide programming to Cunningham for airing on the Cunningham Stations.

 

On October 28, 2009, we entered into amendments and/or restatements of the following agreements between Cunningham and us: (i) the LMAs, (ii) option agreements to acquire Cunningham stock and (iii) certain acquisition or merger agreements relating to the Cunningham Stations.  Such amendments and/or restatements became effective on November 5, 2009.

 

In consideration of the new terms of the LMAs, options and other agreements, beginning on January 1, 2010 and ending on July 1, 2012, we are obligated to pay Cunningham the sum of approximately $29.1 million in 10 quarterly installments of $2.75 million and one quarterly payment of approximately $1.6 million, which amounts will be used to pay off Cunningham’s bank credit facility and which amounts will be credited toward the purchase price for each Cunningham station.  An additional $3.9 million will be paid in two installments on July 1, 2012 and October 1, 2012 as an additional LMA fee.  The aggregate purchase price of the television stations, $78.5 million pursuant to certain acquisition or merger agreements, will be decreased by each payment made by us to Cunningham up to $29.1 million in the aggregate, pursuant to the foregoing transactions with Cunningham as such payments are made.  Beginning on January 1, 2013, we will be obligated to pay Cunningham an annual LMA fee for the television stations equal to the greater of (i) 3% of each station’s annual net broadcast revenue and (ii) $5.0 million.  The amended or restated LMAs and option agreements have been approved pursuant to our related person transaction policy.

 

We continue to reimburse Cunningham for 100% of its operating costs, as well as pay Cunningham a monthly payment of $50,000 through December 2012.  In accordance with the effective date of the abovementioned amendments and/or restatements, the $50,000 monthly payment no longer reduces the option exercise price.

 

We made payments to Cunningham under these LMA and other agreements of $3.9 million and $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  For each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, Cunningham Stations provided us with approximately $23.3 million of total revenue.  The financial statements for Cunningham are included in our consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.  Our Bank Credit Agreement contains certain cross-default provisions with certain material third-party licenses.  As of March 31, 2012, Cunningham was the sole material third-party licensee.

 

Atlantic Automotive.  We sold advertising time to and purchased vehicles and related vehicle services from Atlantic Automotive Corporation (Atlantic Automotive), a holding company which owns automobile dealerships and an automobile leasing company.  David D. Smith, our President and Chief Executive Officer, has a controlling interest in, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlantic Automotive.  We received payments for advertising totaling less than $0.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.  We paid $0.2 million for vehicles and related vehicle services from Atlantic Automotive for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

Thomas & Libowitz P.A.  Basil A. Thomas, a member of our Board of Directors, is the father of Steven A. Thomas, a partner and founder of Thomas & Libowitz, P.A. (Thomas & Libowitz), a law firm providing legal services to us on an ongoing basis.  We paid fees of $0.2 million and $0.1 million to Thomas & Libowitz during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Charter Aircraft.  From time to time, we charter aircraft owned by certain controlling shareholders.  We incurred $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to these arrangements.

 

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7.              SEGMENT DATA:

 

We measure segment performance based on operating income (loss).  Our broadcast segment includes stations in 45 markets, of which 11 markets are operated pursuant to LMAs, located predominately in the eastern, mid-western and southern United States.  Our other operating divisions segment primarily earned revenues from sign design and fabrication; regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisitions and real estate ventures.  All of our other operating divisions are located within the United States.  Corporate costs primarily include our costs to operate as a public company and to operate our corporate headquarters location.  Corporate is not a reportable segment.  We had approximately $170.8 million and $168.7 million of intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, operating divisions segment and corporate as of March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  We had $5.0 million and $4.8 million in intercompany interest expense related to intercompany loans between the broadcast segment, other operating divisions segment and corporate for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and 2011, respectively.  Intercompany loans and interest expense are excluded from the tables below.  All other intercompany transactions are immaterial.

 

Financial information for our operating segments are included in the following tables for the periods presented (in thousands).

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012

 

Broadcast

 

Other
Operating
Divisions

 

Corporate

 

Consolidated

 

Revenue

 

$

209,888

 

$

13,948

 

$

 

$

223,836

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

8,699

 

407

 

383

 

9,489

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets

 

4,567

 

1,332

 

 

5,899

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

14,280

 

 

 

14,280

 

General and administrative overhead expenses

 

7,903

 

611

 

853

 

9,367

 

Operating income (loss)

 

61,830

 

(672

)

(1,236

)

59,922

 

Interest expense

 

 

854

 

26,533

 

27,387

 

Income from equity and cost method investments

 

 

1,276

 

 

1,276

 

Assets

 

1,501,147

 

234,950

 

35,148

 

1,771,245

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2011

 

Broadcast

 

Other
Operating
Divisions

 

Corporate

 

Consolidated

 

Revenue

 

$

173,183

 

$

9,426

 

$

 

$

182,609

 

Depreciation of property and equipment

 

7,345

 

310

 

405

 

8,060

 

Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets

 

3,955

 

841

 

 

4,796

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

12,618

 

 

 

12,618

 

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

398

 

 

 

398

 

General and administrative overhead expenses

 

7,632

 

282

 

750

 

8,664

 

Operating income (loss)

 

52,628

 

8

 

(1,160

)

51,476

 

Interest expense

 

 

627

 

28,540

 

29,167

 

Income from equity and cost method investments

 

 

11

 

 

11

 

 

8.              FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

 

Accounting guidance provides for valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost).  A fair value hierarchy using three broad levels prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The following is a brief description of those three levels:

 

·                  Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

·                  Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

·                  Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

 

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The carrying value and fair value of our notes, debentures, program contracts payable and non-cancelable commitments for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

                December 31, 2011

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

4.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018

 

$

5,685

 

$

5,685

 

$

5,685

 

$

5,685

 

3.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027

 

5,400

 

5,400

 

5,400

 

5,400

 

8.375% Senior Notes due 2018

 

234,594

 

258,167

 

234,512

 

246,884

 

9.25% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2017

 

489,403

 

557,500

 

489,052

 

549,690

 

Term Loan A

 

112,844

 

111,997

 

115,000

 

112,700

 

Term Loan B

 

394,348

 

399,924

 

217,002

 

221,700

 

Cunningham Bank Credit Facility

 

8,225

 

8,292

 

10,967

 

11,100

 

Active program contracts payable

 

83,466

 

73,162

 

91,450

 

88,699

 

Future program liabilities (a)

 

135,285

 

114,260

 

125,075

 

105,166

 

 


(a)          Future program liabilities reflect a license agreement for program material that is not yet available for its first showing or telecast and is, therefore, not recorded as an asset or liability on our balance sheet.  The carrying value reflects the undiscounted future payments.

 

The fair value of our 8.375% Senior Notes due 2018 (the 8.375% Notes) and 9.25% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2017 (the 9.25% Notes) is determined using quoted prices using Level 2 hierarchy inputs described above.  The carrying value of our 3.0% and 4.875% Notes approximates their fair value using Level 3 hierarchy inputs.  Our Term Loan A, Term Loan B and Cunningham’s bank credit facility are fair valued using Level 2 hierarchy inputs.

 

Our estimates of the fair value of active program contracts payable and future program liabilities were based on discounted cash flows using Level 3 inputs described above.  The discount rate represents an estimate of a market participants’ return and risk applicable to program contracts.  The discount rate used to determine the fair value of active and future program liabilities was 8.00% as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.  Significant increases (decreases) in the discount rate would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

 

9.              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

 

Sinclair Television Group, Inc. (STG), a wholly-owned subsidiary and the television operating subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (SBG), is the primary obligor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 8.375% Notes and the 9.25% Notes.  Our Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, the 4.875% Notes and the 3.0% Notes, as of March 31, 2012, were obligations or securities of SBG and not obligations or securities of STG.  SBG was the obligor of the 6.0% Notes until they were fully redeemed in 2011.  SBG is a guarantor under the Bank Credit Agreement, the 9.25% Notes and the 8.375% Notes.  As of March 31, 2012 our consolidated total debt of $1,367.2 million included $1,281.3 million of debt related to STG and its subsidiaries of which SBG guaranteed $1,231.2 million.

 

SBG, KDSM, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBG, and STG’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (guarantor subsidiaries), have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain customary automatic release provisions, all of STG’s obligations.  Those guarantees are joint and several.  There are certain contractual restrictions on the ability of SBG, STG or KDSM, LLC to obtain funds from their subsidiaries in the form of dividends or loans.

 

The following condensed consolidating financial statements present the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows of SBG, STG, KDSM, LLC and the guarantor subsidiaries, the direct and indirect non-guarantor subsidiaries of SBG and the eliminations necessary to arrive at our information on a consolidated basis.  These statements are presented in accordance with the disclosure requirements under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2012

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

 

$

17,311

 

$

980

 

$

8,511

 

$

 

$

26,802

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

40

 

623

 

131,415

 

5,346

 

(347

)

137,077

 

Other current assets

 

383

 

3,505

 

51,212

 

3,569

 

(284

)

58,385

 

Total current assets

 

423

 

21,439

 

183,607

 

17,426

 

(631

)

222,264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

7,851

 

9,195

 

203,127

 

100,819

 

(6,558

)

314,434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

758,910

 

 

 

(758,910

)

 

Restricted cash

 

 

38,506

 

223

 

 

 

38,729

 

Other long-term assets

 

86,356

 

360,943

 

14,924

 

113,475

 

(433,023

)

142,675

 

Total other long-term assets

 

86,356

 

1,158,359

 

15,147

 

113,475

 

(1,191,933

)

181,404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangible assets

 

 

 

996,027

 

74,153

 

(17,037

)

1,053,143

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

94,630

 

$

1,188,993

 

$

1,397,908

 

$

305,873

 

$

(1,216,159

)

$

1,771,245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

331

 

$

41,099

 

$

59,891

 

$

8,210

 

$

(2,851

)

$

106,680

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

435

 

15,181

 

642

 

19,979

 

 

36,237

 

Current portion of affiliate long-term debt

 

1,032

 

 

2,073

 

321

 

(321

)

3,105

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

 

72,121

 

260

 

 

72,381

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,798

 

56,280

 

134,727

 

28,770

 

(3,172

)

218,403

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

12,738

 

1,217,534

 

37,312

 

44,543

 

 

1,312,127

 

Affiliate long-term debt

 

7,129

 

 

8,600

 

252,118

 

(252,118

)

15,729

 

Dividends in excess of investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

119,573

 

 

 

 

(119,573

)

 

Other liabilities

 

51,210

 

2,152

 

458,959

 

63,010

 

(263,134

)

312,197

 

Total liabilities

 

192,448

 

1,275,966

 

639,598

 

388,441

 

(637,997

)

1,858,456

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

811

 

 

10

 

 

(10

)

811

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

620,855

 

(261

)

404,886

 

54,155

 

(458,780

)

620,855

 

Accumulated (deficit) earnings

 

(714,740

)

(83,705

)

355,735

 

(137,117

)

(134,913

)

(714,740

)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

 

(4,744

)

(3,007

)

(2,321

)

394

 

4,934

 

(4,744

)

Total Sinclair Broadcast Group (deficit) equity

 

(97,818

)

(86,973

)

758,310

 

(82,568

)

(588,769

)

(97,818

)

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

10,607

 

10,607

 

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)

 

$

94,630

 

$

1,188,993

 

$

1,397,908

 

$

305,873

 

$

(1,216,159

)

$

1,771,245

 

 

17



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2011

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

 

$

188

 

$

313

 

$

12,466

 

$

 

$

12,967

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

60

 

348

 

126,590

 

6,308

 

(139

)

133,167

 

Other current assets

 

2,430

 

2,561

 

55,855

 

3,021

 

(284

)

63,583

 

Total current assets

 

2,490

 

3,097

 

182,758

 

21,795

 

(423

)

209,717

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

8,234

 

7,783

 

171,749

 

100,362

 

(6,607

)

281,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

575,848

 

 

 

(575,848

)

 

Restricted cash

 

 

58,503

 

223

 

 

 

58,726

 

Other long-term assets

 

86,186

 

353,929

 

17,209

 

99,683

 

(418,014

)

138,993

 

Total other long-term assets

 

86,186

 

988,280

 

17,432

 

99,683

 

(993,862

)

197,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquired intangible assets

 

 

 

826,175

 

70,492

 

(14,207

)

882,460

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

96,910

 

$

999,160

 

$

1,198,114

 

$

292,332

 

$

(1,015,099

)

$

1,571,417

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

1,499

 

$

30,888

 

$

51,119

 

$

7,555

 

$

(2,491

)

$

88,570

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

420

 

14,450

 

589

 

22,736

 

 

38,195

 

Current portion of affiliate long-term debt

 

998

 

 

2,016

 

210

 

(210

)

3,014

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

 

65,431

 

372

 

 

65,803

 

Total current liabilities

 

2,917

 

45,338

 

119,155

 

30,873

 

(2,701

)

195,582

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

12,811

 

1,055,446

 

37,502

 

42,512

 

 

1,148,271

 

Affiliate long-term debt

 

7,405

 

 

9,140

 

246,552

 

(246,552

)

16,545

 

Dividends in excess of investment in consolidated subsidiaries

 

143,857

 

 

 

 

(143,857

)

 

Other liabilities

 

51,095

 

2,222

 

457,003

 

58,222

 

(246,161

)

322,381

 

Total liabilities

 

218,085

 

1,103,006

 

622,800

 

378,159

 

(639,271

)

1,682,779

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

809

 

 

10

 

 

(10

)

809

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

617,375

 

7,755

 

264,413

 

54,304

 

(326,472

)

617,375

 

Accumulated (deficit) earnings

 

(734,511

)

(108,558

)

313,269

 

(140,581

)

(64,130

)

(734,511

)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

 

(4,848

)

(3,043

)

(2,378

)

450

 

4,971

 

(4,848

)

Total Sinclair Broadcast Group shareholders’ (deficit) equity

 

(121,175

)

(103,846

)

575,314

 

(85,827

)

(385,641

)

(121,175

)

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

9,813

 

9,813

 

Total liabilities and equity (deficit)

 

$

96,910

 

$

999,160

 

$

1,198,114

 

$

292,332

 

$

(1,015,099

)

$

1,571,417

 

 

18



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2012

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

 

$

 

$

 

$

210,208

 

$

15,674

 

$

(2,046

)

$

223,836

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program and production

 

 

8

 

61,891

 

76

 

(1,772

)

60,203

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

853

 

13,631

 

29,918

 

1,195

 

(101

)

45,496

 

Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses

 

383

 

351

 

43,108

 

14,342

 

31

 

58,215

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,236

 

13,990

 

134,917

 

15,613

 

(1,842

)

163,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

 

(1,236

)

(13,990

)

75,291

 

61

 

(204

)

59,922

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries

 

30,191

 

51,860

 

 

 

(82,051

)

 

Interest expense

 

(340

)

(24,764

)

(1,219

)

(6,244

)

5,180

 

(27,387

)

Other income (expense)

 

600

 

(283

)

23

 

1,201

 

(129

)

1,412

 

Total other income (expense)

 

30,451

 

26,813

 

(1,196

)

(5,043

)

(77,000

)

(25,975

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

144

 

8,125

 

(21,247

)

8,172

 

 

(4,806

)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

(67

)

 

 

 

 

(67

)

Net income (loss)

 

29,359

 

20,881

 

52,848

 

3,190

 

(77,204

)

29,074

 

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

285

 

285

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

29,359

 

$

20,881

 

$

52,848

 

$

3,190

 

$

(76,919

)

$

29,359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

29,178

 

$

20,985

 

$

52,848

 

$

3,190

 

$

(77,029

)

$

29,178

 

 

19



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

 

$

 

$

 

$

173,459

 

$

11,396

 

$

(2,246

)

$

182,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program and production

 

 

307

 

43,984

 

94

 

(2,040

)

42,345

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

754

 

7,628

 

30,111

 

829

 

(96

)

39,226

 

Depreciation, amortization and other operating expenses

 

405

 

135

 

39,468

 

9,522

 

32

 

49,562

 

Total operating expenses

 

1,159

 

8,070

 

113,563

 

10,445

 

(2,104

)

131,133

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating (loss) income

 

(1,159

)

(8,070

)

59,896

 

951

 

(142

)

51,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries

 

17,402

 

35,323

 

 

 

(52,725

)

 

Interest expense

 

(1,958

)

(25,489

)

(1,232

)

(5,545

)

5,057

 

(29,167

)

Gain on sales of securities

 

 

 

 

391

 

(391

)

 

Other income (expense)

 

100

 

5,435

 

(4,640

)

394

 

(114

)

1,175

 

Total other income (expense)

 

15,544

 

15,269

 

(5,872

)

(4,760

)

(48,173

)

(27,992

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

894

 

8,245

 

(17,739

)

350

 

 

(8,250

)

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

(107

)

 

 

 

(107

)

Net income (loss)

 

15,279

 

15,337

 

36,285

 

(3,459

)

(48,315

)

15,127

 

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

152

 

152

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

15,279

 

$

15,337

 

$

36,285

 

$

(3,459

)

$

(48,163

)

$

15,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

15,168

 

$

15,378

 

$

36,285

 

$

(3,459

)

$

(48,204

)

$

15,168

 

 

20



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2012

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

$

256

 

$

(22,191

)

$

85,987

 

$

1,682

 

$

1,749

 

$

67,483

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

 

(1,741

)

(4,675

)

(320

)

 

(6,736

)

Payments for acquisitions of television stations

 

 

 

(205,622

)

 

 

(205,622

)

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

 

 

 

(3,035

)

 

(3,035

)

Decrease in restricted cash

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

20,000

 

Investment in equity and cost method investees

 

 

 

 

(5,503

)

 

(5,503

)

Proceeds from insurance settlement

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

19

 

Loans to affiliates

 

(44

)

(456

)

 

 

 

(500

)

Proceeds from loans to affiliates

 

64

 

353

 

 

 

 

417

 

Net cash flows from (used in) investing activities

 

20

 

18,156

 

(210,278

)

(8,858

)

 

(200,960

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

 

178,200

 

 

6,282

 

 

184,482

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(100

)

(16,252

)

(128

)

(7,049

)

 

(23,529

)

Proceeds from share based awards

 

279

 

 

 

 

 

279

 

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

(9,718

)

 

 

 

130

 

(9,588

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

 

(3,519

)

 

 

 

(3,519

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

(88

)

 

(88

)

Repayment of notes and capital leases to affiliates

 

(242

)

 

(483

)

 

 

(725

)

Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables

 

9,505

 

(137,271

)

125,569

 

4,076

 

(1,879

)

 

Net cash flows (used in) from financing activities

 

(276

)

21,158

 

124,958

 

3,221

 

(1,749

)

147,312

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

17,123

 

667

 

(3,955

)

 

13,835

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 

 

188

 

313

 

12,466

 

 

12,967

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

 

$

 

$

17,311

 

$

980

 

$

8,511

 

$

 

$

26,802

 

 

21



Table of Contents

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

(in thousands) (unaudited)

 

 

 

Sinclair
Broadcast
Group, Inc.

 

Sinclair
Television
Group, Inc.

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries
and KDSM,
LLC

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Sinclair
Consolidated

 

NET CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

$

(2,759

)

$

(6,823

)

$

68,570

 

$

(2,745

)

$

(1,286

)

$

54,957

 

CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

 

(4,580

)

(1,394

)

(111

)

 

(6,085

)

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

 

 

 

(1,755

)

 

(1,755

)

Distributions from investments

 

 

 

 

832

 

 

832

 

Investment in equity and cost method investees

 

(2,000

)

 

 

(6,064

)

 

(8,064

)

Decrease in restricted cash

 

 

5,058

 

 

 

 

5,058

 

Proceeds from sales of assets

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

26

 

Proceeds from sale of securities

 

 

 

 

1,808

 

(1,808

)

 

Proceeds from insurance settlement

 

 

 

1,736

 

 

 

1,736

 

Loans to affiliates

 

(61

)

 

 

 

 

(61

)

Proceeds from loans to affiliates

 

89

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

Net cash flows (used in) from investing activities

 

(1,972

)

478

 

368

 

(5,290

)

(1,808

)

(8,224

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

 

124,719

 

 

3,614

 

 

128,333

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(86

)

(55,467

)

(99

)

(6,062

)

 

(61,714

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options, including excess tax benefits of share based payments

 

1,737

 

 

 

 

 

1,737

 

Proceeds from Class A Common Stock sold by variable interest entity

 

 

 

 

 

1,808

 

1,808

 

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

 

(4,216

)

 

(66

)

 

(4,282

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

(39

)

 

(39

)

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

(9,684

)

 

 

 

93

 

(9,591

)

Repayment of notes and capital leases to affiliates

 

(210

)

 

(642

)

 

 

(852

)

Increase (decrease) in intercompany payables

 

12,974

 

45,149

 

(68,954

)

9,638

 

1,193

 

 

Net cash flows from (used in) financing activities

 

4,731

 

110,185

 

(69,695

)

7,085

 

3,094

 

55,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

103,840

 

(757

)

(950

)

 

102,133

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

 

 

5,071

 

1,022

 

15,881

 

 

21,974

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

 

$

 

$

108,911

 

$

265

 

$

14,931

 

$

 

$

124,107

 

 

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This report includes or incorporates 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 (the Exchange Act) and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.  These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, including, among other things, the following risks:

 

General risks

 

·                  the impact of changes in national and regional economies and credit and capital markets;

·                  consumer confidence;

·                  the potential impact of changes in tax law;

·                  the activities of our competitors;

·                  terrorist acts of violence or war and other geopolitical events;

·                  natural disasters that impact our advertisers and our stations;

 

Industry risks

 

·                  the business conditions of our advertisers particularly in the automotive and service industries;

·                  competition with other broadcast television stations, radio stations, multi-channel video programming distributors (MVPDs), internet and broadband content providers and other print and media outlets serving in the same markets;

·                  availability and cost of programming and the continued volatility of networks and syndicators that provide us with programming content;

·                  the effects of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) National Broadband Plan and the auctioning and potential reallocation of our broadcasting spectrum;

·                  the effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting or changes in those regulations and court actions interpreting those regulations, including ownership regulations, indecency regulations, retransmission fee regulations and political or other advertising restrictions;

·                  labor disputes and legislation and other union activity associated with film, acting, writing and other guilds and professional sports leagues;

·                  the broadcasting community’s ability to develop a viable mobile digital broadcast television (mobile DTV) strategy and platform and the consumer’s appetite for mobile television;

·                  the operation of low power devices in the broadcast spectrum, which could interfere with our broadcast signals;

·                  the impact of reverse network compensation payments charged by networks pursuant to their affiliation agreements with broadcasters requiring compensation for network programming;

·                  the effects of new ratings system technologies including “people meters” and “set-top boxes,” and the ability of such technologies to be a reliable standard that can be used by advertisers;

·                  the impact of new FCC rules requiring broadcast stations to publish, among other information, political advertising rates online;

·                  changes in the makeup of the population in the areas where stations are located;

 

Risks specific to us

 

·                  the effectiveness of our management;

·                  our ability to attract and maintain local and national advertising;

·                  our ability to service our debt obligations and operate our business under restrictions contained in our financing agreements;

·                  our ability to successfully renegotiate retransmission consent agreements;

·                  our ability to renew our FCC licenses;

·                  our ability to obtain FCC approval for the purchase of any future acquisitions, as well as, in certain cases, customary antitrust clearance for any future acquisitions;

·                  our ability to successfully integrate any acquired businesses;

·                  our ability to maintain our affiliation and programming service agreements with our networks and program service providers and at renewal, to successfully negotiate these agreements with favorable terms;

·                  our ability to effectively respond to technology affecting our industry and to increasing competition from other media

 

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providers;

·                  the popularity of syndicated programming we purchase and network programming that we air;

·                  the strength of ratings for our local news broadcasts including our news sharing arrangements;

·                  the successful execution of our multi-channel broadcasting initiatives including mobile DTV; and

·                  the results of prior year tax audits by taxing authorities.

 

Other matters set forth in this report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 may also cause actual results in the future to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  However, additional factors and risks not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also cause actual results in the future to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which it is made.  We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this report might not occur.

 

The following table sets forth certain operating data for the periods presented:

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA

(in thousands, except for per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

Net broadcast revenues (a)

 

$

192,204

 

$

155,961

 

Revenues realized from station barter arrangements

 

17,684

 

17,222

 

Other operating divisions revenues

 

13,948

 

9,426

 

Total revenues

 

223,836

 

182,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station production expenses

 

60,203

 

42,345

 

Station selling, general and administrative expenses

 

36,129

 

30,562

 

Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements

 

16,257

 

15,727

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

14,280

 

12,618

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses (b)

 

15,388

 

12,856

 

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

 

398

 

Other operating divisions expenses

 

12,290

 

7,963

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

9,367

 

8,664

 

Operating income

 

59,922

 

51,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs

 

(27,387

)

(29,167

)

Loss from extinguishment of debt

 

(335

)

(924

)

Income from equity and cost method investees

 

1,276

 

11

 

Gain on insurance settlement

 

19

 

1,723

 

Other income, net

 

452

 

365

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

33,947

 

23,484

 

Income tax provision

 

(4,806

)

(8,250

)

Income from continuing operations

 

29,141

 

15,234

 

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

 

(67

)

(107

)

Net income

 

29,074

 

15,127

 

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests

 

285

 

152

 

Net income attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group

 

$

29,359

 

$

15,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Sinclair Broadcast Group:

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share from continuing operations

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.19

 

Earnings per share

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.19

 

 

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March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

26,802

 

$

12,967

 

Total assets

 

$

1,771,245

 

$

1,571,417

 

Total debt (c)

 

$

1,367,198

 

$

1,206,025

 

Total equity (deficit)

 

$

(87,211

)

$

(111,362

)

 


(a)          Net broadcast revenues is defined as broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions.

 

(b)         Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets.

 

(c)          Total debt is defined as notes payable, capital leases and commercial bank financing, including the current and long-term portions.

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides qualitative and quantitative information about our financial performance and condition and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements.  This discussion consists of the following sections:

 

Executive Overview — financial events since December 31, 2011;

 

Results of Operations — an analysis of our revenues and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, including comparisons between quarters and expectations for the three months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources — a discussion of our primary sources of liquidity, an analysis of our cash flows from or used in operating activities, investing activities and financing activities and an update of our debt refinancings during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

 

First Quarter 2012 Events

 

·                  In January, we closed the asset acquisition of Four Points Media Group LLC (Four Points) for $200.0 million, and financed the acquisition with a $180.0 million draw under a recently raised incremental Term Loan B commitment under our amended Bank Credit Agreement plus a $20.0 million cash escrow previously paid; and

·                  In February, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share.

 

Other Events

 

·                  On April 2, 2012, we closed the asset acquisition of Freedom Communications (Freedom) for $385.0 million, and financed the acquisition with a draw under a recently raised $157.5 million incremental Term loan A and a $192.5 million incremental Term loan B under our amended Bank Credit Agreement plus a $38.5 million escrow previously paid.

·                  In May, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

In general, this discussion is related to the results of our continuing operations, except for discussions regarding our cash flows, which also include the results of our discontinued operations.  The results of the acquired stations from Four Points are included in our results of our continuing operations as of January 1, 2012, the acquisition date.  Unless otherwise indicated, references in this discussion and analysis to the first quarter of 2012 and 2011 refer to the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Additionally, any references to the second, third or fourth quarter are to the three months ended June 30, September 30, and December 31, respectively, for the year being discussed.  We have two reportable segments, “broadcast” and “other operating divisions” that are disclosed separately from our corporate activities.

 

SEASONALITY/CYCLICALITY

 

Our operating results are usually subject to seasonal fluctuations.  Usually, the second and fourth quarter operating results are higher than first and third quarters because advertising expenditures are increased in anticipation of certain seasonal and holiday spending by consumers.

 

Our operating results are usually subject to fluctuations from political advertising.  In even numbered years, political spending is usually significantly higher than in odd numbered years due to advertising expenditures preceding local and national elections.

 

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Additionally, every four years, political spending is usually elevated further due to advertising expenditures preceding the presidential election.

 

BROADCAST SEGMENT

 

Broadcast Revenue

 

The following table presents our revenues from continuing operations, net of agency commissions, for the periods presented (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Percent
Change

 

Local revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-political

 

$

152.2

 

$

120.8

 

26.0

%

Political

 

0.6

 

0.2

 

 

(a)

Total local

 

152.8

 

121.0

 

26.3

%

National revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-political

 

36.4

 

34.6

 

5.2

%

Political

 

3.0

 

0.4

 

 

(a)

Total national

 

39.4

 

35.0

 

12.6

%

Total net broadcast revenues

 

$

192.2

 

$

156.0

 

23.2

%

 


(a)          Political revenue is not comparable from year to year due to cyclicality of elections.  See Political Revenues below for more information.

 

Net broadcast revenues.  Net broadcast revenues increased $36.2 million when comparing the first quarter 2012 to the same period in 2011, of which $18.4 million was related to stations acquired during the first quarter 2012.  Additionally, revenues earned pursuant to the Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) with the Freedom stations during the first quarter 2012 included $2.2 million for management services performed and $7.8 million of pass-through costs.  The remaining increase was due to increases in advertising revenues generated from the automotive, political, medical and media sectors, partially offset by decreases in the telecommunications, pharmacy-cosmetics, entertainment and fast food sectors.  Excluding the stations acquired in the first quarter 2012, automotive, which typically is our largest category, represented 21.3% of the quarter’s net time sales and was up 2.0% in the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

 

From a network affiliation or program service arrangement perspective, the following table sets forth our affiliate percentages of net time sales for the periods presented:

 

 

 

# of

 

Percent of Net Time Sales for the
Three months ended March 31,

 

Net Time Sales
Percent

 

 

 

Stations (a)

 

2012

 

2011

 

Change

 

FOX

 

20

 

42.9

%

49.3

%

(4.4

)%

ABC

 

9

 

17.7

%

18.4

%

5.6

%

MyNetworkTV

 

18

 

15.6

%

15.6

%

10.4

%

The CW

 

13

 

12.1

%

13.1

%

1.5

%

CBS

 

4

 

10.5

%

2.6

%

339.1

%

NBC

 

1

 

0.6

%

0.5

%

28.8

%

Digital

 

(b)

 

0.5

%

0.5

%

7.6

%

Azteca

 

1

 

0.1

%

%

%

Total

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(a)          During the fourth quarter of 2011, we entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Freedom.  As of March 31, 2012, we were operating the Freedom stations pursuant to a LMA.  We closed on the acquisition of the Freedom stations effective April 1, 2012.  The Freedom stations include the following network affiliations, which are not reflected in the station totals above: CBS (5 stations), ABC (2 stations) and The CW (1 station).  The net time sales of the Freedom stations are not included in our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012.  We recognized $10.0 million in net broadcast revenues and $7.8 million of station production expenses related to services performed pursuant to the LMA.  The stations’ net time sales will be included in our revenues beginning April 1, 2012.

 

(b)         We broadcast programming from network affiliations or program service arrangements with TheCoolTV, The Country Network, CBS (rebroadcasted content from other primary channels within the same markets), The CW, MyNetworkTV, This TV, LATV, Azteca, Telemundo and Estrella on additional channels through our stations’ second and third digital signals.

 

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Political Revenues.  Political revenues increased by $3.0 million to $3.6 million for the first quarter 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011, of which $0.4 million was related to the stations acquired during the first quarter 2012.  Political revenues are typically lower in non-election years such as 2011 and have increased in 2012 due to the presidential election.

 

Local Revenues.  Excluding political revenues, our local broadcast revenues, which include local times sales, retransmission revenues and other local revenues, were up $31.4 million for the first quarter 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011, of which $9.8 million related to the stations acquired in the first quarter 2012.  Additionally, revenues earned pursuant to the LMA with the Freedom stations during the first quarter 2012 included $2.2 million for management services performed and $7.8 million of pass-through costs.  The remaining increase is due to an increase in advertising spending particularly in the automotive, media and medical sectors and an increase in retransmission revenues from MVPDs.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease due to a change in networks for the Super Bowl programming from FOX to NBC.

 

National Revenues.  Excluding political revenues, our national broadcast revenues, which include national time sales and other national revenues, were up $1.8 million for the first quarter 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011, of which $4.4 million related to the stations acquired in the first quarter 2012.  The partially offsetting decrease is due to a decrease in advertising spending by the telecommunication, drugs and cosmetics and automotive sectors.

 

Broadcast Expenses

 

The following table presents our significant expense categories in our broadcast segment for the periods presented (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Percent Change
(Increase/

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

(Decrease))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Station production expenses

 

$

60.2

 

$

42.3

 

42.3

%

Station selling, general and administrative expenses

 

$

36.1

 

$

30.6

 

18.0

%

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments

 

$

14.3

 

$

12.6

 

13.5

%

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

$

7.9

 

$

7.6

 

3.9

%

Gain on insurance settlement

 

$

 

$

1.7

 

(100.0

)%

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets

 

$

 

$

0.4

 

(100.0

)%

 

Station production expenses.  Station production expenses increased $17.9 million during the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, of which $5.6 million related to the stations acquired in the first quarter 2012 and $7.8 million of expenses pursuant to the LMA with the Freedom stations during the first quarter 2012.  The remaining increase is primarily due to an increase in compensation expense, an increase in fees pursuant to network affiliation agreements and increased rating service fees due to annual scheduled rate increases.

 

We expect station production expenses in second quarter 2012 to increase compared to first quarter 2012.

 

Station selling, general and administrative expenses. Station selling, general and administrative expenses increased $5.5 million during the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, of which $4.2 million related to the stations acquired in the first quarter 2012. The remaining increase is primarily due to an increase in compensation expense related to an increase in employee and management bonuses, increased local and national sales commission costs, increased building rent expense and increased group insurance costs.

 

We expect station selling, general and administrative expenses in second quarter 2012 to increase compared to first quarter 2012.

 

Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments.  The amortization of program contract costs increased during the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.  This increase is primarily due to entering into new contracts and the effect of stations acquired in the first quarter 2012.  We expect program contract amortization to trend higher in second quarter 2012 compared to first quarter 2012.

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses.  See explanation under Corporate and Unallocated Expenses.

 

Gain on insurance settlement.  During 2010, our building for WCGV-TV and WVTV-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin flooded due to massive storms.  In the first quarter 2011, we recognized a gain on insurance settlement of $1.7 million related to repairing the building and replacing certain equipment.

 

Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets.  During first quarter of 2011, we recorded impairments of $0.4 million related to our broadcast licenses.  There were no impairments in the first quarter 2012.

 

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OTHER OPERATING DIVISIONS SEGMENT

 

Triangle Sign & Service, LLC. (Triangle), a sign designer/fabricator, Alarm Funding Associates, LLC (Alarm Funding), a regional security alarm operating and bulk acquisition company, real estate ventures, and other nominal businesses make up our other operating divisions segment.  Revenues for our other operating divisions increased $4.5 million to $13.9 million during the first quarter 2012 compared to $9.4 million during the same period in 2011.  The increase is primarily due to acquisitions of new alarm monitoring contracts for Alarm Funding and increased revenues due to the Ring of Honor wrestling franchise we purchased in the second quarter of 2011.  Expenses of our other operating divisions include operating expenses, depreciation and amortization and applicable other income (expense) items such as interest expense, which increased $5.1 million to $14.9 million during the first quarter 2012 compared to $9.8 million during the same period in 2011.  This increase was in correlation with the increase in revenue activity.

 

A portion of the operating results of Alarm Funding were previously included in discontinued operations in the beginning of 2011 in our consolidated results of operations.  It is no longer our intent to divest a portion of Alarm Funding and therefore all of the operations and net assets of Alarm Funding have been classified as continuing operations in our consolidated financial statement as of March 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

Income from Equity and Cost Method Investments.  Results of our equity and cost method investments in private investment funds and real estate ventures are included in income from equity and cost method investments in our consolidated statements of operations.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we recorded income of $1.0 million related to our real estate ventures and income of $0.2 million related to certain private investment funds.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, we recorded income of $0.3 million related to our real estate ventures and a loss of $0.3 million related to certain private investment funds.

 

CORPORATE AND UNALLOCATED EXPENSES

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Percent Change
(Increase/

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

(Decrease))

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

$

0.9

 

$

0.8

 

12.5

%

Interest expense

 

$

26.5

 

$

28.5

 

(7.0

)%

Loss from extinguishment of debt

 

$

(0.3

)

$

(0.9

)

(66.7

)%

Income tax provision

 

$

(4.8

)

$

(8.2

)

(41.5

)%

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses.  We allocate most of our corporate general and administrative expenses to the broadcast segment.  The explanation that follows combines the corporate general and administrative expenses found in the Broadcast Segment section with the corporate general and administrative expenses found in this section, Corporate and Unallocated Expenses.  These results exclude general and administrative costs from our other operating divisions segment which are included in our discussion of expenses in the Other Operating Divisions Segment section.

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses increased in first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.  This is primarily due to an increase in transaction costs due to our recent acquisitions.

 

We expect corporate general and administrative expenses to decrease in the second quarter 2012 compared to first quarter 2012.

 

Interest expense.  Interest expense has decreased primarily due to the amendments to our Bank Credit Agreement in 2011 offset by additional interest on our incremental borrowing for our Four Points acquisition and approximately $1.0 million of interest expense recorded in the first quarter of 2012 primarily related to fees paid for the undrawn commitment for the Freedom acquisition.  In first quarter 2011, we amended our Bank Credit Agreement and our interest rate was reduced, however, $2.8 million in costs associated with the amendment were expensed as interest.  Additionally, we fully extinguished our 6.0% Notes in the second quarter 2011.  We expect interest expense to increase in second quarter 2012 compared to first quarter 2012 as a result of closing on the acquisition of the Freedom stations.

 

Loss from extinguishment of debt.   During the first quarter 2012, we drew down on our incremental borrowing for the Four Points acquisition and wrote off a portion of our deferred financing costs and discount on the Term Loan B, resulting in a loss of $0.3 million from extinguishment of debt.  In first quarter 2011, we amended our Bank Credit Agreement and paid down a portion of our Term Loan B resulting in a loss of $0.9 million from extinguishment of debt.

 

Income tax provision.  The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 including the effects of the noncontrolling interest was a provision of 14.0% as compared to a provision of 34.9% during the same period in 2011.  The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared to the same period in 2011 is primarily due to a release

 

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of $7.7 million of valuation allowance related to certain deferred tax assets of Cunningham, one of our consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs), as the weight of all available evidence now supports full realization of those deferred tax assets.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

As of March 31, 2012, we had $26.8 million in cash and cash equivalent balances and net working capital of approximately $3.9 million.  Cash generated by our operations and borrowing capacity under the Bank Credit Agreement are used as our primary source of liquidity.  As of March 31, 2012, we had $97.5 million of borrowing capacity available on our Revolving Credit Facility.  We anticipate that existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from our operations and borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility and incremental term loan capacity of $500.0 million, in addition to the $350.0 million of incremental term loans borrowed in April 2012 to fund the asset acquisition of Freedom, will be sufficient to satisfy our debt service obligations, capital expenditure requirements and working capital needs for the next twelve months.  For our long-term liquidity needs, in addition to the sources described above, we may rely upon the issuance of long-term debt, the issuance of equity or other instruments convertible into or exchangeable for equity, or the sale of non-core assets.  However, there can be no assurance that additional financing or capital or buyers of our non-core assets will be available, or that the terms of any transactions will be acceptable or advantageous to us.

 

We drew $180.0 million of the additional term loans to fund the acquisition of the station assets of Four Points, which closed in January 2012 and drew the remaining $350.0 million of the additional term loans to fund the acquisition of the station assets of Freedom, which closed on April 1, 2012.  As of March 31, 2012, we had no amounts drawn on our revolver.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

The following table sets forth our cash flows for the periods presented (in millions):

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net cash flows from operating activities

 

$

67.5

 

$

55.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows (used in) from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

$

(6.7

)

$

(6.1

)

Acquisition of television stations

 

(205.6

)

 

Decrease in restricted cash

 

20.0

 

5.1

 

Dividends and distributions from cost method investees

 

 

0.8

 

Purchase of alarm monitoring contracts

 

(3.0

)

(1.8

)

Investments in equity and cost method investees

 

(5.5

)

(8.1

)

Other

 

(0.2

)

1.9

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

 

$

(201.0

)

$

(8.2

)

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

$

184.5

 

$

128.3

 

Repayments of notes payable, commercial bank financing and capital leases

 

(23.5

)

(61.7

)

Payments for deferred financing costs

 

(3.5

)

(4.3

)

Dividends paid on Class A and Class B Common Stock

 

(9.6

)

(9.6

)

Other

 

(0.6

)

2.7

 

Net cash flows from financing activities

 

$

147.3

 

$

55.4

 

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash flows from operating activities increased during the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.  During 2012, we received more cash receipts from customers, net of cash payments to vendors, in addition to a decrease in cash paid for interest and a decrease in program payments.

 

We expect program payments and net interest to increase in the second quarter 2012 compared to the first quarter 2012 as a result of closing on the acquisition of the Freedom stations.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities increased during the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.  This increase is primarily due to $205.6 million in payments for acquisitions of television stations, as well as an increase in purchases of

 

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alarm monitoring contracts, partially offset by the use of the restricted cash held in escrow for the Four Points acquisition.  This was also slightly offset by a decrease of incremental contributions in our equity and cost method investments.

 

In second quarter 2012, we anticipate incurring more capital expenditures than incurred in the first quarter 2012.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash flows from financing activities increased in the first quarter 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.  In January 2012, we drew $180.0 million of incremental Term Loan B to fund the asset acquisition of Four Points, which closed in January 2012.  In February 2012 and May 2012, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.12 per share.  Future dividends on our common shares, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on several factors including our results of operations, cash requirements and surplus, financial condition, covenant restrictions and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

CONTRACTUAL CASH OBLIGATIONS

 

As of March 31, 2012, our contractual cash obligations increased from what was previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 primarily due to changes in our debt.  As disclosed above under Liquidity and Capital Resources, during first quarter 2012, we drew $180.0 million of additional term loans to fund the asset acquisition of Four Points, which closed in January 2012.

 

Additionally, amounts presented under contractual cash obligations disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, related to potential obligations due pursuant to the LMA with Freedom, are no longer due because the LMA was terminated April 1, 2012, concurrent with the acquisition of those stations.

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no material changes from the quantitative and qualitative discussion about market risk previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012.

 

The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

The term “internal control over financial reporting,” as defined in Rules 13a-15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, means a process designed by, or under the supervision of our Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

·                  pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of our assets;

 

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·                  provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that our receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with authorizations of management or our Board of Directors; and

 

·                  provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

 

Assessment of Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2012, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2012, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

 

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well designed 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 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’s 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, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are a party to lawsuits and claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business.  Actions currently pending are in various stages and no material judgments or decisions have been rendered by hearing boards or courts in connection with such actions.  After reviewing developments to date with legal counsel, our management is of the opinion that the outcome of our pending and threatened matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

None.

 

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Stock Appreciation Right Agreement between Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., and David D. Smith dated March 9, 2012.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

 

 

101.INS*

 

XBRL Instance Document

 

 

 

101.SCH*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

 

 

 

101.CAL*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

 

 

 

101.LAB*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

 

 

 

101.PRE*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

 

 

101.DEF*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

 


*                 Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability.

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the 9th day of May 2012.

 

 

 

SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David R. Bochenek

 

 

David R. Bochenek

 

 

Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

(Authorized Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)

 

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Table of Contents

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

Stock Appreciation Right Agreement between Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., and David D. Smith dated March 9, 2012.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 7241).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification by David D. Smith, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification by David B. Amy, as Chief Financial Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C § 1350).

 

 

 

101.INS*

 

XBRL Instance Document

 

 

 

101.SCH*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

 

 

 

101.CAL*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

 

 

 

101.LAB*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

 

 

 

101.PRE*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

 

 

101.DEF*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

 


*                 Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and otherwise are not subject to liability.

 

35