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 SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 or

 

[  ] 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 1-13796

 

Gray Television, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Georgia

 

58-0285030

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

   

4370 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia

 

30319

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

(404) 504-9828

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(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 periods that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes    No____

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☐ (do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company ☐

Emerging growth company

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes          No    

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicablepractical date.

Common Stock (No Par Value)

 

Class A Common Stock (No Par Value)

66,003,58882,022,500 shares outstanding as of OctoberJuly 31, 20178

 

6,598,3776,729,035 shares outstanding as of OctoberJuly 31, 20120718

 

 

 

 

INDEX

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

 

 

  

PAGE

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PAGE

   

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 
   
 

Condensed consolidatedconsolidated balance sheets (Unaudited)

-  SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 20162017

3

   
 

Condensed consolidated statements of operations (Unaudited)

- three-monthsthree months and nine-monthssix-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 20162017

5

   
 

Condensed consolidated statement of stockholders'stockholders' equity (Unaudited)

- nine-monthssix-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018

6

   
 

Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (Unaudited)

- nine-monthssix-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 20162017

7

   
 

Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (Unaudited)

- September 30, 2017

8

   

Item 2.

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

2122

   

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative DisclosuresDisclosures About Market Risk

2830

   

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

2830

   

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

 
   

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

2930

   

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity SecuritiesSecurities and Use of Proceeds

2930

   

Item 6.

Exhibits

3031

   

SIGNATURES

 

3132

 


 

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.       Financial Statements

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

  

June 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2018

  

2017

 

Assets:

        

Current assets:

        

Cash

 $510,577  $462,399 

Accounts receivable trade, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,024 and $4,606, respectively

  176,712   171,230 

Current portion of program broadcast rights, net

  4,892   14,656 

Prepaid income taxes

  25,848   13,791 

Prepaid and other current assets

  4,376   4,681 

Total current assets

  722,405   666,757 
         

Property and equipment, net

  342,996   350,658 

Broadcast licenses

  1,530,703   1,530,703 

Goodwill

  611,100   611,100 

Other intangible assets, net

  63,196   73,784 

Investments in broadcasting and technology companies

  16,599   16,599 

Other

  14,446   11,256 

Total assets

 $3,301,445  $3,260,857 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

Assets:

        

Current assets:

        

Cash

 $172,854  $325,189 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,040 and $3,163, respectively

  166,073   146,811 

Current portion of program broadcast rights, net

  19,605   13,735 

Prepaid taxes

  15,953   14,641 

Prepaid and other current assets

  5,116   5,109 

Total current assets

  379,601   505,485 
         

Property and equipment, net

  351,961   326,093 

Broadcast licenses

  1,530,123   1,340,305 

Goodwill

  611,100   485,318 

Other intangible assets, net

  80,172   56,250 

Deferred tax asset

  31,963   30,826 

Investments in broadcasting and technology companies

  16,599   16,599 

Other

  12,091   22,455 

Total assets

 $3,013,610  $2,783,331 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for share data)

  

June 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2018

  

2017

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

        

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $6,119  $7,840 

Employee compensation and benefits

  25,830   30,144 

Accrued interest

  26,662   26,624 

Accrued network programming fees

  18,259   20,317 

Other accrued expenses

  10,841   11,970 

Federal and state income taxes

  19,168   8,753 

Current portion of program broadcast obligations

  5,274   15,236 

Deferred revenue

  5,038   4,004 

Current portion of long-term debt

  37,000   6,417 

Total current liabilities

  154,191   131,305 
         

Long-term debt, less current portion and deferred financing costs

  1,799,229   1,831,011 

Program broadcast obligations, less current portion

  3,377   4,277 

Deferred income taxes

  272,541   261,690 

Accrued pension costs

  37,317   37,838 

Other

  1,832   1,839 

Total liabilities

  2,268,487   2,267,960 
         

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

        
         

Stockholders’ equity:

        

Common stock, no par value; authorized 200,000,000 shares and 100,000,000 shares, issued 89,298,943 shares and 88,788,664 shares, outstanding 82,022,500 shares and 83,253,588 shares, respectively

  904,871   902,518 

Class A common stock, no par value; authorized 25,000,000 shares and 15,000,000 shares, issued 8,569,149 shares and 8,349,069 shares, outstanding 6,729,035 shares and 6,598,377 shares, respectively

  25,662   24,644 

Retained earnings

  222,344   161,694 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefit

  (22,165)  (22,165)
   1,130,712   1,066,691 

Treasury stock at cost, common stock, 7,276,443 shares and 5,535,076 shares, respectively

  (72,270)  (49,562)

Treasury stock at cost, Class A common stock, 1,840,114 shares and 1,750,692 shares, respectively

  (25,484)  (24,232)

Total stockholders’ equity

  1,032,958   992,897 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $3,301,445  $3,260,857 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for per share data)

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 
                 

Revenue (less agency commissions)

 $250,344  $226,681  $476,602  $430,142 

Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net:

                

Broadcast

  141,919   133,683   291,573   267,239 

Corporate and administrative

  10,833   8,432   19,093   16,142 

Depreciation

  13,543   12,841   27,237   25,470 

Amortization of intangible assets

  5,153   6,657   10,589   12,224 

Gain on disposals of assets, net

  (794)  (77,326)  (1,615)  (76,799)

Operating expenses

  170,654   84,287   346,877   244,276 

Operating income

  79,690   142,394   129,725   185,866 

Other income (expense):

                

Miscellaneous income, net

  702   162   1,262   255 

Interest expense

  (24,831)  (23,791)  (49,081)  (46,982)

Loss from early extinguishment of debt

  -   (311)  -   (2,851)

Income before income taxes

  55,561   118,454   81,906   136,288 

Income tax expense

  14,856   47,893   21,256   55,222 

Net income

 $40,705  $70,561  $60,650  $81,066 
                 

Basic per share information:

                

Net income

 $0.46  $0.98  $0.69  $1.13 

Weighted-average shares outstanding

  87,765   71,821   88,408   71,849 
                 

Diluted per share information:

                

Net income

 $0.46  $0.97  $0.68  $1.12 

Weighted-average shares outstanding

  88,305   72,501   88,937   72,510 
                 

Dividends declared per common share

 $-  $-  $-  $- 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except for number of shares)

                                      

Accumulated

     
  

Class A

              

Class A

  

Common

  

Other

     
  

Common Stock

  

Common Stock

  

Retained

  

Treasury Stock

  

Treasury Stock

  

Comprehensive

     
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Earnings

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Loss

  

Total

 
                                             
                                             

Balance at December 31, 2017

  8,349,069  $24,644   88,788,664  $902,518  $161,694   (1,750,692) $(24,232)  (5,535,076) $(49,562) $(22,165) $992,897 
                                             

Net income

  -   -   -   -   60,650   -   -   -   -   -   60,650 
                                             

Issuance of common stock:

                                            

Restricted stock awards

  220,080   -   391,836   -   -   (89,422)  (1,252)  (107,456)  (1,757)  -   (3,009)

Restricted stock unit awards

  -   -   209,500   -   -   -   -   (82,201)  (1,344)  -   (1,344)
                                             

Forfeiture of restricted stock awards

  -   -   (91,057)  (528)  -   -   -   -   -   -   (528)
                                             

Repurchase of common stock

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   (1,551,710)  (19,607)  -   (19,607)
                                             

Stock-based compensation

  -   1,018   -   2,881   -   -   -   -   -   -   3,899 
                                             

Balance at June 30, 2018

  8,569,149  $25,662   89,298,943  $904,871  $222,344   (1,840,114) $(25,484)  (7,276,443) $(72,270) $(22,165) $1,032,958 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

 (in thousands)

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30,

 
  

2018

  

2017

 

Operating activities

        

Net income

 $60,650  $81,066 

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

        

Depreciation

  27,237   25,470 

Amortization of intangible assets

  10,589   12,224 

Amortization of deferred loan costs

  2,315   2,309 

Accretion of original issue discount and premium related to long-term debt, net

  (305)  (305)

Amortization of restricted stock and stock option awards

  3,371   2,772 

Amortization of program broadcast rights

  10,604   10,235 

Payments on program broadcast obligations

  (10,866)  (10,393)

Deferred income taxes

  10,852   53,732 

Gain on disposals of assets, net

  (1,615)  (76,799)

Loss from early extinguishment of debt

  -   2,851 

Other

  (555)  (949)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Accounts receivable

  (5,482)  (22,360)

Prepaid income taxes

  (12,057)  (990)

Other current assets

  443   (507)

Accounts payable

  (1,720)  (2,920)

Employee compensation, benefits and pension cost

  (4,314)  (8,517)

Accrued network fees and other expenses

  (3,183)  (3,462)

Accrued interest

  39   (5,917)

Income taxes payable

  10,415   1,580 

Deferred revenue

  1,034   24 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  97,452   59,144 
         

Investing activities

        

Acquisitions of television businesses and licenses

  -   (386,438)

Purchases of property and equipment

  (19,915)  (10,415)

Proceeds from asset sales

  104   126 

Proceeds from FCC Repack (Note 1)

  1,846   - 

Acquisition prepayments

  (4,145)  (11,731)

Other

  4   (4,759)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (22,106)  (413,217)
         

Financing activities

        

Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt

  -   641,438 

Repayments of borrowings on long-term debt

  (3,208)  (559,433)

Payments for the repurchase of common stock

  (19,607)  (4,000)

Deferred and other loan costs

  -   (4,994)

Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards

  (4,353)  (1,767)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (27,168)  71,244 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

  48,178   (282,829)

Cash at beginning of period

  462,399   325,189 

Cash at end of period

 $510,577  $42,360 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 


 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for share data)

  

September 30,

  

December 31,

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

        

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable

 $3,950  $5,257 

Employee compensation and benefits

  25,532   31,367 

Accrued interest

  23,076   32,453 

Accrued network programming fees

  19,157   14,982 

Other accrued expenses

  9,285   13,802 

Federal and state income taxes

  4,680   2,916 

Current portion of program broadcast obligations

  20,236   13,924 

Deferred revenue

  3,530   4,706 

Current portion of long-term debt

  6,417   - 

Total current liabilities

  115,863   119,407 
         

Long-term debt

  1,831,610   1,756,747 

Program broadcast obligations, less current portion

  4,771   4,995 

Deferred income taxes

  437,989   373,837 

Accrued pension costs

  33,052   34,047 

Other

  1,422   1,437 

Total liabilities

  2,424,707   2,290,470 
         

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

        
         

Stockholders’ equity:

        

Common stock, no par value; authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 71,538,664 shares and 71,229,497 shares, respectively

  660,377   658,135 

Class A common stock, no par value; authorized 15,000,000 shares, issued 8,349,069 shares and 8,073,993 shares, respectively

  23,841   21,764 

Accumulated deficit

  (3,876)  (101,365)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income tax benefit

  (17,645)  (17,645)
   662,697   560,889 

Treasury stock at cost, common stock, 5,535,076 shares and 5,135,406 shares, respectively

  (49,562)  (44,688)

Treasury stock at cost, Class A common stock, 1,750,692 shares and 1,669,131 shares, respectively

  (24,232)  (23,340)

Total stockholders’ equity

  588,903   492,861 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $3,013,610  $2,783,331 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for per share data)

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 
                 

Revenue (less agency commissions)

 $218,977  $204,490  $649,119  $574,846 

Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net:

                

Broadcast

  139,430   120,717   406,446   346,620 

Corporate and administrative

  8,318   7,223   24,436   31,425 

Depreciation

  13,085   11,494   38,555   34,237 

Amortization of intangible assets

  6,460   4,235   18,684   12,365 

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net

  1,660   354   (75,139)  (66)

Operating expenses

  168,953   144,023   412,982   424,581 

Operating income

  50,024   60,467   236,137   150,265 

Other income (expense):

                

Miscellaneous income, net

  28   30   36   740 

Interest expense

  (24,207)  (27,926)  (71,189)  (73,470)

Loss from early extinguishment of debt

  -   (31,987)  (2,851)  (31,987)

Income before income taxes

  25,845   584   162,133   45,548 

Income tax expense

  10,529   797   65,751   19,109 

Net income (loss)

 $15,316  $(213) $96,382  $26,439 
                 

Basic per share information:

                

Net income (loss)

 $0.21  $-  $1.34  $0.37 

Weighted-average shares outstanding

  71,636   71,879   71,777   71,850 
                 

Diluted per share information:

                

Net income (loss)

 $0.21  $-  $1.33  $0.36 

Weighted-average shares outstanding

  72,454   71,879   72,491   72,723 
                 

Dividends declared per common share

 $-  $-  $-  $- 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)

(in thousands except for number of shares)

                                      

Accumulated

     
  

Class A

              

Class A

  

Common

  

Other

     
  

Common Stock

  

Common Stock

  

Accumulated

  

Treasury Stock

  

Treasury Stock

  

Comprehensive

     
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Deficit

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Loss

  

Total

 
                                             

Balance at December 31, 2016

  8,073,993  $21,764   71,229,497  $658,135  $(101,365)  (1,669,131) $(23,340)  (5,135,406) $(44,688) $(17,645) $492,861 
                                             

Adoption of ASU 2016-09 excess tax benefit for stock-based compensation

  -   -   -   -   1,107   -   -   -   -   -   1,107 
                                             

Net income

  -   -   -   -   96,382   -   -   -   -   -   96,382 
                                             

Issuance of stock:

                                            

401(k) plan

  -   -   1,224   16   -   -   -   -   -   -   16 

2007 Long Term Incentive Plan - restricted stock

  198,220       307,943   -   -   (81,561)  (892)  (77,632)  (874)  -   (1,766)

2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan - restricted stock

  76,856   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 
                                             

Repurchase of common stock

  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   (322,038)  (4,000)      (4,000)
                                             

Share-based compensation

  -   2,077   -   2,226   -   -   -   -   -   -   4,303 
                                             

Balance at September 30, 2017

  8,349,069  $23,841   71,538,664  $660,377  $(3,876)  (1,750,692) $(24,232)  (5,535,076) $(49,562) $(17,645) $588,903 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC. 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) 

(in thousands) 

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

Operating activities

        

Net income

 $96,382  $26,439 

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

        

Depreciation

  38,555   34,237 

Amortization of intangible assets

  18,684   12,365 

Amortization of deferred loan costs

  3,466   3,664 

Net amortization of original issue discount and premium related to long-term debt

  (458)  (626)

Amortization of restricted stock and stock option awards

  4,303   3,827 

Amortization of program broadcast rights

  15,444   14,026 

Payments on program broadcast obligations

  (15,569)  (13,859)

Common stock contributed to 401(k) plan

  16   21 

Deferred income taxes

  64,121   18,335 

Gain on disposals of assets, net

  (75,139)  (66)

Loss from early extinguishment of debt

  2,851   31,987 

Other

  (1,188)  659 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Accounts receivable trade

  (18,587)  (8,677)

Prepaid taxes

  (1,311)  - 

Prepaid and other current assets

  371   (12,234)

Accounts payable

  (1,774)  728 

Employee compensation, benefits and pension cost

  (6,512)  (5,275)

Other current liabilities

  (1,696)  (3,692)

Income taxes payable

  1,763   719 

Accrued interest

  (9,376)  841 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  114,346   103,419 
         

Investing activities

        

Acquisitions of television businesses and licenses

  (415,438)  (432,220)

Proceeds from sale of television station

  -   11,200 

Proceeds from FCC spectrum auction

  90,824   - 

Purchases of property and equipment

  (21,426)  (33,238)

Proceeds from asset sales

  148   1,925 

Net decrease (increase) in acquisition prepayments and other

  9,558   (17,171)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (336,334)  (469,504)
         

Financing activities

        

Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt

  641,438   1,656,000 

Repayments of borrowings on long-term debt

  (561,037)  (1,100,000)

Payments for the repurchase of common stock

  (4,000)  - 

Tender and redemption premiums for 2020 Notes

  -   (27,502)

Deferred and other loan costs

  (4,981)  (27,881)

Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards

  (1,767)  (1,452)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  69,653   499,165 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

  (152,335)  133,080 

Cash at beginning of period

  325,189   97,318 

Cash at end of period

 $172,854  $230,398 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.     Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Gray Television, Inc. (and its consolidated subsidiaries, except as the context otherwise provides,“Gray,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”) as of December 31, 2016,2017, which was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2016,2017, and our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and for the periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 20162017, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statementpresentation have been included. Our operations consist of one reportable segment. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162017 (the “2016“2017 Form 10-K”). Our financial condition as of, and operating results for the nine-monthsix-month period ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018, are not necessarily indicative of the financial condition or results that may be expected for any future interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2017.2018.

 

Overview

 

We are a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and/orand operates over 100 television stations and leading digital assets in markets throughout the United States. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we owned and/orand operated television stations in 57 television markets broadcasting over 200 programming streams, including over 100 channels affiliated with the CBS Network (“CBS”), the NBC Network (“NBC”), the ABC Network (“ABC”) and the FOX Network (“FOX”). As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, our station group reached approximately 10.4% of total United States television households.

 

CyclicalityRevenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when we have completed a specified service and effectively transferred the control of that service to a customer in return for an amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to receive. The amount of revenue recognized is determined by the amount of consideration specified in a contract with our customers. We have elected to exclude taxes assessed by a governmental authority on transactions with our customers from our revenue. Any unremitted balance is included in current liabilities on our balance sheet.

Seasonality and Cyclicality

 

Broadcast advertising revenues are generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season. Broadcast advertising revenues are also typically higher in even-numbered years due to increased spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups in advanceduring the “on-year” of elections.the two year election cycle. This political spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter. In addition, the broadcast of Olympic Games by our NBC affiliated stations during even-numbered years generally leads to increased viewership and revenue during those years.

 

Use of Estimates

 

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

Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”)

We consolidate a VIE when we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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.

 


On January 17, 2017, we acquired two television stations that were divested by Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. upon its merger with Media General, Inc. (“Media General”): WBAY-TV (ABC), in the Green Bay, Wisconsin television market (DMA 69), and KWQC-TV (NBC), in the Davenport, Iowa, Rock Island, Illinois, and Moline, Illinois or “Quad Cities” television market (DMA 102), for an adjusted purchase price of $269.9 million (the “Media General Acquisition”) using cash on hand. The Media General Acquisition was completed, in part, through a transaction with a VIE known as Gray Midwest EAT, LLC (“GME”), pursuant to which GME acquired the broadcast licenses of the stations. On May 30, 2017, we exercised an option to acquire the licenses held by GME pending receipt of proceeds receivable from the FCC’s recently completed reverse auction for broadcast spectrum (the “FCC Spectrum Auction”). Upon receipt of the auction proceeds from the FCC, we completed the acquisition of the broadcast licenses from GME.

During the period that GME held those broadcast licenses we believe we were the primary beneficiary of GME, because, subject to the ultimate control of the licensees, we had the power to direct the activities that significantly impact the economic performance of GME through the services we provided, and our obligation to absorb losses and right to earn returns that would be considered significant to GME. As a result, we included the assets, liabilities and results of operations of GME in our consolidated financial statements beginning January 17, 2017 and continuing through August 7, 2017, the date that we were no longer deemed to be the primary beneficiary of GME.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of our common shares and Class A common shares outstanding during the relevant period. The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding does not include restricted shares. These shares, although classified as issued and outstanding, are considered contingently returnable until the restrictions lapse and, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, are not included in the basic earnings per share calculation until the shares vest. Diluted earnings per share is computed by including all potentially dilutive common shares, including restricted shares and shares underlying stock options, in the denominator of the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding calculation, unless their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. In the three-months ended September 30, 2016, we reported a net loss and therefore all common stock equivalents are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for that period, since their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.antidilutive.

 

The following table reconciles basic weighted-average shares outstanding to diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the three-monththree and nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018 and 2017, and 2016respectively (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
 

September 30,

  

September 30,

  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 
                                

Weighted-average shares outstanding-basic

  71,636   71,879   71,777   71,850   87,765   71,821   88,408   71,849 

Common stock equivalents for stock options and restricted stock

  818   -   714   873 

Common stock equivalents for stock options and restricted shares

  540   680   529   661 

Weighted-average shares outstanding-diluted

  72,454   71,879   72,491   72,723   88,305   72,501   88,937   72,510 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

Our accumulated other comprehensive loss balances as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 20162017 consist of adjustments to our pension liability and the related income tax benefit.effect. Our comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 20162017 consisted entirely of net income (loss).income. Therefore, thea consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) is not presented for the three and nine-monthor six-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 or 2016.2018 and 2017.


 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is computed principallyprincipally by the straight-line method. The following table lists the components of property and equipment by major category (dollars in thousands):

          

Estimated

 
  

June 30,

  

December 31,

  

Useful Lives

 
  

2018

  

2017

  

(in years)

 

Property and equipment:

              

Land

 $51,946  $50,458       

Buildings and improvements

  157,667   156,924   7to40 

Equipment

  528,442   511,878   3to20 
   738,055   719,260       

Accumulated depreciation

  (395,059)  (368,602)      

Total property and equipment, net

 $342,996  $350,658       

Maintenance, repairs and minor replacements are charged to operations as incurred; major replacements and betterments are capitalized. The cost of any assets divested, sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts at the time of disposition, and any resulting profit or loss is reflected in income or expense for the period.


In April 2017, the nine-months ended September 30,Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) began a process of reallocating the broadcast spectrum (the “Repack”). Specifically, the FCC is requiring certain television stations to change channels and/or modify their transmission facilities. The U.S. Congress passed legislation which provides the FCC with a $1.7 billion fund to reimburse all reasonable costs incurred by stations operating under a full power license and a portion of the costs incurred by stations operating under a low power license that are reassigned to new channels. Subsequent legislation in March 2018 appropriated an additional $1.0 billion for the repacking fund, of which up to $750.0 million may be made available to reimburse the Repack costs of full power and Class A television stations and multichannel video programming distributors. Other funds are earmarked to assist low power television stations and for other transition costs. The sufficiency of the FCC’s fund to reimburse for Repack costs is dependent upon a number of factors including the amounts to be reimbursed to other industry participants for repacking costs. Therefore, we cannot predict whether the fund will be sufficient to reimburse our Repack costs to the extent authorized under the legislation. Twenty-six of our current full power stations and thirty six of our current low power stations are affected by the Repack. The Repack process began in the summer of 2017 and will take approximately three years to complete. We anticipate that the majority of our total property and equipment balance, before accumulated depreciation, increased primarilycosts associated with the Repack will qualify for capitalization, rather than expense. Upon receipt of funds reimbursing us for our repacking costs, we record those proceeds as a resultcomponent of our (gain) loss on disposal of assets, net.

The following tables provide additional information related to gain on disposal of assets, net included in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and purchases of property and equipment acquiredincluded in connection with recent acquisitionsour condensed consolidated statements of television businesses. The remaining changes in the balances in the nine-months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were primarily due to routine property and equipment purchases and retirements. The following table lists the components of property and equipment by major category (dollars incash flows (in thousands):

 

          

Estimated

 
  

September 30,

  

December 31,

  

Useful Lives

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

(in years)

 

Property and equipment:

             

Land

 $49,651  $44,611      

Buildings and improvements

  154,391   139,078   7to40 

Equipment

  507,456   471,798   3to20 
   711,498   655,487      

Accumulated depreciation

  (359,537)  (329,394)     

Total property and equipment, net

 $351,961  $326,093      
  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 

Gain on disposal of assets, net:

                

Proceeds from sale of assets

 $63  $90,900  $104  $90,950 

Proceeds from FCC - Repack

  909   -   1,846   - 

Net book value of assets disposed

  (178)  (13,574)  (335)  (14,151)

Total

 $794  $77,326  $1,615  $76,799 
                 

Purchase of property and equipment:

                

Recurring purchases - operations

         $9,704  $10,287 

Repack

          10,211   128 

Total

         $19,915  $10,415 

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

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

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014,February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 provides new guidance on revenue recognition for revenue from contracts with customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance when it becomes effective. This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard is intended to improve comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities and provide more useful information through improved financial statement disclosures. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. ASU 2015-14 deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year to interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and permitted early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. The standard permits the use of either a retrospective to each reporting period presented method, or a retrospective with the cumulative effect method to adopt the standard. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. This ASU amends the guidance of ASU 2014-09 to clarify the identification of performance obligations and to provide additional licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. This ASU was issued to provide guidance in assessing collectibility, presentation of sales taxes, noncash consideration, and completed contracts and contract modifications at transition, in order to reduce the potential for diversity in practice at initial application, and to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the standard. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Technical Corrections and Improvements. This ASU was issued to clarify the standard and to correct unintended application of guidance. We have completed our internal evaluation of the standard and determined that the adoption of this standard will not have a material effect on our balance sheets and statements of operations. We have determined that we will utilize the modified retrospective method to implement the standard. We are evaluating our footnote disclosures and expect that this standard’s most significant impact will be expanded disclosures related to deferred revenue from customer pre-payments. We will continue to develop these disclosures and the related tasks of gathering data to be disclosed, assessing our internal controls and availing ourselves of broadcasting industry related guidance.


In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 amends the guidance in U.S. GAAP regarding the classification and measurement of financial instruments. The new standard significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 – Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 will supersede Topic 840, Leases,, and thus will supersede nearly all existing lease guidance by requiring the reclassification of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and requiring disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We have preliminarily determined that the adoption of this standard will not have a material effect on our statements of operations. However, thisThis standard is expected to have a material effect on our balance sheets. Specifically, we expect that, once adopted, we will record a right of use asset and lease obligation liability. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the values of those assets and related liabilities were each approximately $13.2$17.6 million. We are also evaluating our footnote disclosure requirements. We will continueare continuing to review our contractual obligations related to this standard, and develop our disclosures, assessing our internal controls and availing ourselves of broadcasting industry related guidance. We are making preparations for implementing lease accounting software with our current lease inventory.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 amends the guidance of U.S. GAAP with the intent of addressing eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. One or more of these eight issues are applicable to our financial statements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805) – Clarifying the Definition of a Business. ASU 2017-01 amends the guidance of U.S. GAAP with the intent of clarifying the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.


 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 amends the guidance of U.S. GAAP with the intent of simplifying how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. After adoption of the standard, the annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test will be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard allows for early adoption, but we have not yet made that determination.a determination as to whether to early-adopt this standard. We do not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) – Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2018-02 allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”). Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the TCJA and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because the amendments only relate to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the TCJA, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The standard allows for early adoption, but we have not yet made a determination as to whether to early-adopt this standard. We do not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.

Adoption of Accounting Standards and Reclassifications

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 – Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 amends the guidance in U.S. GAAP regarding the classification and measurement of financial instruments. This ASU significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. ASU 2016-01 requires equity investments previously measured at cost to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. However, equity investments without a readily determinable fair value may be measured using a proscribed measurement alternative that reflects current fair value with changes in the current fair value recognized in net income and includes a qualitative evaluation of impairment. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03 – Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2018-03 clarifies certain aspects of the guidance issued in ASU 2016-01. ASU 2018-03 is effective for interim periods beginning after June 15, 2018 but can be adopted early. We adopted the amendments in both updates concurrently beginning in the first quarter of 2018. We currently have equity investments in the television broadcasting industry that do not have readily determinable fair values. We have applied the measurement alternative as defined in the amendments. These investments are reported together as a non-current asset on our balance sheet. We evaluate these investments on an interim basis for impairment. Accordingly, the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

In March 2017, the FASB issuedissued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) - Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. ASU 2017-07 amends the guidance of U.S. GAAP with the intent of improving the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost by prescribing where the amount of net benefit cost should be presented in an employer’s income statement and requiring the disclosure by line item of the amount of net benefit cost that is included in the income statement or capitalized in assets. TheWe adopted this standard is effective for fiscalbeginning in the first quarter of 2018. Because our defined benefit pension plans were frozen in prior years, beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We dowe have not expect thatincurred any service cost in our condensed consolidated statements of operations during the three or six-months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017. Upon the adoption of this standard will have a material impact onwe reclassified our financial statements.net pension expense (benefit) from our operating expenses to our miscellaneous income, net. The amount was not material.

 


Adoption of Accounting Standards and Reclassifications

 

In November 2015,addition to the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Balance Sheet Classificationreclassification of Deferred Taxes. ASU 2015-17 requires a “noncurrent” presentation of all deferred income taxes. As required by our adoption of this standard, the affected amounts have been reclassified onnet pension expense (benefit) in our balance sheets for all periods presented.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, CompensationStock Compensation (Topic 718) – Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 amended the guidance in U.S. GAAP with the intent of simplifying several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards, and classification on thecondensed consolidated statement of cash flows. Our adoption of this standard included an adjustment to record the impact on our deferred asset related to the net federal and state income tax deductions for grants, and subsequent vesting, of restricted stock in excess of our book basis expense. Accordingly, we have recorded adjustments to increase our deferred tax asset and our accumulated deficit,operations as of January 1, 2017, by approximately $1.1 million. Beginning in 2017, we began recording similar net excess or deficit tax deductions as current tax benefit or expense and as reductions in the related income tax prepaid or payable, or deferred tax assets.

Certaindescribed above, certain amounts in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows have also been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.presentation.

 

2.

 AcquisitionsRevenue

 

Adoption of New Accounting Standard: ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

On January 13, 2017,1, 2018, we acquired KTVF-TV (NBC), KXDF-TV (CBS),adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as amended. We adopted this ASC using the modified retrospective method and KFXF-TV (FOX)as a result, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be presented as prescribed by the accounting standards in effect during the Fairbanks, Alaska television market (DMA 202), from Tanana Valley Television Company and Tanana Valley Holdings, LLC for $8.0 million (the “Fairbanks Acquisition”), using cashperiods presented. This transition method was applied to all open contracts with customers at the time of adoption. The adoption of this ASC did not result in an impact on hand.our current or historical results.

 

As described in Note 1. above, on January 17, 2017, we completed the Media General Acquisition, for an adjusted purchase priceDisaggregation of $269.9 million using cash on hand.Revenue

 

On May 1, 2017, we acquired WDTV-TV (CBS)The following table presents our revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by type of service and WVFX-TV (FOX/CW)sales channel (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 

Market and service type:

                

Advertising:

                

Local

 $112,921  $117,917  $218,390  $220,514 

National

  29,873   30,981   54,385   55,795 

Political

  18,070   3,708   23,845   5,029 

Total advertising

  160,864   152,606   296,620   281,338 

Retransmission consent

  85,307   69,371   170,858   136,944 

Other

  4,173   4,704   9,124   11,860 

Total revenue

 $250,344  $226,681  $476,602  $430,142 
                 

Sales channel:

                

Direct

 $135,302  $120,292  $268,724  $234,814 

Advertising agency intermediary

  115,042   106,389   207,878   195,328 

Total revenue

 $250,344  $226,681  $476,602  $430,142 

Advertising Revenue

Broadcast advertising revenue is generated primarily from the broadcast of television advertising time to local, national and political advertisers. Most advertising contracts are short-term, and generally run only for a few weeks. Our performance obligation is satisfied when the advertisement is broadcast or appears on our stations’ websites or mobile applications. Advertising revenue is recognized when the performance obligation is satisfied and then billed to the customer in the Clarksburg-Weston, West Virginia television market (DMA 169) from Withers Broadcasting Company of West Virginia (the “Clarksburg Acquisition”) for a total purchase price of $26.5 million. On June 1, 2016, we began operatingperiod the stations, subjectrevenue is recognized. We have an unconditional right to the controlreceive payment of the seller, under a local marketing agreement (“LMA”) that terminated upon completionamount billed generally within 30 days of the acquisition.

On May 1, 2017, we acquired WABI-TV (CBS/CW)invoice date. Payment terms are expressly stated in the Bangor, Maine television market (DMA 156)our standard terms and WCJB-TV (ABC/CW)conditions. The invoiced amount to be received is recorded in the Gainesville, Florida television market (DMA 159) from Community Broadcasting Service and Diversified Broadcasting, Inc. (collectively, the “Diversified Acquisition”) for a total purchase price of $85.0 million. On April 1, 2017, we began operating these stations, subject to the control of the seller, under an LMA that terminated upon completion of the acquisition.

On August 1, 2017, we acquired WCAX-TV (CBS) in the Burlington, Vermont – Plattsburgh, New York television markets (DMA 97) from Mt. Mansfield Television, Inc., for $29.0 million in cash (the “Vermont Acquisition”). On June 1, 2017, we advanced $23.2 million of the purchase price to the seller and began to operate the station under an LMA, subject to the control of the seller. At closing, we paid the remaining $5.8 million of the purchase price through the use of cashaccounts receivable on hand and the LMA was terminated.our balance sheet.

 

We referbroadcast the customer’s advertisement either preceding or following a television station’s network programming and within local and syndicated programming. Broadcast advertising is sold in time increments and is priced primarily on the basis of a program’s popularity among the specific audience an advertiser desires to reach. In addition, broadcast advertising rates are affected by the eight stations acquired (excludingnumber of advertisers competing for the stations acquiredavailable time, the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station and the availability of alternative advertising media in the Clarksburg Acquisition)market area. Broadcast advertising rates are generally the highest during the first nine monthsmost desirable viewing hours, with corresponding reductions during other hours. The ratings of 2017a local station affiliated with a major network can be affected by ratings of network programming. Internet advertising is placed on our stations’ websites and the stations we commenced operating under LMAs during that period as the “2017 Acquisitions.” We refer to the 13 stations acquired in 2016, and that we retained in those acquisitions (including the stationsmobile applications. These advertisements may be in the Clarksburg Acquisition that we commenced operating under an LMA on June 1, 2016) as the “2016 Acquisitions.”form of banner advertisements, pre-roll advertisements or video and other types of advertisements or sponsorships.

 


 

We generate advertising revenue either by the efforts of our direct sales employees or through third party advertising agency intermediaries. Third party advertising intermediaries represent the customer and contract with us to deliver broadcast or internet advertising for the customer.

We record revenue and expense for non-monetary trade transactions involving the exchange of tangible goods or services with our customers. The following table summarizes preliminary fair value estimates ofrevenue is recorded at the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and resulting goodwill oftime the 2017 Acquisitionsadvertisement is broadcast and the Clarksburg Acquisition (in thousands):

  

Acquisition

     
  

Fairbanks

  

Media General

  

Clarksburg

  

Diversified

  

Vermont

  

Total

 
                         

Current assets

 $122  $666  $462  $361  $312  $1,923 

Property and equipment

  2,650   20,181   4,133   12,329   9,513   48,806 

Goodwill

  471   86,287   3,222   35,486   316   125,782 

Broadcast licenses

  2,228   149,846   17,003   26,219   7,592   202,888 

Other intangible assets

  2,702   13,398   2,234   11,051   8,268   37,653 

Other non-current assets

  71   282   51   27   3,310   3,741 

Current liabilities

  (140)  (695)  (554)  (423)  (311)  (2,123)

Other long-term liabilities

  (84)  -   (51)  (50)  -   (185)
                         

Total

 $8,020  $269,965  $26,500  $85,000  $29,000  $418,485 

Amounts inexpense is recorded at the table abovetime the goods or services are used. The revenue and expense associated with these transactions are based upon management’s preliminary estimates of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. 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. 

Property and equipment are being depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from three years to 40 years.

Other intangible assets represent primarily the estimated fair values of retransmission agreements of $29.1 million; advertising client relationships of $5.3 million; and favorable income leases of $3.0 million. These intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of approximately 4.9 years for retransmission agreements; approximately 10.7 years for advertising client relationships; and approximately 11.9 years for favorable income leases.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquiredor services received.

Retransmission Consent Revenue

We enter into license agreements with cable, satellite, multichannel video programming distributors and liabilities assumed,digital delivery system (or “OTT”) customers (collectively “MVPD”) that provide them the right to use our broadcast signal for retransmission across the MVPD system for an agreed period of time. These agreements represent a sales and representsusage based functional intellectual property license based on the future economic benefits expectednumber of subscribers to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualifythe licensee’s delivery systems. Our performance obligation is to provide the licensee with access to our intellectual property when it is broadcast. The duration of the typical retransmission consent contract is three years. Retransmission consent revenue is recognized continuously during the period of the contract as we transmit our broadcast signal to the MVPD. The amount of revenue recognized is determined based upon a fixed rate per subscriber multiplied by the number of active subscribers to our MVPD customer systems for separate recognition, including assembled workforce, as well as future synergies that we expect to generate from each acquisition.the given month. We bill our MVPD customers monthly over the life of the retransmission consent contract. We have preliminarilyan unconditional right to receive payment of the amount billed generally within 30 days from the invoice date. Payment terms are expressly stated in our retransmission consent contracts and standard terms and conditions. The invoiced amount to be received is recorded $125.8 million of goodwill related to 2017 Acquisitions. The use of different estimates or assumptions could result in materially different allocations. The goodwill recognized related to these acquisitions is deductible for income tax purposes.accounts receivable on our balance sheet.

 

Our consolidated resultsSubscriber data necessary to calculate the amount of operationsretransmission consent revenue to be recognized for the threecurrent month is not received until subsequent to that month. We estimate the current month retransmission consent revenue based upon the subscriber data from the most recent subscriber report by the MVDP. We record the estimate in the current month as retransmission consent revenue and nine-months ended September 30, 2017 includethen adjust the resultsamount recorded in that month when we receive the actual subscriber data. We typically have monthly adjustments to our revenue to account for changes in MVPD subscribers on a monthly basis, however, the number of MVPD subscribers does not change materially on a monthly basis and this adjustment does not materially impact our recorded retransmission consent revenue on a quarterly or annual basis.

Other Revenues

Other revenues consist of production, tower rental and other miscellaneous items. Production revenue is derived from the production of programming. Production revenue is recognized as the programming is produced. Tower rental income is recognized monthly over the life of the 2017 Acquisitions fromlease. All of our leases under which we are lessor are considered operating leases. Other revenue is comprised of one-time or infrequently occurring special projects, dubbing, fees and other miscellaneous items. Other revenue is recognized as the dateservices are performed. Other revenue is generated by our direct sales employees.

Accounts Receivable and Deposit Liability

When we invoice our customers for completed performance obligations, we are unconditionally entitled to receive payment of the respective transaction. Revenueinvoiced amounts. Therefore, we record invoiced amounts in accounts receivable on our balance sheet. We generally require amounts due to us under advertising contracts with our political advertising customers to be paid for in advance. We record the receipt of this cash as deposit liabilities. Once the advertisements have been broadcast, the revenues are earned, and operating income attributable towe record these revenues and reduce the stations acquiredbalance in the 2017 Acquisitions and includedthis deposit liabilities. Our deposit libilities of $3.8 million as of January 1, 2018 have been or will be recognized in revenue in 2018. We believe that our consolidated statementsdeposit libilities of operations for the nine-months ended September$4.8 million as of June 30, 2017 were $54.2 million and $25.2 million, respectively. In connection with the 2017 Acquisitions, we incurred a total of $1.0 million of transaction related costs during the nine-months ended September 30, 2017, primarily related to legal, consulting and other professional services. Revenue and operating income attributable to the stations acquired2018 will be recognized as revenue later in the 2016 Acquisitions and included in our consolidated statements of operations for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 were $87.9 million and $35.3 million, respectively.2018.

 


 

Expedients

We expense direct and agency commissions when incurred because our advertising contracts are one year or less in duration and the amortization period for capitalized expenses would be less than one year. Direct commissions are included in broadcast operating expense and agency commissions are netted against gross revenue in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The nature of our contracts with advertising customers is such that our performance obligations arise and are satisfied concurrent with the broadcast or web placement of the advertisement. We did not have incomplete or unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of any period presented. We record a deposit liability for cash deposits received from our customers that are to be applied as payment once the performance obligation arises and is satisfied in the manner stated above. These deposits are recorded as deposit liabilities on our balance sheet.

3.Long-term Debt.

 Long-term Debt

 

As of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, long-term debt primarily consisted of obligations under our 2017 Senior Credit Facility (as defined below), our 2014 Senior Credit Facility (as defined below), our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) and our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), as follows (in thousands):

 

 

September 30,

  

December 31,

  

June 30,

  

December 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

 

Long-term debt including current portion:

        

2014 Senior Credit Facility

 $-  $556,438 

Long-term debt :

        

2017 Senior Credit Facility

  636,838   -  $632,026  $635,234 

2024 Notes

  525,000   525,000   525,000   525,000 

2026 Notes

  700,000   700,000   700,000   700,000 

Total outstanding principal

  1,861,838   1,781,438   1,857,026   1,860,234 

Unamortized deferred loan costs - 2014 Senior Credit Facility

  -   (12,158)

Unamortized deferred loan costs - 2017 Senior Credit Facility

  (12,406)  -   (10,519)  (11,777)

Unamortized deferred loan costs - 2024 Notes

  (6,993)  (7,742)  (6,244)  (6,743)

Unamortized deferred loan costs - 2026 Notes

  (9,751)  (10,588)  (8,915)  (9,473)

Unamortized premium - 2026 Notes

  5,339   5,797   4,881   5,187 

Carrying value of long-term debt

  1,836,229   1,837,428 

Less current portion

  (6,417)  -   (37,000)  (6,417)

Net carrying value

 $1,831,610  $1,756,747 

Carrying value of long-term debt, less current portion

 $1,799,229  $1,831,011 
                

Borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility

 $100,000  $60,000  $100,000  $100,000 

 

On February 7, 2017, we entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2017 Senior Credit Facility”),. As of June 30, 2018, the 2017 Senior Credit Facility provided total commitments of $732.0 million, consisting of a $556.4$632.0 million term loan facility (the “2017 Initial Term Loan”) and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility (the “2017 Revolving Credit Facility”). Amounts outstanding under the 2017 Initial Term Loan were used to repay amounts outstanding under our prior credit agreement (the “2014 Senior Credit Facility”). On April 3, 2017, we borrowed $85.0 million under an incremental term loan (the “2017 Incremental Term Loan” and, together with the 2017 Initial Term Loan, the “2017 Term Loan”) under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility to fund the Diversified Acquisition. As of September 30, 2017, the 2017 Senior Credit Facility provided total commitments of $736.8 million, consisting of the $636.8 million 2017 Term Loan and the $100.0 million 2017 Revolving Credit Facility. Our quarterly principal payments under the 2017 Term Loan are $1.6 million.

 

Prior toFor all of our interest bearing obligations, we made interest payments of approximately $47.0 million and $50.9 million during the entry intosix-months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We did not capitalize any interest payments during the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, the 2014 Senior Credit Facility consisted of a revolving loan and a term loan. Excluding accrued interest, the amount outstanding under our 2014 Senior Credit Facility as of December 31, 2016 consisted solely of a term loan balance of $556.4 million. As of December 31, 2016, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the 2014 Senior Credit Facility was 3.9%.six-months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017.

 

Borrowings under the 2017 Term Loancurrently bear interest, at our option, at either the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the Base Rate (as defined below), in each case, plus an applicable margin. Currently, the applicable margin is 2.25% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for Base Rate borrowings. The applicable margin is determined quarterly based on our leverage ratio as set forth in the 2017 Senior Credit Facility (the “Leverage Ratio”). If our Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 5.25 to 1.00, the applicable margin will beis 2.25% for all LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for all Base Rate borrowings, and if the Leverage Ratio is greater than 5.25 to 1.00, the applicable margin will beis 2.5% for all LIBOR borrowings and 1.5% for all Base Rate borrowings. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the 2017 Term Loan was 3.7%4.3%.


 

Borrowings under the 2017 Revolving Credit Facility currently bear interest, at our option, at either LIBOR plus 1.50% or Base Rate plus 0.50%, in each case based on a first lien leverage ratio test as set forth in the 2017 Senior Credit Facility (the “First Lien Leverage Ratio”). Base Rate is defined as the greatest of (i) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (ii) the overnight federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. We are required to pay a commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the 2017 Revolving Credit Facility, which rate may range from 0.375% to 0.50% on an annual basis, based on the First Lien Leverage Ratio. The 2017 Revolving Credit Facility matures on February 7, 2022, and the 2017 Term Loan matures on February 7, 2024.


 As a result of entering into the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $2.9 million in the nine-months ended September 30, 2017, and we incurred approximately $5.0 million in deferred financing costs that will be amortized over the life of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility.

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $525.0 million of 2024 Notes outstanding. The interest rate and yield on the 2024 Notes were 5.125%. The 2024 Notes mature on October 15, 2024. Interest is payable semiannually, on April 15 and October 15 of each year.

On June 14, 2016, we completed the private placement of $500.0 million of our 2026 Notes (the “Original 2026 Notes”) at par. On September 14, 2016, we completed the private placement of an additional $200.0 million of our 2026 Notes (the “Additional 2026 Notes”). The Additional 2026 Notes were issued at a price of 103.0%, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $206.0 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest from and including June 14, 2016. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $700.0 million of 2026 Notes outstanding. The interest rate and yield on the Original 2026 Notes were 5.875%. The interest rate and yield on the Additional 2026 Notes were 5.875% and 5.398%, respectively. The Additional 2026 Notes are an additional issuance of, rank equally with and form a single series with the Original 2026 Notes. The 2026 Notes mature on July 15, 2026. Interest is payable semiannually, on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

Collateral, Covenants and Restrictions

 

Our obligations under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our consolidated assets, excluding real estate. In addition, substantially all of our subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors of, and our ownership interests in those subsidiaries are pledged to collateralize, our obligations under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. Gray Television, Inc. is a holding company, withand has no material independent assets or operations. For all applicable periods, the 2024 Notes and 2026 Notes have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several, senior unsecured basis, by substantially all of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries. Any subsidiaries of Gray Television, Inc. that do not guranteeguarantee the 2024 Notes and 2026 Notes are minor. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, there were no significant restrictions on the ability of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries to distribute cash to Gray or to the guarantor subsidaries.subsidiaries.

 

The 2017 Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative and restrictive covenants with which we must comply, including: (a) limitationslimitations on additional indebtedness, (b) limitations on liens, (c) limitations on the sale of assets, (d) limitations on guarantees, (e) limitations on investments and acquisitions, (f) limitations on the payment of dividends and share repurchases, (g) limitations on mergers and (h) maintenance of the First Lien Leverage Ratio while any amount is outstanding under the revolving credit facility,2017 Revolving Credit Facility, as well as other customary covenants for credit facilities of this type. The 2026 Notes and 2024 Notes include covenants with which we must comply which are typical for borrowing transactions of their nature. As of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, we were in compliance with all required covenants under all our debt obligations.

 

Maturities

Aggregate minimum principal maturities on long-term debt asOn July 27, 2018, we prepaid $37.0 million of September 30,our 2017 were as follows (in thousands):Term Loan in order to comply with the 2017 Senior Credit Facility's requirements related to our sale of broadcast spectrum in the FCC's 2017 spectrum auction. This prepayment satisfied all future quarterly payment obligations under the 2017 Term loan.

  

Minimum Principal Maturities

 

Year

 

2017 Senior

Credit Facility

  

2024 Notes

  

2026 Notes

  

Total

 

2017

 $1,604  $-  $-  $1,604 

2018

  6,417   -   -   6,417 

2019

  6,417   -   -   6,417 

2020

  6,417   -   -   6,417 

2021

  6,417   -   -   6,417 

Thereafter

  609,566   525,000   700,000   1,834,566 

Total

 $636,838  $525,000  $700,000  $1,861,838 

 


4.4.      Fair Value Measurement

 Fair Value Measurement

 

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

Equity Investments Without Readily Determinable Fair Values

 

We have equity investments in privately held broadcasting and technology companies for which there is no readily determinable fair value. As such, we have elected the measurement alternative to measure our equity investments as provided by ASC Topic 321, Investments – Equity Securities. The measurement alternative is intended to reflect current fair value by taking the cost basis of each investment and subtracting impairment, if any, while adding or subtracting changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.


The carrying amount of our equity investments without readily determinable fair values was $16.6 million as of each of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. There were no impairment charges or changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer for the period ended June 30, 2018.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

 

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

 

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

 

The carrying amount of our long-term debt was $1.9$1.8 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, and the fair value was $1.9$1.8 billion and $1.8$1.9 billion, respectively, as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016.2017. Fair value of our long-term debt is based on observable estimates provided by third-party financial professionals as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 20162017 and as such is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

5.     Stockholders’ Equity

 

5.

 Stockholders’ Equity

We areAs of June 30, 2018, we were authorized to issue 135245.0 million shares in total of all classes of stock consisting of which 15200.0 million shares are designatedof common stock, 25.0 million shares of Class A common stock 100and 20.0 million shares are designated common stock, and 20 million shares are designated “blank check”of preferred stock, for which our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors has the authority to determine the rights, powers, limitations and restrictions. As of June 30, 2018, we had outstanding 82.0 million shares of common stock and 6.7 million shares of Class A common stock. No shares of preferred stock were outstanding. The rights of our common stock and Class A common stock are identical, except that our Class A common stock has 10 votes per share and our common stock has one vote per share.share on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Our common stock and Class A common stock are entitled to receive cash dividends if declared, on an equal per-share basis. For the threesix-months ended June 30, 2018 and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, and 2016, we did not declare or pay any common stock or Class A common stock dividends.

 

In each of March and November 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to repurchase up to 2.0 million shares of the Company's common stock and Class A common stock. In March 2006, thisthis authorization was increased to an aggregate of 5.0 million shares (the “2004-2006 Repurchase Authorization”). As of December 31, 2016,June 30, 2018, 279,200 shares remain available for repurchase under this authorization, which has no expiration date. On November 6, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to purchase up to an additional $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock prior to December 31, 2019 (the “2016 Repurchase Authorization”).

The 2016 Repurchase Authorization prohibits the Company from purchasing shares directly from the Company’s officers, directors, or the Gray Television, Inc. Capital Accumulation Plan (the “401k Plan”“401(k) plan”). During the nine monthssix-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, under the 2016 Repurchase Authorization, we purchased 322,0381,551,710 shares of our common stock at an average purchase price, including related brokerage commissions, of $12.39$12.64 per share, under the 2016 Repurchase Authorization, for a total cost of $4.0$19.6 million. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017, $69.02018, $49.5 million remains available to purchase shares of our common stock under the 2016 Repurchase Authorization.


The extent to which the Company repurchases any of its shares, the number of shares and the timing of any repurchases will depend on general market conditions, regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities and other considerations. TheThe Company is not required to repurchase a minimum number of shares, and the repurchase authorizations may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice.


 

Under our various employee benefit plans,, including our 401k Plan, we may, at our discretion, issue authorized and unissued shares, or previously issued shares held in treasury, of our Class A common stock or Class A common stock. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we had reserved 1,923,1447,078,916 shares and 7,632,4651,703,064 shares of our Class A common stock and Class A common stock, respectively, for future issuance under various employee benefit plans.

 

6.     Retirement Plans.

 Retirement Plans

 

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost or income for our defined benefit pension plans for the three-month and nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 20162017 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
 

September 30,

  

September 30,

  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 

Service cost

 $-  $-  $-  $- 

Interest cost

  1,167   1,185   3,502   3,554  $1,106  $1,528  $2,212  $2,335 

Expected return on plan assets

  (1,412)  (1,298)  (4,236)  (3,892)  (1,536)  (1,848)  (3,072)  (2,824)

Loss amortization

  121   153   363   458   169   158   339   242 

Net periodic (benefit) cost

 $(124) $40  $(371) $120 

Net periodic income, net

 $(261) $(162) $(521) $(247)

 

During the nine-monthsix-month period ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we contributed $0.6 milliondid not make any contribution to our defined benefit pension plans. During the remainder of 2017,2018, we expect to make additional contributionscontribute $2.0 million to these plans of between $1.7 million and $2.4 million.plans.

 

During the three and nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we contributed $1.4$1.6 million and $5.0$3.5 million, respectively, in matching contributions to the 401kour 401(k) Plan. During the remainder of 2017,2018, we estimate that our contributions to this plan will be approximately $1.5$3.2 million to this plan, excluding discretionary profit-sharing contributions.

 

7.

7. Stock-based Compensation

 Share-based Compensation

 

We recognize compensation expense for share-basedstock-based payment awards made to our employees, consultants and directors, including stock options and restricted shares awarded underdirectors. Our current stock-based compensation plans include our 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2017 EICP”); our 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2007 Incentive Plan”); and our Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. Currently, there are no outstanding share awards under our Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan. The following table provides information on our share-basedstock-based compensation expense and related income tax benefit for the three and nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016, respectively2017 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
 

September 30,

  

September 30,

  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 

Stock-based compensation expense, gross

 $1,532  $1,271  $4,305  $3,827  $1,742  $1,434  $3,899  $2,772 

Income tax benefit at our statutory rate associated with share-based compensation

  (597)  (496)  (1,679)  (1,493)
Forfeitures  (528)  -   (528)  - 

Income tax benefit at our statutory rate associated with stock-based compensation

  (308)  (559)  (856)  (1,081)

Stock-based compensation expense, net

 $935  $775  $2,626  $2,334  $906  $875  $2,515  $1,691 

 

TheAll shares of common stock and Class A common stock underlying outstanding options, restricted stock units and performance awards are counted as issued at target levels under the 2017 EICP,provides for, and, while awards were available for grant thereunder the 2007 Incentive Plan providedand the Directors’ Restricted Stock Plan for purposes of determining the grantnumber of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, and performance awards to acquire shares of our Class A common stock or common stock, or other awards based on our performance, to our employees, consultants and non-employee directors.available for future issuance.


 

During the nine-month periodsix-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018, we granted under the 2017 we granted:EICP:

 

 

110,040 shares of restricted Class A common stock with a grant date fair value per share of $12.65 to an employee, of which 36,680 shares will vest on each of February 28, 2019, 2020 and 2021;


110,040 shares of restricted Class A common stock with a grant date fair value per share of $12.65 to an employee, subject to the achievement of certain performance measures, which will vest on February 28, 2021;

318,196 shares of restricted common stock with a grant date fair value per share of $15.25 to certain employees; net of forfeitures, 131,106 shares will vest on February 28, 2019; 69,651 shares will vest on February 28, 2020; and 69,652 shares will vest on February 28, 2021; and

73,640 shares of restricted common stock to our non-employee directors, all of which will vest on May 31, 2019.

During the six-months ended June 30, 2017, we granted:

Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, 307,943 shares of restricted common stock to certain employees, of which 102,648 shares vested on January 31, 2018; net of forefeitures, 86,783 shares will vest on each of January 31, 2018 and 2019; and 102,64786,781 shares will vest on January 31, 2020;

 

Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, 198,220 shares of restricted Class A common stock to an employee, of which 66,073 shares vested on January 31, 2018; 66,073 shares will vest on each of January 31, 2018 and 2019,2019; and 66,074 shares will vest on January 31, 2020; and

 

Under the 2017 EICP, 76,856 shares of restricted Class A common stock to our non-employee directors, all of which will vestvested on January 31, 2018.

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016, we granted:

218,452 shares of restricted common stock to certain employees, of which 72,816 shares vested on January 31, 2017; 72,816 shares will vest on January 31, 2018; and 72,820 shares will vest on January 31, 2019;

166,677 shares of restricted Class A common stock to an employee, of which 55,559 shares vested on January 31, 2017 and 55,559 shares will vest on each of January 31, 2018 and 2019; and

19,048 shares of restricted common stock and 51,935 shares of restricted Class A common stock to certain non-employee directors, all of which vested on January 31, 2017.

 

A summary of restricted common stock and Class A common stock activity for the nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018 and 2017, and 2016respectively, is as follows:

 

 

Nine Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
 

September 30, 2017

  

September 30, 2016

  

June 30, 2018

  

June 30, 2017

 
     

Weighted-

      

Weighted-

      

Weighted-

      

Weighted-

 
     

average

      

average

      

average

      

average

 
     

Grant Date

      

Grant Date

      

Grant Date

      

Grant Date

 
 

Number of

  

Fair Value

  

Number of

  

Fair Value

  

Number of

  

Fair Value

  

Number of

  

Fair Value

 
 

Shares

  

Per Share

  

Shares

  

Per Share

  

Shares

  

Per Share

  

Shares

  

Per Share

 

Restricted stock - common:

                                

Outstanding - beginning of period

  396,033   $12.06   337,506   $9.57     503,685  $11.14   396,033  $12.06 

Granted

  307,943   $10.40   237,500   $12.88   391,836  $14.63   307,943  $10.40 

Vested

  (200,291)  $11.82   (178,973)  $8.46     (225,570) $11.21   (200,291) $11.82 

Forfeited

  (91,057) $13.27   -  $- 

Outstanding - end of period

  503,685   $11.14   396,033   $12.06   578,894  $13.14   503,685  $11.14 
                                

Restricted stock - class A common:

                

Restricted stock - Class A common:

                

Outstanding - beginning of period

  415,082   $10.15   374,693   $9.46     462,632  $10.63   415,082  $10.15 

Granted

  275,076   $10.84   218,612   $11.25 

Granted (1)

  220,080  $12.65   275,076  $10.84 

Vested

  (274,926) $10.48   (227,526) $10.00 

Restricted stock - end of period

  407,786  $11.82   462,632  $10.63 
                

Restricted stock units - common stock:

                

Outstanding - beginning of period

  209,500  $15.70         

Vested

  (227,526)  $10.00   (178,223)  $10.04   (209,500) $15.70         

Outstanding - end of period

  462,632   $10.63   415,082   $10.15   -  $-         

(1)     For awards subject to future performance conditions, amounts assume target performance.


 

At September June 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, we had outstanding options to acquire 274,746 shares of our common stock, all of which were vested and exercisable. The exercise price of all our outstanding stock options is $1.99 per share. As of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, we did not have any options outstanding stock options for our Class A common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of our outstanding stock options was $3.8 million based on the closing market price of our common stock on SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018.

In October 2017, we granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) representing 215,500 shares of our common stock to certain non-executive employees, under the provisions of our 2017 EICP. These RSUs will vest on January 31, 2018 and may be settled only by the issuance of shares of our common stock. These RSUs were valued at $3.4 million as of their date of grant. This value will be recorded in our operating expenses on a straight-line basis over the four-month vesting period.

 


8.      Commitments and Contingencies

 

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

 

Pending Acquisition – Sioux Falls

On May 1, 2018, we entered into an agreement to acquire KDLT-TV (NBC), a television station serving the Sioux Falls, South Dakota market (DMA 110), for $32.5 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. We expect that this transaction will close in the third quarter of 2018, using cash on hand.

Pending Merger with Raycom Media

On June 23, 2018, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with, among others, Raycom Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Raycom Merger”). Upon completion of the Raycom Merger, Raycom is expected to become a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Gray and, prior to any station divestitures due to market overlaps, we will own and/or operate 142 full-power television stations serving 92 markets. At that time, our station portfolio would reach approximately 24 percent of U.S. television households through nearly 400 separate program streams including approximately 165 affiliates of the ABC/ NBC/CBS/FOX networks, and over 100 affiliates of CW, MyNetwork, and MeTV. These stations were ranked number-one in all day Nielsen ratings in 62 of the combined markets, and in 92% of the combined markets were the number-one or number-two ranked television station. In addition to high quality television stations, we expect to acquire additional Raycom businesses that provide sports marketing, production and digital signage services, resulting in our becoming a more diversified media company.

The aggregate consideration consists of 11,500,000 shares of our common stock, $2.85 billion in cash (subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Merger Agreement) and 650,000 shares of a new series of perpetual preferred stock of the Company, with a stated face value of $1,000 per share (the “New Preferred Stock”).

We have agreed to file a registration statement, following the effective time of the Raycom Merger, covering the resale of the shares of the common stock issuable in the Raycom Merger. 

Shares of the New Preferred Stock will be issuable to holders of warrants to purchase shares of Raycom capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger. The New Preferred Stock will accrue dividends at 8% per annum payable in cash or 8.5% per annum payable in the form of additional New Preferred Stock, at the election of Gray. The holders of the New Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote on any matter submitted to the stockholders of the Company for a vote, except as required by Georgia law. Upon a liquidation of the Company, holders of the New Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a liquidation preference equal to $1,000 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends.

Also on June 23, 2018, and in connection with our entry into the Merger Agreement, we entered into a financing commitment letter with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and a syndicate of other lenders, pursuant to which it has committed to provide the debt financing in the form of an incremental term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $2.525 billion for a portion of the purchase price to be paid to complete the Raycom Merger and the refinancing of certain existing indebtedness of Raycom. The commitment letter contains conditions to funding of the debt financing customary for commitments of this type. The incremental term loan will be secured on a pari passu basis with the other obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. Various economic terms of the debt financing are subject to change in the process of syndication.


The consummation of the Raycom Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions, including: (i) the receipt of approval from the Federal Communications Commission, (ii) the expiration or early termination of the waiting period applicable to the Raycom Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (iii) the absence of certain legal impediments to the consummation of the Raycom Merger, and (iv) the receipt of certain customary third-party consents. We believe that the Raycom Merger will be completed during the fourth quarter of 2018. Either party may terminate the Raycom Merger if it is not consummated on or before June 30, 2019, with an automatic extension to September 30, 2019 if necessary to obtain regulatory approval under the circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement.

9.Goodwill and Intangible Assets

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, we acquired and disposed of various television broadcast stations and broadcast licenses. See Note 2 “Acquisitions and Dispositions” for more information regarding these transactions. As a result of these transactions, our goodwill and other intangible asset balances changed. A summary of changes in our goodwill and other intangible assets, on a net basis, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 is as follows (in thousands):

  

Net Balance at

  

Acquisitions

              

Net Balance at

 
  

December 31,

  

And

              

September 30,

 
  

2016

  

Adjustments

  

Dispositions

  

Impairments

  

Amortization

  

2017

 
                         

Goodwill

 $485,318  $125,782  $-  $-  $-  $611,100 

Broadcast licenses

  1,340,305   202,923   (13,105)  -   -   1,530,123 

Definite lived intangible assets

  56,250   42,606   -   -   (18,684)  80,172 

Total intangible assets net of accumulated amortization

 $1,881,873  $371,311  $(13,105) $-  $(18,684) $2,221,395 

 

As of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, our intangible assets and related accumulated amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

As of September 30, 2017

  

As of December 31, 2016

  As of June 30, 2018 As of December 31, 2017 
     

Accumulated

          

Accumulated

          

Accumulated

          

Accumulated

     
 

Gross

  

Amortization

  

Net

  

Gross

  

Amortization

  

Net

  

Gross

  

Amortization

  

Net

  

Gross

  

Amortization

  

Net

 

Intangible assets not currently subject to amortization:

                                                

Broadcast licenses

 $1,583,822  $(53,699) $1,530,123  $1,394,004  $(53,699) $1,340,305  $1,584,402  $(53,699) $1,530,703  $1,584,402  $(53,699) $1,530,703 

Goodwill

  611,100   -   611,100   485,318   -   485,318   611,100   -   611,100   611,100   -   611,100 
 $2,194,922  $(53,699) $2,141,223  $1,879,322  $(53,699) $1,825,623  $2,195,502  $(53,699) $2,141,803  $2,195,502  $(53,699) $2,141,803 
                                                

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

                                                

Network affiliation agreements

 $6,134  $(2,905) $3,229  $1,264  $(1,264) $-  $6,134  $(4,842) $1,292   6,134  $(3,551) $2,583 

Other definite lived intangible assets

  143,446   (66,503)  76,943   105,792   (49,542)  56,250   143,446   (81,542)  61,904   143,446   (72,245)  71,201 
 $149,580  $(69,408) $80,172  $107,056  $(50,806) $56,250  $149,580  $(86,384) $63,196  $149,580  $(75,796) $73,784 
                                                

Total intangibles

 $2,344,502  $(123,107) $2,221,395  $1,986,378  $(104,505) $1,881,873  $2,345,082  $(140,083) $2,204,999  $2,345,082  $(129,495) $2,215,587 

 

Amortization expense for the nine-month periodssix-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018 and 2017 and 2016 was $18.7$10.6 million and $12.4$12.2 million, respectively. Based on the current amount of intangible assets subject to amortization, we expect that amortization expense for the remainder of 2018 will be approximately $10.0 million, and, for the succeeding five years, amortization expense will be approximately as follows: 2018, $20.4 million; 2019, $15.2$15.4 million; 2020, $12.2$12.4 million; 2021, $8.1$8.3 million; 2022, $4.8 million; and 2022, $4.82023, $2.9 million. If and when acquisitions and dispositions occur in the future, actual amounts may vary materially from these estimates.


 

Impairment of goodwill and broadcast licenses

 

Our intangible assets are primarily comprised of broadcast licenses.licenses. There were no triggering events that required a test of our goodwill or intangible assets for impairment during the nine-month periodssix-month period ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 or 2016.2018.

 


10. Income Taxes

 

For the threethree-month and nine-monthsix-month periods ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 and 2016,2017, our income tax expense and effective income tax rates were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

  

Six Months Ended

 
 

September 30,

  

September 30,

  

June 30,

  

June 30,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 

Income tax expense

 $10,529  $797  $65,751  $19,109  $14,856  $47,893  $21,256  $55,222 

Effective income tax rate

  40.7%  136.5%  40.6%  42.0%  26.7%  40.4%  26.0%  40.5%

 

We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarter is based upon these full-yearfull year projections, which are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits to adjust our statutory Federal income tax rate of 21.0% in 2018 and 35.0% in 2017 to our effective income tax rate. For the nine-monthsix-month period ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 21.0% to our effective income tax rate of 26.0% as follows: state income taxes added 4.7%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.0%, and a discrete share-based compensation adjustment resulted in a reduction of 0.7%. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2017, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 40.6%40.5% as follows: state income taxes added 4.3% and permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.3%. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0% to our effective income tax rate of 42.0% as follows: state income taxes added 4.6%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 2.1%, and discrete items added 1.0%, whileshare-based compensation adjustments to our reserve for uncertain tax positions resulted in a reduction of 0.7%0.1%.

We made income tax payments (net of refunds) of approximately $12.0 million and $0.9 million during the six-months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 


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

 

Executive Overview

 

Introduction

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of Gray Television, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (except as the context otherwise provides, “Gray,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our,”“our”) isshould be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein, as well as with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “2017 Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC.

Business Overview

We are a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that owns and/orand operates over 100 television stations and leading digital assets in markets throughout the United States. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, we owned and operated television stations in 57 television markets broadcasting over 200 separate programming streams, including over 100 affiliates of the CBS/NBC/ABC/FOX networks.

In addition to a primary broadcast channel, each of our stations can also broadcast additional secondary digital channels within a market by utilizing the same bandwidth, but with different programming from the primary channel. In addition to affiliations with ABC, CBS and FOX, our secondary channels are affiliated with numerous smaller networks and program services including, among others, the CBS Network (“CBS”)CW, MY, MeTV, This TV, Ant., the NBC Network (“NBC”), the ABC Network (“ABC”)Telemundo, Cozi, Heroes and the FOX Network (“FOX”). AsIcons and MOVIES! networks. Certain of September 30, 2017, our secondary digital channels are affiliated with more than one network simultaneously. We also broadcast local news/weather channels in some markets. Our combined TV station group reachedreaches approximately 10.4% of total United States television households.

 

The following analysisBased on the consolidated results of the financial conditionfour Nielsen “sweeps” periods in 2017, our television stations achieved the #1 ranking in overall audience in 42 of our 57 markets and resultsthe #1 ranking in local news audience in 38 of operations our markets. In addition, our stations achieved the #1 or #2 ranking in both overall audience and news audience in all 57of Gray Television, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this report and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “2016 Form 10-K”).57 markets.

 

Recent Acquisitions

 

On January 13,Over the last several years, the television broadcasting industry has been characterized by a high number of transactions resulting in continued industry consolidation. We believe that there continues to be a number of television stations, and various station groups, that have attractive operating profiles and characteristics, and that share our commitment to local news coverage in the communities in which they operate and to creating high-quality and locally-driven content. In addition, at June 30, 2018, we have a pending acquisition of KDLT-TV (NBC), a television station serving the Sioux Falls, South Dakota market (DMA 110) which we expect to close in the third quarter of 2018, and the Raycom Merger, described below. We expect to continue to evaluate other opportunities for the acquisition of additional television stations or station groups that fit our strategic and operational objectives, and where we believe that we can improve revenue, efficiencies and cash flow through active management and cost controls. As we consider potential acquisitions, we evaluate, among other things, potential station audience and revenue shares and the extent to which the acquisition target would positively impact our existing station operations. Consistent with this strategy, from October 31, 2013 through December 31, 2017, we completed 23 acquisition transactions and three divestiture transactions. These transactions added a net total of 51 television stations in 31 television markets, including 26 new television markets, to our operations including eight stations acquired KTVF-TV (NBC), KXDF-TV (CBS), and KFXF-TV (FOX) in the Fairbanks, Alaska2017 (excluding certain television market (DMA 202) for $8.0 million (the “Fairbanks Acquisition”).

On January 17, 2017, we acquired WBAY-TV (ABC), in the Green Bay, Wisconsin television market (DMA 69), and KWQC-TV (NBC), in the Davenport, Iowa, Rock Island, Illinois, and Moline, Illinois or “Quad Cities” television market (DMA 102) (collectively, the “Media General Acquisition”), for $269.9 million.

On May 1, 2017, we acquired WDTV-TV (CBS) and WVFX-TV (FOX/CW) in the Clarksburg-Weston, West Virginia television market (DMA 169) from Withers Broadcasting Company of West Virginia (the “Clarksburg Acquisition”) for $26.5 million. On June 1, 2016,stations we began operating these stations, subject to the control of the seller, under a local marketing agreement (“LMA”) that terminated upon completion of the acquisition.

On May 1,in 2016, and subsequently acquired in 2017, we acquired WABI-TV (CBS/CW) in the Bangor, Maine television market (DMA 156) and WCJB-TV (ABC/CW) in the Gainesville, Florida television market (DMA 159) from Community Broadcasting Service and Diversified Broadcasting, Inc. (collectively, the “Diversified Acquisition”) for $85.0 million. On April 1, 2017, we began operating these stations, subject to the control of the seller, under an LMA that terminated upon completion of the acquisition.

On August 1, 2017, we acquired WCAX-TV (CBS) in the Burlington, Vermont – Plattsburgh, New York television market (DMA 97) from Mt. Mansfield Television, Inc., (the “Vermont Acquisition”) for $29.0 million. On June 1, 2017, we began operating these stations, subject to the control of the seller, under an LMA that terminated upon completion of the acquisition.

We refer to the eight stations acquired (excluding the stations acquired in the Clarksburg, Acquisition) during the first nine months of 2017 and the stations we commenced operating under LMAs during that period asWest Virginia market, the “2017 Acquisitions.” We refer to the 13 stations acquired in 2016, and that we retained in those acquisitions (including the stations in the Clarksburg Acquisition that we commenced operating under an LMA on June 1, 2016) as the “2016 Acquisitions.”

For additional information regarding our recent acquisitions, see Note 1 “Basis of Presentation” and Note 2 “Acquisitions” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this report.

Recent Financing Transactions

On February 7, 2017, we entered into the 2017 Senior Credit Facility consisting of a $556.4 million term loan facility (the “2017 Initial Term Loan”) and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility (the “2017 Revolving Credit Facility”Acquisitions”). Borrowings under the 2017 Initial Term Loan were used to repay amounts outstanding under our prior term loan.

 


 

Pending Merger with Raycom Media

On April 3, 2017,June 23, 2018, we borrowed $85.0 million under an incremental term loan (the “2017 Incremental Term Loan”entered into the Raycom Merger. Upon completion of the Raycom Merger, Raycom is expected to become a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Gray and, together withprior to any station divestitures due to market overlaps, we will own and/or operate 142 full-power television stations serving 92 markets. At that time, our station portfolio would reach approximately 24 percent of U.S. television households through nearly 400 separate program streams including approximately 165 affiliates of the 2017 Initial Term Loan,ABC/ NBC/CBS/FOX networks, and over 100 affiliates of CW, MyNetwork, and MeTV. These stations were ranked number-one in all day Nielsen ratings in 62 of the “2017 Term Loan”)combined markets, and in 92% of the combined markets were the number-one or number-two ranked television station. In addition to high quality television stations, we expect to acquire additional Raycom businesses that provide sports marketing, production and digital signage services, resulting in our becoming a more diversified media company. The consummation of the Raycom Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary conditions, including: (i) the receipt of approval from the Federal Communications Commission, (ii) the expiration or early termination of the waiting period applicable to the Raycom Merger under the 2017 Senior Credit FacilityHart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (iii) the absence of certain legal impediments to fund the Diversified Acquisition. Our quarterly principal paymentsconsummation of the Raycom Merger, and (iv) the receipt of certain customary third-party consents. We believe that the Raycom Merger will be completed during the fourth quarter of 2018. Either party may terminate the Merger Agreement if it is not consummated on or before June 30, 2019, with an automatic extension to September 30, 2019 if necessary to obtain regulatory approval under the 2017 Term Loan are $1.6 million.circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement.

 

Revenues, Operations, Cyclicality Seasonality and Advertising ConcentrationsSeasonality

Broadcast stations like ours rely onOur operating revenues are derived primarily from broadcast and internet advertising revenue, and retransmission consent fees and, to a lesser extent, from other sources such as a result, they are sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy. Our political advertising revenue is generally not as significantly affected by economic slowdowns or recessions as our non-political advertising revenue.production of commercials, tower rentals and management fees.

 

Broadcast advertising revenue is sold for placement either preceding or following a television station’s network programming and within local and syndicated programming. Broadcast advertising is sold in time increments and is priced primarily on the basis of a program’s popularity among the specific audience an advertiser desires to reach, as measured by Nielsen. In addition, broadcast advertising rates are affected by the number of advertisers competing for available time, the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station and the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area. Broadcast advertising rates are generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the Christmas holiday season. Broadcast advertising revenue is also typically higher in even-numbered years due to spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups during the “on year”most desirable viewing hours, with corresponding reductions during other hours. The ratings of the two-year politicala local station affiliated with a major network can be affected by ratings of network programming. Most advertising cycle. This political advertising spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter. In addition, the broadcast of Olympic Games by our NBC-affiliated stations during even-numbered yearscontracts are short-term, and generally leads to increased viewership and revenue during those years.run only for a few weeks.

 

We also sell internet advertising on our stations’ websites. These advertisements may be sold as banner advertisements, pre-roll advertisements or video and other types of advertisements or sponsorships.

Our broadcast and internet advertising revenues are affected by several factors that we consider to be seasonal in nature. These factors include:

Spending by political candidates, political parties and special interest groups increases during the even-numbered “on-year” of the two-year election cycle. This political spending typically is heaviest during the fourth quarter of such years;

Broadcast advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters each year. This seasonality results partly from increases in advertising in the spring and in the period leading up to and including the holiday season;

Local and national advertising revenue on our NBC-affiliated stations increases in even numbered years as a result of broadcasts of the Olympic Games; and


Because our stations and markets are not evenly divided among the Big 4 broadcast networks, our local and national advertising revenue can fluctuate between years related to which network broadcasts the Super Bowl.

Automotive advertisers have traditionally accounted for a significant portion of our revenue. For the nine-month periodsix- months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018 and 2017, excluding political advertising revenue, our largest advertising customer category was automotive. For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017we derived approximately 24% and 2016, we earned approximately 25% and 23%, respectively, of our total broadcast advertising revenue excludingfrom customers in the automotive industry. Strong demand for our advertising inventory from political advertisers can require significant use of available inventory, which in turn can lower our advertising revenue from automotive customers. Our business and operating results could be materially adversely affected ifour non-political advertising revenue categories in the even numbered “on-year” of the two year election cycle. These temporary declines are expected to reverse themselves in the following “off-year” of the two year election cycle.

While our total revenues have increased in recent years as a result of our acquisitions, they have also experienced a gradual improvement as a result of improvements in general economic conditions. However, revenue remains under pressure from automotive customers werecompetitors for advertising spending, including the internet and other non-traditional forms of advertising. We continue to decrease significantly.enhance and market our internet websites in an effort to generate additional revenue. Our businessaggregate internet revenue is derived from both advertising and sponsorship opportunities directly on our websites.

Our primary broadcasting operating results could also be materially adversely affected if revenue decreased from one or more other significant advertising categories,expenses are employee compensation, related benefits and programming costs. In addition, our broadcasting operations incur overhead expenses, such as maintenance, supplies, insurance, rent and utilities. A large portion of the medical, restaurant, communications, furnitureoperating expenses of our broadcasting operations is fixed. We continue to monitor our operating expenses and appliances, entertainment, or financial service industries.seek opportunities to reduce them where possible.

 

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

 

Revenue

 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  2018 2017 2018 2017 
     

Percent

      

Percent

      

Percent

      

Percent

      Percent     Percent     Percent     Percent 
 

Amount

  

of Total

  

Amount

  

of Total

  

Amount

  

of Total

  

Amount

  

of Total

  

Amount

  of Total 

Amount

  of Total 

Amount

  of Total 

Amount

  of Total 

Revenue:

                                                                 

Local (including internet/digital/mobile)

 $110,033     50.2%  $102,172    50.0%  $330,547    50.9%  $296,253      51.5% 

Local (including internet/ digital/mobile)

 $112,921   45.1% $117,917   52.0% $218,390   45.8% $220,514   51.3% 

National

  31,027     14.2%   25,426    12.4%   86,822    13.4%   73,575      12.8%   29,873   11.9%  30,981   13.7%  54,385   11.4%  55,795   13.0% 

Political

  4,005       1.8%   22,272    10.9%   9,034      1.4%   41,576       7.2%   18,070   7.2%  3,708   1.6%  23,845   5.0%  5,029   1.2% 

Retransmission consent

  70,150     32.0%   51,096    25.0%   207,094     31.9%   148,914      25.9%   85,307   34.1%  69,371   30.6%  170,858   35.8%  136,944   31.8% 

Other

  3,762       1.8%   3,524      1.7%   15,622       2.4%   14,528       2.6%   4,173   1.7%  4,704   2.1%  9,124   2.0%  11,860   2.7% 

Total

 $218,977   100.0%  $204,490   100.0%  $649,119   100.0%  $574,846   100.0%  $250,344   100.0% $226,681   100.0% $476,602   100.0% $430,142   100.0% 

 


 

Results of Operations

 

Three-Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 (“2017 three-month period”) Compared to Three-Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 (“2016 three-month period”)

 

RevenueRevenue.. Total revenue increased $14.5$23.7 million, or 7%10%, to $219.0$250.3 million in the 20172018 three-month period compared to the 2016 three-month period. The 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions collectively accounted for approximately $59.3 million of total revenue infrom the 2017 three-month period. The 2016 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $37.1 million of totalTotal revenue in the 2016 three-month period. Excluding the impact of the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions, total revenue at our legacy stations decreasedincreased primarily due to a $14.2retransmission consent revenue that increased $15.9 million. Political advertising revenue increased $14.4 million decrease in political advertising revenue,the second quarter of 2018, resulting primarily from 20172018 being the “off-year”“on-year” of the two-year election cycle. In addition, local and nationalLocal advertising revenue was impacteddecreased by our broadcast$5.0 million in part as a result of the 2016 Olympic Gamesweakness in the 2016 nine-month period that produced approximately $8.2 million of localdemand and nationalinventory displacement from increased political advertising revenue. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $10.0 million of retransmission consent revenue in the 2017 three-month period.

 

Broadcast expensesExpenses. Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and gain or loss on disposal of assets) increased $18.7$8.2 million, or 16%6%, to $139.4$141.9 million in the 20172018 three-month period due primarily to the 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions, which accounted for approximately $34.9 million of broadcast expenses infrom the 2017 three-month period. The 2016 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $20.9 million of our broadcast expenses in the 2016 three-month period. In addition to the impact of the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions, non-compensationNon-compensation expense at our legacy stations increased $5.9$6.5 million primarily as a result of a $5.3$5.4 million increase in retransmission expense, consistent with the increase inincreased retransmission consent revenue. Non-cash stock basedCompensation expense increased $1.7 million primarily as a result of increased severance costs and routine increases in compensation. Including the effect of a $0.5 million adjustment related to forfeitures of equity incentive awards, we did not incur any non-cash stock-based compensation expenses in the second quarter of 2018. In the second quarter of 2017, our non-cash stock-based compensation expenses were $0.4 million and $0.3 million in the 2017 and 2016 three-month periods, respectively.million.

 

Corporate and administrative expenses.Administrative Expenses. Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and gain or loss on disposal of assets) increased $1.1by $2.4 million, or 15%28%, to $8.3$10.8 million. Non-compensation expense increased $2.1 million primarily as a result of a $1.9 million increase in professional fees related to acquisitions. Professional fees related to our acquisition activities were $3.7 million in the 2017 three-month period compared to the 2016 three-month period,second quarter of 2018. Compensation expense increased $0.3 million primarily as a result of increased professional services and promotional expenses. Non-cash share basedincentive compensation expenses werecosts. We recorded corporate non-cash stock-based amortization expense of $1.2 million and $1.0$1.1 million in the 20172018 and 20162017 three-month periods, respectively.

 

Depreciation.Depreciation of property and equipment increased $1.6totaled $13.5 million or 14%, to $13.1and $12.8 million infor the 2018 three-month period and the 2017 three-month period, compared to the 2016 three-month period.respectively. Depreciation increased primarily due to the addition of depreciable assets acquired as a part of the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions.

 

Amortization of intangible assets. . Amortization of intangible assets increased approximately $2.2decreased $1.5 million, or 53%23%, to $6.5$5.2 million duringin the 20172018 three-month period compared to the 20162017 three-month period. Amortization expense increaseddecreased primarily due to the additional definite-lived intangible assets acquired as a part of the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions.becoming fully amortized.

 

Interest expense(Gain) Loss on Disposals of Assets, N.et. Interest expense decreased $3.7We reported gains on disposal of assets of $0.8 million or 13% to $24.2in the 2018 three-month period and $77.3 million in the 2017 three-month period. On June 1, 2017, we tendered two of our broadcast licenses and made other modifications to our broadcast spectrum related to our participation in the FCC’s broadcast spectrum auction. Our proceeds from this auction were $90.8 million and the cost of the assets disposed of was $13.1 million.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $1.0 million, or 4%, to $24.8 million for the 2018 three-month period compared to the 20162017 three-month period. This decreaseincrease was attributable to the net effect of an increasea decrease in the average borrowings outstanding, offset by a decreaseincrease in our average interest rates. The average interest rate on our total outstanding debt balance was 4.9%5.1% and 5.6%4.9% during the 20172018 three-month period and the 20162017 three-month period, respectively. Our average outstanding debt balance was $1.9 billion and $1.7 billion during each of the 20172018 three-month period and the 20162017 three-month period, respectively, with the increase primarily attributable to the borrowings to finance the 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions.periods.

Loss from early extinguishment of debt. In the 2016 three-month period we completed a tender offer and redemption of our then outstanding 7½% senior notes due 2020 (the “Tender Offer” and the “Redemption”). We recorded a loss from early extinguishment of debt of approximately $32.0 million ($19.5 million net of tax) in the 2016 three-month period, consisting of Tender Offer premiums of $18.2 million, premiums related to the Redemption of $9.1 million, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs of $8.0 million and the payment of approximately $0.2 million in legal and other professional fees; but reduced by the recognition of un-accreted net premium of $3.5 million.


 

Income tax expenseTax E.xpense. We recognized income tax expense of $10.5$14.9 million and $0.8$47.9 million forin the 2018 three-month period and the 2017 and 2016 three-month periods,period, respectively. For the 2018 three-month period and the 2017 and 2016 three-month periods,period, our effective income tax rate was 40.7%rates were 26.7% and 136.5%40.4%, respectively. We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarterinterim period is based upon these full-yearfull year projections that are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the 20172018 three-month period, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0%21.0% to our effective income tax rate of 26.7% as follows: state income taxes added 4.5%,4.7% and permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.3%, and discrete items decreased the effective rate by 0.1%1.0%.

Nine-Six-monthsMonths Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 (“2017nine-month period”) Compared to NineSix-months-Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20162017 (“2016nine-month period”)

 

RevenueRevenue.. Total revenue increased $74.3$46.5 million, or 13%11%, to $649.1$476.6 million in the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period as compared to the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period. The 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions collectively accounted for approximately $167.9 million of totalTotal revenue in the 2017 nine-month period. The 2016 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $87.9 million of total revenue in the 2016 nine-month period. Excluding the impact of the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions, total revenue at our legacy stations decreasedincreased primarily due to a decrease of $28.9retransmission consent revenue that increased $33.9 million inand political advertising revenue resulting primarily from 2017 being the “off-year” of the two-year election cycle. This decrease at our legacy stations was offset by increases of $28.9that increased $18.8 million in retransmission consent revenue in the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period.


 

Local and national advertising revenue declined slightly, in part, as a result of inventory displacement from increased political advertising revenue. However, this decline was partially offset by revenue from the impactbroadcast of the 2018 Super Bowl on our NBC-affiliated stations of approximately $2.3 million, compared to $0.6 million that we earned from the broadcast of the 2017 Super Bowl on our FOX-affiliated stations generating approximately $0.6 million of local and national advertising revenue, compared to $1.6 million that we earned from the broadcast of the 2016 Super Bowl on our CBS-affiliated stations. Local and national advertising revenue also declined because the 2016 nine-month period included approximately $8.2 million of In addition, 2018 total revenue from the broadcast of the 2016Winter Olympic Games.Games on our NBC-affiliated stations was approximately $5.5 million.

 

Broadcast expensesExpenses. Broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets) increased $59.8$24.3 million, or 17%9%, to $406.4$291.6 million in the 2017 nine-month period due primarily to the 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions, which accounted for approximately $95.1 million of broadcast expenses in the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period. The 2016 Acquisitions accounted for approximately $52.6 million of our broadcast expenses in the 2016 nine-month period. In addition to the impact of the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions, non-compensationNon-compensation expense at our legacy stations increased $18.5$19.6 million primarily as a result of a $15.7$14.9 million increase in retransmission expense, consistent with the increased retransmission consent revenue, and $5.2 million ofnet increases in several other expense categories including programming and other professional fees. Non-cash stock basedOur programming costs related to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games were $1.5 million. Compensation expense increased $5.0 million as a result of increases in incentive compensation expenses were $1.1and severance costs. Including the effect of a $0.5 million adjustment related to forfeitures of equity incentive awards, in the 2018 six-month period, we recorded broadcast non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million and $0.9$0.7 million in the 2018 and 2017 and 2016 nine-monthsix month periods, respectively.

 

Corporate and administrative expenses.Administrative Expenses. Corporate and administrative expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets) decreased $7.0increased $3.0 million, or 22%18%, to $24.4$19.1 million forin the 2017 nine-month period2018 six-month period compared to the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period primarily as a result of decreasesincreases of $7.7$2.0 million in professional fees related to acquisitions. WeProfessional fees related to our acquisition activities were $3.8 million in 2018.We recorded corporate non-cash stock-based compensationamortization expense of $3.2$2.2 million and $2.9$2.1 million in the 2018 and 2017 and 2016 nine-monthsix-month periods, respectively.

 

Depreciation.Depreciation of property and equipment totaled $27.2 million and $25.5 million for the 2018 six-month period and the 2017 six-month period, respectively. Depreciation increased $4.3primarily due to the addition of depreciable assets acquired as a part of the 2017 Acquisitions.

Amortization. Amortization of intangible assets decreased $1.6 million, or 13%, to $38.6$10.6 million forin the 2017 nine-month period as compared to the 2016 nine-month period. Depreciation increased due to additional property and equipment being placed in service due to routine asset purchases and the 2017 Acquisitions and the 2016 Acquisitions.

Amortization of intangible assets. Amortization of intangible assets increased $6.3 million, or 51%, to $18.7 million during the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period compared to the 2016 nine-month period2017 six-month period. Amortization decreased primarily due to amortization of the additional definite-lived intangible assets acquired as a part of the 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions.becoming fully amortized.

(Gain) Loss on Disposals of Assets, Net. We reported gains on disposals of assets of $1.6 million in the 2018 six-month period and $76.8 million in the 2017 six-month period. On June 1, 2017, we tendered two of our broadcast licenses and made other modifications to our broadcast spectrum related to our participation in the FCC’s broadcast spectrum auction. Our proceeds from this auction were $90.8 million and the cost of the assets disposed of was $13.1 million.


 

Interest expense.Expense. Interest expense decreased $2.3increased $2.1 million, or 3%4%, to $71.2$49.1 million for the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period compared to the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period. This was attributable to a decreasethe combined effect of an increase in ourthe average interest rates, partially offset byborrowings outstanding and an increase in our average borrowings outstanding.interest rates. The average interest rate on our total outstanding debt balance was 4.9%5.0% and 5.6%4.9% during the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period and the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period, respectively. Our average outstanding debt balance was $1.8$1.9 billion and $1.6$1.8 billion during the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period and the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period, respectively, with the increase primarily attributable to the borrowings to finance the 2017 Acquisitions and 2016 Acquisitions.

 

Loss from early extinguishmentEarly Extinguishment of debtDebt. . In the 2017 nine-monthsix-month period, we recorded a loss from early extinguishment of debt of approximately $2.9 million as a result of entering into our 2017 Senior Credit Facility. In the 2016 nine-month period we completed the Tender Offer and Redemption, and we recorded a loss from early extinguishment of debt of approximately $32.0 million ($19.5 million net of tax) in the 2016 nine-month period, consisting of Tender Offer premiums of $18.2 million, premiums related to the redemption of $9.1 million, the write off of unamortized deferred financing costs of $8.0 million and the payment of approximately $0.2 million in legal and other professional fees; but reduced by the recognition of un-accreted net premium of $3.5 million.

 

Income tax expense. Tax Expense. We recognized income tax expense of $65.8$21.3 million and $19.1$55.2 million in the 2018 six-month period and the 2017 and 2016 nine-month periods,six-month period, respectively. For the 2018 six-month period and the 2017 and 2016 nine-month periods,six-month period, our effective income tax rate was 40.6%26.0% and 42.0%40.5%, respectively. The primary reasonreasons for the increasedecrease in our income tax expense was the increasedecrease in our pre-tax income and the decrease in the 2017 nine-monthstatutory Federal income tax rate in the 2018 six-month period compared to the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period. We estimate our differences between taxable income or loss and recorded income or loss on an annual basis. Our tax provision for each quarterinterim period is based upon these full-yearfull year projections that are revised each reporting period. These projections incorporate estimates of permanent differences between U.S. GAAP income or loss and taxable income or loss, state income taxes and adjustments to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period, these estimates increased or decreased our statutory Federal income tax rate of 35.0%21.0% to our effective income tax rate of 26.0% as follows: state income taxes added 4.3% and4.7%, permanent differences between our U.S. GAAP income and taxable income added 1.3%1.0% and a discrete stock-based compensation expense adjustment resulted in a reduction of 0.7%.

We made income tax payments (net of refunds) of approximately $12.0 million and $0.9 million in the 2018 six-month period and the 2017 six-month period, respectively. We anticipate making income tax payments (net of refunds) of approximately $23.9 million during the remainder of 2018.


 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

General

 

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

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 $114,346  $103,419  $97,452  $59,144 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (336,334)  (469,504)  (22,106)  (413,217)

Net cash provided by financing activities

  69,653   499,165 

(Decrease) increase in cash

 $(152,335) $133,080 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (27,168)  71,244 

Increase (decrease) in cash

 $48,178  $(282,829)

 

  

As of

 
  

September 30, 2017

  

December 31, 2016

 

Cash

 $172,854  $325,189 

Long-term debt

 $1,831,610  $1,756,747 

Borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility

 $100,000  $60,000 

Our 2017 Senior Credit Facility consists of the 2017 Revolving Credit Facility and the 2017 Term Loan. Excluding accrued interest, the amount outstanding under our 2017 Senior Credit Facility as of September 30, 2017 and the 2014 Senior Credit Facility as of December 31, 2016 consisted solely of a term loan totaling $636.8 million and $556.4 million, respectively. On April 3, 2017, we borrowed $85.0 million under the 2017 Incremental Term Loan. Our maximum borrowing availability under our 2017 Revolving Credit Facility is limited by our required compliance with certain restrictive covenants, including a first lien net leverage ratio covenant.


As of September 30, 2017, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility was 3.7%. As of December 31, 2016, the interest rate on the balance outstanding under the 2014 Senior Credit Facility was 3.9%.

Borrowings under the 2017 Term Loan currently bear interest, at our option, at either the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the Base Rate (as defined below), in each case, plus an applicable margin. Currently, the applicable margin is 2.25% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for Base Rate borrowings. The applicable margin is determined quarterly based on our leverage ratio as set forth in the 2017 Senior Credit Facility (the “Leverage Ratio”). If our Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 5.25 to 1.00, the applicable margin will be 2.25% for all LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for all Base Rate borrowings and if the Leverage Ratio is greater than 5.25 to 1.00, the applicable margin will be 2.5% for all LIBOR borrowings.

Borrowings under the 2017 Revolving Credit Facility currently bear interest, at our option, at either LIBOR plus 1.50% or the Base Rate plus 0.50%, in each case based on a first lien leverage ratio test as set forth in the 2017 Senior Credit Facility (the “First Lien Leverage Ratio”). Base Rate is defined as the greatest of (i) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (ii) the overnight federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. We are required to pay a commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the 2017 Revolving Credit Facility, which rate may range from 0.375% to 0.50% on an annual basis, based on the First Lien Leverage Ratio. The 2017 Revolving Credit Facility matures on February 7, 2022 and the 2017 Term Loan matures on February 7, 2024.

 As a result of the amendment and restatement of our prior senior credit facility in the form of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, we recorded a loss from early extinguishment of debt of approximately $2.9 million in the 2017 nine-month period, and we incurred approximately $5.0 million in deferred financing costs that will be amortized over the term of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. Our quarterly principal payments under the 2017 Term Loan are $1.6 million.

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $525.0 million of 2024 Notes outstanding. The interest rate and yield on the 2024 Notes were 5.125%. The 2024 Notes mature on October 15, 2024. Interest is payable semiannually, on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2017.

On June 14, 2016, we completed the private placement of $500.0 million of our 2026 Notes (the “Original 2026 Notes”) at par. On September 14, 2016, we completed the private placement of an additional $200.0 million of our 2026 Notes (the “Additional 2026 Notes”). The Additional 2026 Notes were issued at a price of 103.0%, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $206.0 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest from and including June 14, 2016. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $700.0 million of 2026 Notes outstanding. The interest rate and yield on the Original 2026 Notes were each 5.875%. The interest rate and yield on the Additional 2026 Notes were 5.875% and 5.398%, respectively. The Additional 2026 Notes are an additional issuance of, rank equally with and form a single series with the Original 2026 Notes. The 2026 Notes mature on July 15, 2026. Interest is payable semiannually, on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

Our obligations under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of our consolidated assets, excluding real estate. In addition, substantially all of our subsidiaries are joint and several guarantors of, and our ownership interests in those subsidiaries are pledged to collateralize, our obligations under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. Gray Television, Inc. is a holding company with no material independent assets or operations. For all applicable periods, the 2024 Notes and 2026 Notes have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several, senior unsecured basis, by substantially all of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries. Any subsidiaries of Gray Television, Inc. that do not gurantee the 2024 Notes and 2026 Notes are minor. As of September 30, 2017, there were no significant restrictions on the ability of Gray Television, Inc.'s subsidiaries to distribute cash to Gray or to the guarantor subsidaries.

The 2017 Senior Credit Facility contains affirmative and restrictive covenants with which we must comply, including: (a) limitations on additional indebtedness, (b) limitations on liens, (c) limitations on the sale of assets, (d) limitations on guarantees, (e) limitations on investments and acquisitions, (f) limitations on the payment of dividends and share repurchases, (g) limitations on mergers and (h) maintenance of the First Lien Leverage Ratio while any amount is outstanding under the revolving credit facility, as well as other customary covenants for credit facilities of this type. The 2026 Notes and 2024 Notes include covenants with which we must comply which are typical for borrowing transactions of their nature. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we were in compliance with all required covenants under all our debt obligations.

  

As of

 
  

June 30, 2018

  

December 31, 2017

 

Cash

 $510,577  $462,399 

Long-term debt, including current portion

 $1,836,229  $1,837,428 

Borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility

 $100,000  $100,000 

 


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

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $114.3$97.5 million in the 2018 six-month period compared $59.1 million in the 2017 nine-monthsix-month period, compared to $103.4a net increase of $38.3 million in the 2016 nine-month2018 six-month period. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was due largely to increased revenue, net of $10.9 millionincreases in broadcast and corporate and administrative operating expenses in the 2018 six-month period. Also, cash used by operating assets and liabilities was less in the 2018 six-month period than in the 2017 nine-month period was the result of a $69.9 million increase in net income, partially offset by a $49.5 million decrease in net non-cash expenses, primarily depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, deferred income taxes and gain on disposal of assets. Changes in our working capital accounts used $9.5 million of cash. These changes were primarily due to the impact on our statement of operations from changes in the components of our debt financing, changes in our tax position, the 2017 Acquisitions, the 2016 Acquisitions and the gain on disposal of assets resulting from the FCC Sprectrum Auction.six-month period.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $336.3$22.1 million in the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period compared to net cash used in investing activities of $469.5$413.2 million for the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period. The decrease was largely due to decreased use ofa decrease in cash used for acquisition activity in the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period.

 

Net cash provided byused in financing activities was approximately $69.7 $27.2 million in the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $499.2$71.2 million in the 2016 nine-month2017 six-month period. NetThe change to cash provided byused in the 2018 six-month period was due largely to financing activitiesactivity in the 2017 nine-month period was primarily from borrowings of $85.0 million under 2017 Term Loan; reduced by $4.6 million of quarterly principal payments under the 2017 Term Loan; reduced by $5.0 million of deferred financing costs primarily related to acquisitions and payments for the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. Also, in the 2017 nine-month period we used $4.0 million to repurchase shares of our common stock and made $1.8 million of payments for taxes related to net share settlements of equity awards.in the 2018 period.

 

Liquidity

 

AsThe following discussion of September 30,our liquidity does not include any impact that may result from our announced but pending acquisitions.

On July 27, 2018, we prepaid $37.0 million of our 2017 we had $6.4 million in debt principal payments due overTerm Loan. This prepayment satisfied all of the next twelve months.quarterly payment obligations under the 2017 Term Loan. We estimate that we will make approximately $90.8$94.4 million in debt interest payments over the twelve months immediately following SeptemberJune 30, 2017.

2018. Although our cash flows from operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, we anticipate that our cash on hand, future cash expected to be generated from operations, borrowings from time to time under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility as may be in place at the appropriate time) and, potentially, external equity or debt financing, will be sufficient to fund any debt service obligations and estimated capital expenditures and acquisition-related obligations. Any potential equity or debt financing would depend upon, among other things, the costs and availability of such financing at the appropriate time. We also presently believe that our future cash expected to be generated from operations and borrowing availability under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility (or any such other credit facility) will be sufficient to fund our future capital expenditures and long-term debt service obligations until at least February 7, 2024, which is the maturity date of the term loans under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility.


Impact From Pending Merger with Raycom

On June 23, 2018, and in connection with our entry into the Merger Agreement, we entered into a financing commitment letter with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and a syndicate of other lenders, pursuant to which they have committed to provide debt financing in the form of an incremental term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $2.525 billion for a portion of the purchase price to be paid to complete the Raycom Merger and the refinancing of certain existing indebtedness of Raycom. The commitment letter contains conditions to funding of the debt financing customary for commitments of this type. The incremental term loan will be secured on a pari passu basis with the other obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. Various economic terms of the debt financing are subject to change in the process of syndication.

A portion of the consideration to complete the Raycom merger will consist of 650,000 shares of a new series of our perpetual preferred stock, with a face value of $1,000 per share (the “New Preferred Stock”). Shares of the New Preferred Stock will be issuable to holders of warrants to purchase shares of Raycom capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Raycom Merger. The New Preferred Stock will accrue dividends at 8% per annum payable in cash or 8.5% per annum payable in the form of additional New Preferred Stock, at the election of Gray. The holders of the New Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote on any matter submitted to the stockholders of the Company for a vote, except as required by Georgia law. Upon a liquidation of the Company, holders of the New Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a liquidation preference equal to $1,000 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends.

The completeion of this transaction will materially affect our operations, liquidity and capital expenditures. In addition to the effects on our balance sheet from the financing transactions described above, we expect that our results of operations and cash flows will increase substantially. We also expect that the Raycom Merger will create opportunities to reduce or eliminate redundancies in our combined operations, and that these sysnergies will be implemented in phases over several years, beginning upon the completion of the Raycom Merger.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

In April 2017, the FCC began the process of requiring certain television stations to change channels and/or modify their transmission facilities (“Repack”). Congress passed legislation which provides the FCC with a $1.7 billion fund to reimburse all reasonable costs incurred by stations operating under a full power license and a portion of the costs incurred by stations operating under a low power license that are reassigned to new channels. Subsequent legislation in March 2018 appropriated an additional $1.0 billion for the repacking fund, of which up to $750.0 million may be made available to reimburse the Repack costs of full power and Class A television stations and multichannel video programming distributors. Other funds are earmarked to assist low power television stations and for other transition costs. The sufficiency of the FCC’s fund to reimburse for Repack costs is dependent upon a number of factors including the amounts to be reimbursed to other industry participants for repacking costs. Therefore, we cannot predict whether the fund will be sufficient to reimburse our Repack costs to the extent authorized under the legislation. Twenty-six of our current full power stations and thirty six of our current low power stations are affected by the Repack. The Repack process will take approximately three years to complete. We anticipate that the majority of our costs associated with Repack will qualify for capitalization, rather than expense. Upon receipt of funds reimbursing us for our repacking costs, we record those proceeds as a component of our (gain) loss on disposal of assets, net.

Capital expenditures in the 2018 and 2017 and 2016 nine-monthsix-month periods were $21.4$19.9 million and $33.2$10.4 million, respectively. WeExcluding any pending or future acquisition transactions and Repack, we anticipate that our capital expenditures for the remainder of 20172018 will range between approximately $14.0$30.0 million and $15.0$33.0 million.

Results In addition, capital expenditures for Repack during the remainder of FCC Spectrum Auction

On August 7, 2017, we received $90.82018, excluding any pending or future transactions, are expected to range between approximately $44.0 million resulting from our relinquishment of two licenses in the FCC’s Spectrum Auction. Due to prior planning in connection with this transaction and our recently completed acquisitions,$46.0 million and we anticipate that we willbeing reimbursed for the majority of these Repack costs. However, reimbursement may be ablereceived in periods subsequent to defer any related income tax payments on a long-term basis.those in which they were expended.


 

During the 2018 six-month period, our capitalized Repack costs and associated reimbursements were $10.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017, our capitalized Repack costs and associated reimbursements were $2.8 million and $0.1 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, the amount requested from the FCC for Repack, but not yet received, was approximately $12.4 million.

Other

We file a consolidated federal income tax return and such state and local tax returns as are required. During the 2017 nine-month period we made income tax payments (net of refunds) of $1.2 million. During the remainder of 2017, we anticipate making income tax payments (net of refunds) of approximately $0.6 million. Income tax payments are likely to be higher beginning in 2018, assuming no significant changes to the corporate tax code as currently in effect, as As a result of our utilization of certain of our net operating loss carryforwards.carryforwards, we have begun, and expect to continue, to pay more significant amounts of income taxes. During the 2018 six-month period, we made income tax payments (net of refunds) of $12.0 million. During the remainder of 2018, we anticipate making income tax payments (net of refunds) of approximately $23.9 million.

 

During the 2017 nine-month2018 six-month period, we contributed $0.6 milliondid not make a contribution to our defined benefit pension plan. During the remainder of 2017,2018, we expect to make additional contributionscontribute $2.0 million to these plans of between $1.7 million and $2.4 million.this pension plan.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments and estimations that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results couldcould differ from those estimates. We consider our accounting policies relating to intangible assets and income taxes to be critical policies that require judgments or estimations in their application where variances in those judgments or estimations could make a significant difference to future reported results. These critical accounting policies and estimates are more fully discussed in our 20162017 Form 10-K.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the SecuritiesSecurities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than those of historical fact. When used in this Quarterly Report, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “will,” “may,” “should” and similar words and expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Among other things, statements that describe our expectations regarding our results of operations, general and industry-specific economic conditions, future pension plan contributions, futureincome tax payments, pending acquisitions and capital expenditures are forward-looking statements. Readers of this Quarterly Report are cautioned that any forward-looking statements, including those regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of our management, are not guarantees of future performance, results or events and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results and events may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our 20162017 Form 10-K and as may be described in subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.


 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

 

We believe that the market risk of our financial instruments as of SeptemberJune 30, 20172018 has not materially changed since December 31, 2016. The2017. Our market risk profile as ofon December 31, 20162017 is disclosed in our 20162017 Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

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

 


There were noDuring the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, we implemented changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the three-month period ended September 30, 2017 identified in connection with thisthe adoption of ASC 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as amended. These changes included controls related to the collection of data for the amounts that we disclose in the footnotes to our financial statements. We also implemented changes in our internal control over financial reporting in connection with the adoption of ASU No. 2016-01 – Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. These changes relate to the implementation of procedures to document our identification and evaluation of factors that may identify potential impairment of the value of certain non-current investments. Our evaluation included controls that may have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors

 

Please refer to the information set out under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A in our 20162017 Form 10-K for a description of risk factors that we determined to be most material to our financial condition and results of operations. We do not believe there have been any material changes in these risk factors. Additional risks not currently known to us or that we do not currently consider material may also materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations in the future.

 

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

Issuer Purchases of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock

 

In each of March and November 2004, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to repurchase up to 2.0 million shares of the Company's common stock or Class A common stock. In March 2006, this authorization was increased to an aggregate of 5.0 million shares (the “2004-2006 Repurchase Authorization”). As of SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018, 279,200 shares remain available for repurchase under this authorization, which has no expiration date.

 

On November 6, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to purchase up to an additional $75.0 million of our outstanding common stock prior to December 31, 2019 (the 2016“2016 Repurchase Authorization”).


 

The extent to which the Company repurchases any of its shares, the number of shares and the timing of any repurchases will depend on general market conditions, regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities and other considerations. The CompanyCompany is not required to repurchase a minimum number of shares, and the repurchase authorizations may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice.

 

The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock or Class A common stock underunder these authorizations or otherwise during the three-months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017.2018.


 

Item 6. Exhibits

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

 

Exhibit 10.1

Number

Description of Document

2.1

ExecutiveAgreement and Key Employee Change in Control Severance Plan*

Exhibit 10.2

FormPlan of Employee Restricted Stock Award Agreement pursuant to theMerger made and entered into as of June  23, 2018, by and among Gray Television, Inc. 2017 Equity, East Future Group Inc., Raycom Media, Inc. and Incentive Compensation Plan*Tara Advisors, LLC, solely in its capacity as the Stockholders’ Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 25, 2018)

Exhibit 10.33.1

FormRestated Articles of Employee Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement pursuant to theIncorporation of Gray Television, Inc. 2017 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan*, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 8, 2018)

Exhibit 31.1

Rule 13(a) – 14(a) Certificate of Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

Rule 13(a) – 14(a) Certificate of Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.1

Section 1350 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.2

Section 1350 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.

(Registrant)

(Registrant)

  
  
  

Date:  November 6, 2017 August 7, 2018

By:

/s/ James C. Ryan

 

        

James C. Ryan

 

        

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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