-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, KdVEeTY2mE6LqARSpFN8K4oDfW7hdHT6jE3ik/j0trX/JhsADftWkYy84rFwvaoa E3YhNicrKFJgIcVxhbu86g== 0001032210-02-001606.txt : 20021114 0001032210-02-001606.hdr.sgml : 20021114 20021114122556 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001032210-02-001606 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20020930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20021114 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FISHER COMMUNICATIONS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001034669 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: GRAIN MILL PRODUCTS [2040] IRS NUMBER: 910222175 STATE OF INCORPORATION: WA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-22439 FILM NUMBER: 02823178 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1525 ONE UNION SQ STREET 2: 600 UNIVERSITY ST CITY: SEATTLE STATE: WA ZIP: 98101-3185 BUSINESS PHONE: 2064047000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1525 ONE UNION SQU STREET 2: 600 UNIVERSITY ST CITY: SEATTLE STATE: WA ZIP: 98101-3185 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FISHER COMPANIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19970226 10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 10-Q
 
x  
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002
 
¨  
 
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
 
For the transition period from                              to                             
 
Commission File Number 0-22439
 

 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
WASHINGTON
 
91-0222175
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
1525 One Union Square
600 University Street
Seattle, Washington    98101-3185
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
(206) 404-7000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x  No  ¨
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:
 
Common Stock, $1.25 par value, outstanding as of September 30, 2002: 8,594,060
 


Table of Contents
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
The following Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) are presented for the Registrant, Fisher Communications, Inc., and its subsidiaries.
 
1.
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.
 
2.
 
September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001.
 
3.
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.
 
4.
 
Three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001.
 
5.
 

2


Table of Contents
 
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
    
Nine months ended
September 30

    
Three months ended
September 30

 
    
2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

 
    
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
    
(Unaudited)
 
Revenue
                                   
Broadcasting
  
$
97,668
 
  
$
105,270
 
  
$
32,760
 
  
$
32,394
 
Media services
  
 
4,892
 
  
 
4,739
 
  
 
1,779
 
  
 
1,948
 
Real estate
  
 
9,595
 
  
 
9,027
 
  
 
3,090
 
  
 
3,100
 
    


  


  


  


    
 
112,155
 
  
 
119,036
 
  
 
37,629
 
  
 
37,442
 
    


  


  


  


Costs and expenses
                                   
Cost of services sold
  
 
50,326
 
  
 
52,208
 
  
 
17,036
 
  
 
17,994
 
Selling expenses
  
 
16,491
 
  
 
15,389
 
  
 
5,920
 
  
 
5,134
 
General and administrative expenses
  
 
33,103
 
  
 
32,208
 
  
 
11,787
 
  
 
10,269
 
Depreciation and amortization
  
 
15,723
 
  
 
18,148
 
  
 
5,806
 
  
 
6,116
 
    


  


  


  


    
 
115,643
 
  
 
117,953
 
  
 
40,549
 
  
 
39,513
 
    


  


  


  


Income (loss) from operations
  
 
(3,488
)
  
 
1,083
 
  
 
(2,920
)
  
 
(2,071
)
Net gain on derivative instruments
  
 
7,592
 
           
 
1,489
 
        
Other income, net
  
 
7,571
 
  
 
2,508
 
  
 
6,195
 
  
 
629
 
Equity in operations of equity investees
  
 
45
 
  
 
(9
)
  
 
13
 
  
 
(10
)
Interest expense
  
 
15,831
 
  
 
13,008
 
  
 
5,408
 
  
 
4,133
 
    


  


  


  


Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and extraordinary item
  
 
(4,111
)
  
 
(9,426
)
  
 
(631
)
  
 
(5,585
)
Provision for federal and state income taxes (benefit)
  
 
(1,513
)
  
 
(3,252
)
  
 
(213
)
  
 
(1,919
)
    


  


  


  


Loss from continuing operations before extraordinary item
  
 
(2,598
)
  
 
(6,174
)
  
 
(418
)
  
 
(3,666
)
Loss from discontinued operations of milling businesses, net of income tax benefit of $269 in 2002 and $173 in 2001
  
 
(500
)
  
 
(327
)
  
 
(500
)
        
    


  


  


  


Loss before extraordinary item
  
 
(3,098
)
  
 
(6,501
)
  
 
(918
)
  
 
(3,666
)
Extraordinary item – loss from extinguishment of long-term debt, net of income tax benefit of $1,206
  
 
(2,058
)
                          
    


  


  


  


Net loss
  
$
(5,156
)
  
$
(6,501
)
  
$
(918
)
  
$
(3,666
)
    


  


  


  


Loss per share:
                                   
From continuing operations
  
$
(0.30
)
  
$
(0.72
)
  
$
(0.05
)
  
$
(0.43
)
From discontinued operations
  
 
(0.06
)
  
 
(0.04
)
  
 
(0.06
)
  
 
—  
 
    


  


  


  


Loss before extraordinary item
  
 
(0.36
)
  
 
(0.76
)
  
 
(0.11
)
  
 
(0.43
)
Extraordinary item
  
 
(0.24
)
                          
    


  


  


  


Net loss
  
$
(0.60
)
  
$
(0.76
)
  
$
(0.11
)
  
$
(0.43
)
    


  


  


  


Loss per share assuming dilution:
                                   
From continuing operations
  
$
(0.30
)
  
$
(0.72
)
  
$
(0.05
)
  
$
(0.43
)
From discontinued operations
  
 
(0.06
)
  
 
(0.04
)
  
 
(0.06
)
  
 
—  
 
    


  


  


  


Loss before extraordinary item
  
 
(0.36
)
  
 
(0.76
)
  
 
(0.11
)
  
 
(0.43
)
Extraordinary item
  
 
(0.24
)
                          
    


  


  


  


Net loss
  
$
(0.60
)
  
$
(0.76
)
  
$
(0.11
)
  
$
(0.43
)
    


  


  


  


Weighted average shares outstanding
  
 
8,593
 
  
 
8,569
 
  
 
8,594
 
  
 
8,585
 
Weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution
  
 
8,593
 
  
 
8,569
 
  
 
8,594
 
  
 
8,585
 
Dividends declared per share
  
$
0.52
 
  
$
0.78
 
  
$
—  
 
  
$
0.52
 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


Table of Contents
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
 
    
September 30
2002

    
December 31
2001

 
    
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
    
(Unaudited)
 
ASSETS
                 
Current Assets
                 
Cash and short-term cash investments
  
$
8,016
 
  
$
3,568
 
Restricted cash
  
 
15,146
 
        
Receivables, net
  
 
27,811
 
  
 
33,081
 
Prepaid income taxes
  
 
13,935
 
  
 
10,760
 
Prepaid expenses
  
 
5,831
 
  
 
4,251
 
Television and radio broadcast rights
  
 
9,155
 
  
 
10,318
 
Net working capital of discontinued operations
           
 
216
 
    


  


Total current assets
  
 
79,894
 
  
 
62,194
 
    


  


Marketable Securities, at market value
  
 
98,315
 
  
 
97,107
 
    


  


Other Assets
                 
Cash value of life insurance and retirement deposits
  
 
13,533
 
  
 
12,403
 
Television and radio broadcast rights
  
 
7,129
 
  
 
1,725
 
Goodwill, net
  
 
189,133
 
  
 
189,133
 
Investments in equity investees
  
 
2,873
 
  
 
2,594
 
Other
  
 
23,888
 
  
 
12,232
 
Net noncurrent assets of discontinued operations
           
 
1,635
 
    


  


    
 
236,556
 
  
 
219,722
 
    


  


Property, Plant and Equipment, net
  
 
247,828
 
  
 
244,094
 
    


  


    
$
662,593
 
  
$
623,117
 
    


  


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                 
Current Liabilities
                 
Notes payable
  
$
4,622
 
  
$
25,469
 
Trade accounts payable
  
 
4,434
 
  
 
5,490
 
Accrued payroll and related benefits
  
 
8,480
 
  
 
7,616
 
Television and radio broadcast rights payable
  
 
8,708
 
  
 
8,980
 
Other current liabilities
  
 
3,454
 
  
 
5,259
 
    


  


Total current liabilities
  
 
29,698
 
  
 
52,814
 
    


  


Long-term Debt, net of current maturities
  
 
310,864
 
  
 
261,480
 
    


  


Other Liabilities
                 
Accrued retirement benefits
  
 
13,276
 
  
 
12,028
 
Deferred income taxes
  
 
69,242
 
  
 
50,994
 
Television and radio broadcast rights payable, long-term portion
  
 
1,063
 
  
 
1,570
 
Other liabilities
  
 
7,555
 
  
 
6,777
 
    


  


    
 
91,136
 
  
 
71,369
 
    


  


Stockholders’ Equity
                 
Common stock, shares authorized 12,000,000, $1.25 par value; issued 8,594,060 in 2002 and 8,591,658 in 2001
  
 
10,743
 
  
 
10,739
 
Capital in excess of par
  
 
3,486
 
  
 
3,486
 
Deferred compensation
  
 
(47
)
  
 
(66
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income – net of income taxes:
                 
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
  
 
63,146
 
  
 
62,360
 
Net loss on interest rate swap
           
 
(2,256
)
Retained earnings
  
 
153,567
 
  
 
163,191
 
    


  


    
 
230,895
 
  
 
237,454
 
    


  


    
$
662,593
 
  
$
623,117
 
    


  


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
 
    
Nine months ended
 
    
September 30

 
    
2002

    
2001

 
    
(in thousands)
 
    
(Unaudited)
 
Cash flows from operating activities
                 
Net loss
  
$
(5,156
)
  
$
(6,501
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by
                 
    operating activities
                 
Depreciation and amortization
  
 
15,759
 
  
 
19,688
 
Noncurrent deferred income taxes
  
 
17,827
 
  
 
4,402
 
Net (gain) loss in equity investees
  
 
(44
)
  
 
3,174
 
Gain on sale of real estate
  
 
(5,511
)
        
Increase in fair market value of derivative instruments
  
 
(10,228
)
        
Extraordinary item – loss from extinguishment of debt
  
 
3,264
 
        
Amortization of television and radio broadcast rights
  
 
11,168
 
  
 
11,739
 
Payments for television and radio broadcast rights
  
 
(16,188
)
  
 
(12,550
)
Other
  
 
139
 
  
 
13
 
Change in operating assets and liabilities
                 
Receivables
  
 
5,279
 
  
 
9,282
 
Prepaid income taxes
  
 
(3,175
)
  
 
(10,997
)
Prepaid expenses
  
 
(1,579
)
  
 
(3,620
)
Cash value of life insurance and retirement deposits
  
 
(1,130
)
  
 
(424
)
Other assets
  
 
949
 
  
 
(1,008
)
Trade accounts payable, accrued payroll and related
                 
    benefits and other current liabilities
  
 
169
 
  
 
(9,629
)
Accrued retirement benefits
  
 
1,248
 
  
 
100
 
Other liabilities
  
 
4,604
 
  
 
395
 
    


  


Net cash provided by operating activities
  
 
17,395
 
  
 
4,064
 
    


  


Cash flows from investing activities
                 
Proceeds from sale of discontinued milling business assets
  
 
2,800
 
  
 
49,910
 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
  
 
13,210
 
  
 
213
 
Restricted cash
  
 
(15,146
)
        
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
  
 
(30,892
)
  
 
(31,903
)
Investments in equity investees
           
 
(2,736
)
    


  


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  
 
(30,028
)
  
 
15,484
 
    


  


Cash flows from financing activities
                 
Net (payments) borrowings under notes payable
  
 
(8,474
)
  
 
5,107
 
Borrowings under borrowing agreements and mortgage loans
  
 
268,131
 
  
 
37,000
 
Payments on borrowing agreements and mortgage loans
  
 
(233,039
)
  
 
(47,632
)
Payment of deferred loan costs
  
 
(5,090
)
        
Retirement of preferred stock of subsidiary
           
 
(6,675
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
  
 
21
 
  
 
1,249
 
Cash dividends paid
  
 
(4,468
)
  
 
(6,686
)
    


  


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  
 
17,081
 
  
 
(17,637
)
    


  


Net increase in cash and short-term cash investments
  
 
4,448
 
  
 
1,911
 
Cash and short-term cash investments, beginning of period
  
 
3,568
 
  
 
275
 
    


  


Cash and short-term cash investments, end of period
  
$
8,016
 
  
$
2,186
 
    


  


 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


Table of Contents
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
    
Nine months ended
    
Three months ended
 
    
September 30

    
September 30

 
    
2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

 
    
(In thousands)
 
    
(Unaudited)
 
Net loss
  
$
(5,156
)
  
$
(6,501
)
  
$
(918
)
  
$
(3,666
)
Other comprehensive income:
                                   
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of
income tax benefit of $489
           
 
(907
)
                 
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
  
 
1,209
 
  
 
(7,791
)
  
 
1,343
 
  
 
2,077
 
Effect of income taxes
  
 
(423
)
  
 
2,727
 
  
 
(470
)
  
 
(726
)
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swap
  
 
835
 
  
 
(2,563
)
           
 
(1,386
)
Effect of income taxes
  
 
(292
)
  
 
897
 
           
 
484
 
Loss on settlement of interest rate swap reclassified to
operations, net of income tax benefit of $923
  
 
1,713
 
                          
    


  


  


  


Comprehensive loss
  
$
(2,114
)
  
$
(14,138
)
  
$
(45
)
  
$
(3,217
)
    


  


  


  


 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

6


Table of Contents
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.
 
The unaudited financial information furnished herein, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments which are necessary to state fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of Fisher Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of and for the periods indicated. Fisher Communications, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries include Fisher Broadcasting Company, Fisher Media Services Company, Fisher Mills Inc., and Fisher Properties Inc. The Company presumes that users of the interim financial information herein have access to and have read the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and that the adequacy of additional disclosure needed for a fair presentation, except in regard to material contingencies or recent subsequent events, may be determined in that context. Accordingly, footnote and other disclosures which would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 filed on March 27, 2002 by the Company have been omitted. The financial information herein is not necessarily representative of a full year’s operations.
 
2.
 
Discontinued operations
 
During 2001 substantially all of the assets and working capital used in the Company’s flour milling and food distributions operations were sold. In September 2002, land and a building in Portland, Oregon used in the Company’s food distributions operations (“Portland Property”) were sold. Net proceeds from the sale were $2,800,000. During the quarter ended September 30, 2002, estimates of the net realizable value of property, plant and equipment not included in the sales described above and certain liabilities relating to the wind-up of discontinued milling operations were revised, resulting in a loss from discontinued operations amounting to $500,000, net of taxes.
 
3.
 
Sales of real estate
 
In September 2002, certain property used in the Company’s real estate operations located on Lake Union in Seattle (“Lake Union Property”) was sold. Net proceeds from the sale were $12,834,000.
 
The Company intends to use proceeds from the sales of the Lake Union Property and the Portland Property to fund construction of Fisher Plaza. Accordingly, the Company entered into a Qualified Exchange Accommodation Agreement and proceeds from the sales have been deposited with a Qualified Intermediary (“Intermediary”), which will disburse the funds for payment of qualifying construction expenditures. As a result, under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, income taxes amounting to approximately $2,500,000 resulting from the sales have been deferred. At September 30, 2002, restricted cash represents $15,146,000 on deposit with the Intermediary that is intended for use in funding Fisher Plaza construction through February 2003.
 
4.
 
Derivative instruments
 
On March 21, 2002 the Company entered into a variable forward sales transaction (“Forward Transaction”) with a financial institution. The Company’s obligations under the Forward Transaction are collateralized by 3,000,000 shares of SAFECO Corporation common stock owned by the Company. A portion of the Forward Transaction will be considered a derivative and, as such, the Company will periodically measure its fair value and recognize the derivative as an asset or a liability. The change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in the income statement. The Company may in the future designate the Forward Transaction as a hedge and, accordingly, the change in fair value will be recorded in the income statement or in other comprehensive income depending on its effectiveness. As of September 30, 2002 the derivative portion of the Forward Transaction had a fair market value of $11,682,000, which is reported in other assets in the accompanying financial statements. Changes in the fair value of the Forward Transaction are included in net gain on derivative instruments in the accompanying financial statements. The amount available under the Forward Transaction is dependent on interest rates. The Company presently has authority from its board of directors to borrow proceeds of up to $70,000,000. As of September 30, 2002, $58,715,000, including accrued interest of $1,934,000, was outstanding under the Forward Transaction. Subsequent to September 30 the Company borrowed an additional $8,000,000.
 
The broadcasting subsidiary entered into an interest rate swap agreement fixing the interest rate on a portion of its floating rate debt at 6.87%, plus a margin based on the broadcasting subsidiary’s ratio of consolidated funded debt to consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). The notional amount of the swap is $65,000,000, which reduces as payments are made on principal outstanding

7


Table of Contents
under the floating rate debt, until termination of the interest rate swap agreement in March 2004. As of September 30, 2002, the fair market value of the swap agreement declined $1,454,000 since inception in March 2002. Changes in the fair market value of the swap agreement are included in net gain on derivative instruments in the accompanying financial statements.
 
5.
 
Television and radio broadcast rights and other commitments
 
The Company acquires television and radio broadcast rights, and has commitments under license agreements amounting to $77,908,000 for future rights to broadcast television and radio programs through 2008, and $12,000,000 in related fees. As these programs will not be available for broadcast until a future date, they have been excluded from the financial statements. In addition, the Company has commitments under a Joint Sales Agreement totaling $14,266,000 through 2007.
 
6.
 
Income (loss) per share
 
Income (loss) per share is computed as follows:
 
    
Nine months ended
September 30

    
Three months ended
September 30

 
    
2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

 
    
(Unaudited)
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period
  
 
8,592,818
 
  
 
8,568,799
 
  
 
8,594,060
 
  
 
8,585,091
 
    


  


  


  


Loss from continuing operations
  
$
(2,598
)
  
$
(6,174
)
  
$
(418
)
  
$
(3,666
)
Loss from discontinued operations of milling businesses, net of income tax benefit
  
 
(500
)
  
 
(327
)
  
 
(500
)
        
    


  


  


  


Loss before extraordinary item
  
 
(3,098
)
  
 
(6,501
)
  
 
(918
)
  
 
(3,666
)
Extraordinary item, net of income tax benefit
  
 
(2,058
)
                          
    


  


  


  


Net loss
  
$
(5,156
)
  
$
(6,501
)
  
$
(918
)
  
$
(3,666
)
    


  


  


  


Loss per share:
                                   
From continuing operations
  
$
(0.30
)
  
$
(0.72
)
  
$
(0.05
)
  
$
(0.43
)
From discontinued operations
  
 
(0.06
)
  
 
(0.04
)
  
 
(0.06
)
        
    


  


  


  


Loss before extraordinary item
  
 
(0.36
)
  
 
(0.76
)
  
 
(0.11
)
  
 
(0.43
)
Extraordinary item
  
 
(0.24
)
                          
    


  


  


  


Net loss
  
$
(0.60
)
  
$
(0.76
)
  
$
(0.11
)
  
$
(0.43
)
    


  


  


  


Loss per share assuming dilution:
                                   
From continuing operations
  
$
(0.30
)
  
$
(0.72
)
  
$
(0.05
)
  
$
(0.43
)
From discontinued operations
  
 
(0.06
)
  
 
(0.04
)
  
 
(0.06
)
        
    


  


  


  


Loss before extraordinary item
  
 
(0.36
)
  
 
(0.76
)
  
 
(0.11
)
  
 
(0.43
)
Extraordinary item
  
 
(0.24
)
                          
    


  


  


  


Net loss
  
$
(0.60
)
  
$
(0.76
)
  
$
(0.11
)
  
$
(0.43
)
    


  


  


  


 
The dilutive effect of 1,474 restricted stock rights and options to purchase 442,933 shares are excluded for the nine month and three month periods ended September 30, 2002 because such rights and options were anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect of 4,422 restricted stock rights and options to purchase 456,393 shares are excluded for the nine month and three month periods ended September 30, 2001 because such rights and options were anti-dilutive.

8


Table of Contents
7.
 
Segment information
 
Effective January 1, 2002, the Company restructured its continuing operations into three principal business segments: broadcasting, media services, and real estate. The operations of Fisher Entertainment LLC, a producer of content for cable and television, and Fisher Pathways, Inc., a provider of satellite transmission services, are included in the media services segment. Previously these businesses were reported in the broadcasting segment. The operations of the portion of Fisher Plaza not occupied by KOMO TV, which previously were reported in the real estate segment, are also included in the media services segment. Fisher Plaza operations attributable to KOMO TV are included in the broadcasting segment. The media services segment also includes the operations of Civia, Inc. Certain 2001 balances have been reclassified to conform to 2002 classifications.
 
Income from operations by business segment consists of revenue less operating expenses. In computing income from operations by business segment, other income (expense), net, has not been included, and interest expense, income taxes and unusual items have not been deducted. Identifiable assets by business segment are those assets used in the operations of each segment. Corporate assets are principally marketable securities.
 
Identifiable assets for each segment are as follows:
 
    
September 30
2002

  
December 31
2001

Broadcasting
  
$
337,637
  
$
340,638
Media services
  
 
102,823
  
 
62,936
Real estate
  
 
86,825
  
 
93,328
Corporate, eliminations and other
  
 
135,308
  
 
124,364
    

  

Continuing operations
  
 
662,593
  
 
621,266
Discontinued operations—net
         
 
1,851
    

  

    
$
662,593
  
$
623,117
    

  

 
Income (loss) from operations for each segment are as follows:
 
    
Nine months ended
September 30

    
Three months ended
September 30

 
    
2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

 
Broadcasting
  
$
2,421
 
  
$
5,661
 
  
$
(773
)
  
$
(344
)
Media services
  
 
(1,950
)
  
 
(1,530
)
  
 
(532
)
  
 
(1,092
)
Real estate
  
 
2,797
 
  
 
3,212
 
  
 
797
 
  
 
1,107
 
Corporate, eliminations and other
  
 
(6,756
)
  
 
(6,260
)
  
 
(2,412
)
  
 
(1,742
)
    


  


  


  


    
$
(3,488
)
  
$
1,083
 
  
$
(2,920
)
  
$
(2,071
)
    


  


  


  


 
8.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (FAS 142). Upon adoption the Company ceased amortizing goodwill. Goodwill is to be tested for impairment upon adoption of FAS 142, and will be tested annually or whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. The Company has determined that indefinite-lived intangible assets resulting from past business combinations are to be accounted for as goodwill. In the second quarter of 2002 the Company completed the first step of the transitional impairment test for goodwill and found no indication of impairment. The determination of fair value is a critical and complex consideration when assessing impairment under FAS 142 that involves

9


Table of Contents
significant assumptions and estimates. These assumptions and estimates were based on the Company’s best judgments. In the future, impairment must be assessed at least annually for these assets, or when indications of impairment exist. The Company’s judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators include: the Company’s assessment of the impacts of legal factors and market and economic conditions; the results of the Company’s operational performance and strategic plans; competition and market share; any potential for the sale or disposal of a significant portion of the Company’s business; and availability of sources of funding to conduct the Company’s principal operations. In the future, it is possible that such assessments could cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that certain assets are impaired. The aggregate carrying value of the Company’s goodwill is $189 million as of September 30, 2002. The Company plans to complete its annual test for impairment of goodwill during the fourth quarter of 2002.
 
As required by FAS 142, the results for periods prior to adoption have not been restated. The following table reconciles the reported net loss and net loss per share to that which would have resulted for the nine- and three-month periods ended September 30, 2001 if FAS 142 had been adopted effective in 2001.
 
    
Nine months
ended
September 30
2001

    
Three months
ended
September 30
2001

 
Net loss
  
$
(6,501
)
  
$
(3,666
)
Goodwill amortization, net of income tax benefit
  
 
2,549
 
  
 
846
 
    


  


Pro forma net income (loss)
  
$
(3,952
)
  
$
(2,820
)
    


  


Net loss per share:
                 
Basic
  
$
(0.76
)
  
$
(0.43
)
Assuming dilution
  
$
(0.76
)
  
$
(0.43
)
Pro forma net income (loss) per share:
                 
Basic
  
$
(0.46
)
  
$
(0.33
)
Assuming dilution
  
$
(0.46
)
  
$
(0.33
)
 
In May 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statement No. 145 “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections” (FAS 145). FAS 145, which updates, clarifies, and simplifies existing accounting pronouncements, addresses the reporting of debt extinguishments and accounting for certain lease modifications that have economic effects that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions. The provisions of FAS 145 shall be effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. The Company is currently assessing the impact of FAS 145 on its financial statements.
 
In July 2002, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (FAS 146). FAS 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities. The provisions of FAS 146 are effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002; however, early adoption is permitted. During the quarter ended September 30, 2002 the Company applied the provisions of FAS 146 and recorded a charge amounting to approximately $600,000 in connection with a change in location of the Seattle Radio operations.
 
9.
 
Subsequent events
 
On October 17, 2002, the broadcasting subsidiary entered into a non-binding letter of intent from a buyer interested in acquiring substantially all of the assets and assuming programming liabilities of television stations WFXG-TV, Augusta, Georgia and WXTX-TV, Columbus, Georgia. The transaction is subject to negotiation of a purchase and sale agreement, completion of due diligence, and FCC consent to assignment of the licenses. If a transaction is concluded, the broadcasting subsidiary may incur a loss of approximately $17 million. The net proceeds from a sale, after income taxes, will be used to reduce debt. A previous proposed sale reported in August did not materialize.
 
On October 25, 2002, the Company’s real estate subsidiary concluded the sale of the subsidiary’s Fisher Commerce Center industrial property. The transaction resulted in a gain of approximately $2,200,000 net of income tax effects. Net proceeds from the sale, after income taxes, will be used to reduce debt.
 
On November 8, 2002 the Company announced that it has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. as financial advisor to assist in reviewing its strategic alternatives.

10


Table of Contents
 
ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. Except for the historical information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our objectives, expectations and intentions. Our actual results could differ materially from results that may be anticipated by such forward-looking statements and discussed elsewhere herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below, those discussed under the caption “Additional Factors That May Affect Our Business, Financial Condition And Future Results”, and those discussed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may subsequently arise. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this report and in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, prospects and results of operations. As used herein, unless the context requires otherwise, when we say “we”, “us”,” our”, or the “Company”, we are referring to Fisher Communications, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
This discussion is intended to provide an analysis of significant trends and material changes in our financial position and operating results during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002 compared with the similar period in 2001.
 
Effective January 1, 2002, we restructured our continuing operations into three principal business segments: broadcasting, media services, and real estate. Accordingly, the operations of Fisher Entertainment LLC, a producer of content for cable and television, and Fisher Pathways, Inc., a provider of satellite transmission services, are included in the media services segment. Previously these businesses were reported in the broadcasting segment. The operations of the portion of Fisher Plaza not occupied by KOMO TV, which previously were reported in the real estate segment, are also included in the media services segment. Fisher Plaza operations attributable to KOMO TV are included in the broadcasting segment. The media services segment also includes the consolidated operations of Civia, Inc. In 2002, we converted certain loans into a majority equity interest in Civia, Inc. During the second quarter of 2002, we purchased all remaining minority equity interests in Civia. Accordingly, Civia’s 2002 operating results are consolidated, while its 2001 results are reported under the equity method. Certain 2001 balances have been reclassified to conform to 2002 classifications.
 
In May 2002, the broadcasting subsidiary entered into a radio rights agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) to broadcast Seattle Mariners baseball games on KOMO-AM for the 2003 through 2008 baseball seasons. In this regard, the broadcasting subsidiary has incurred certain selling, promotional, and other costs prior to recognizing revenue under the Rights Agreement.
 
In September 2002, certain property used in the Company’s real estate operations located on Lake Union in Seattle (“Lake Union Property”) was sold. Net proceeds from the sale were $12,834,000. Also in September, land and a building in Portland, Oregon used in the Company’s food distributions operations (“Portland Property”) were sold. Net proceeds from the sale were $2,800,000.
 
The Company intends to use proceeds from the sales of the Lake Union Property and the Portland Property to fund construction of Fisher Plaza. Accordingly, the Company entered into a Qualified Exchange Accommodation Agreement and proceeds from the sales have been deposited with a Qualified Intermediary (“Intermediary”), which will disburse the funds for payment of qualifying construction expenditures. As a result, under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, income taxes amounting to approximately $2,500,000 resulting from the sales have been deferred.
 
On October 17, 2002, the broadcasting subsidiary entered into a non-binding letter of intent from a buyer interested in acquiring substantially all of the assets and assuming certain liabilities of television stations WFXG-TV, Augusta, Georgia and WXTX-TV, Columbus, Georgia. The transaction is subject to negotiation of a purchase and sale agreement, completion of due diligence, and FCC consent to assignment of the licenses. If a transaction is concluded, the broadcasting subsidiary may incur a loss of approximately $17 million. The net proceeds from a sale, after income taxes, will be used to reduce debt. A previous proposed sale reported in August did not materialize. The terms of the proposed sale of the Georgia television stations have not yet been finalized and the Company and the proposed buyer of the Georgia television stations may be unable to reach agreement on final terms or may reach

11


Table of Contents
agreement on terms, including the purchase price, that are substantially different from the terms contained in the non-binding letter of intent.
 
On October 25, 2002, the Company’s real estate subsidiary concluded the sale of the subsidiary’s Fisher Commerce Center industrial property. The transaction resulted in a gain of approximately $2,200,000 net of income tax effects. Net proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce debt.
 
On November 8, 2002 the Company announced that it has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. as financial advisor to assist in reviewing its strategic alternatives.
 
Percentage comparisons have been omitted within the following tables where they are not considered meaningful.
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
On January 1, 2002, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (FAS 142). FAS 142 changes the accounting for goodwill from an amortization method to an impairment-only approach. Goodwill is to be tested for impairment upon adoption of FAS 142, and will be tested annually or whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. We have determined that indefinite-lived intangible assets resulting from past business combinations are to be accounted for as goodwill. We have completed the first step of the transitional impairment test for goodwill and found no impairment. The determination of fair value is a critical and complex consideration when assessing impairment under FAS 142 that involves significant assumptions and estimates. These assumptions and estimates were based on our best judgments. In the future, impairment must be assessed at least annually for these assets, or when indications of impairment exist. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators include: our assessment of the impacts of legal factors and market and economic conditions; the results of our operational performance and strategic plans; competition and market share; any potential for the sale or disposal of a significant portion of our business; and availability of sources of funding to conduct our principal operations. In the future, it is possible that such assessments could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that certain assets are impaired. The aggregate carrying value of our goodwill is $189 million as of September 30, 2002.
 
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 showed a consolidated loss of $5,156,000 including an extraordinary loss item amounting to $2,058,000, net of income taxes, for write-off of deferred loan costs relating to early extinguishment of long-term debt that was repaid during the first quarter. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 also included the after tax effects of net gain on derivative instruments amounting to $4,787,000, gain from sale of real estate located on Lake Union in Seattle amounting to $3,475,000, and costs relating to the wind-up of discontinued milling operations amounting to $500,000. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 was $6,501,000, including a loss of $327,000 from discontinued operations of milling businesses.
 
Operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2002 showed a consolidated loss of $918,000. Third quarter results include the after tax effects of net gain on derivative instruments amounting to $938,000, gain from sale of real estate located on Lake Union in Seattle amounting to $3,475,000, and costs relating to the wind-up of discontinued milling operations amounting to $500,000. Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2001 was $3,666,000.
 
Revenue

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

  
Three months ended September 30

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

  
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

Broadcasting
  
$
97,668,000
    
-7.2
%
  
$
105,270,000
  
$
32,760,000
    
1.1
%
  
$
32,394,000
Media services
  
 
4,892,000
    
3.2
%
  
 
4,739,000
  
 
1,779,000
    
-8.7
%
  
 
1,948,000
Real estate
  
 
9,595,000
    
6.3
%
  
 
9,027,000
  
 
3,090,000
    
-.3
%
  
 
3,100,000
    

           

  

           

Consolidated
  
$
112,155,000
    
-5.8
%
  
$
119,036,000
  
$
37,629,000
    
.5
%
  
$
37,442,000
 
Broadcasting revenue declined $7,602,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2002, compared with the same period of 2001, due largely to a weak economy in the Northwest and relatively weak performance by the ABC television network. Television revenues, net of agency commissions, were down 10%. Net revenue from radio operations declined less than 1%.

12


Table of Contents
Based on information published by Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co. (Miller Kaplan), during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2002, revenue for the overall Seattle television market declined 6%, and revenue for the overall Portland television market increased 2%. Our Seattle and Portland television stations experienced revenue declines of 18% and 8%, respectively, during the nine-month period. We believe that the performance of ABC and coverage of the Winter Olympic Games on a competing network were contributing factors. We also believe that KOMO TV in Seattle was impacted by the popularity of the Seattle Mariners baseball team, whose games are broadcast on a competing station. Our smaller market television operations experienced mixed revenue results with the Oregon and Idaho stations reporting increased revenue and the Washington and Georgia station groups reporting declines.
 
Our radio operations also reported mixed revenue results during the first nine months of 2002. Local and national revenues for our Seattle radio operations declined 10% during the nine-month period due, in part, to a decline in ratings, while local and national revenues at our Portland radio stations increased 22% due, in part, to improving ratings. Miller Kaplan reported that local and national radio revenues for the Seattle and Portland radio markets declined 6% and .4%, respectively, during the same period. Nine-month revenue at our small market radio stations in Eastern Washington and Montana increased 6%.
 
Third quarter 2002 broadcasting revenue increased $366,000, compared with the same period of last year. Net television and radio revenues were each up 1%.
 
Revenue at our Seattle television station declined 7% during the third quarter. Revenue at our Portland television station increased 3% during the quarter. Our smaller market television operations experienced revenue increases ranging from 2% to 27%.
 
The increase in revenue for the media services segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 is principally due to revenues from program production and development at Fisher Entertainment, and revenue from Fisher Plaza. Revenue from Fisher Pathways declined 42% during the nine-month period and 40% during the third quarter ended September 30, 2002, compared with the same periods last year, due to a decline in demand for our satellite transmission services.
 
The increase in real estate revenue is primarily due to rents from the Fisher Industrial Technology Center (Fisher ITC) located in Auburn, Washington, which was 72% occupied during 2002. Fisher ITC was in lease-up phase during 2001, with the first tenant taking occupancy in May of that year. The revenue increase attributable to Fisher ITC was partially offset by absence of revenue from the Lake Union properties sold in September 2002, amounting to $115,000, and by vacancies at other properties.
 
Cost of services sold

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

 
    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

 
Broadcasting
  
$
46,087,000
 
  
-6.1
%
  
$
49,091,000
 
  
$
15,400,000
 
  
-6.3
%
  
$
16,439,000
 
Media services
  
 
2,514,000
 
  
27.3
%
  
 
1,975,000
 
  
 
1,029,000
 
  
-6.6
%
  
 
1,102,000
 
Real estate
  
 
1,725,000
 
  
51.0
%
  
 
1,142,000
 
  
 
607,000
 
  
34.0
%
  
 
453,000
 
    


         


  


         


Consolidated
  
$
50,326,000
 
  
-3.6
%
  
$
52,208,000
 
  
$
17,036,000
 
  
-5.3
%
  
$
17,994,000
 
Percentage of revenue
  
 
44.9
%
         
 
43.9
%
  
 
45.3
%
         
 
48.1
%
 
The cost of services sold consists primarily of costs to acquire, produce, and promote broadcast programming, operating costs of the businesses in the media services segment, and costs to operate the properties held by the real estate segment. These costs are relatively fixed in nature, and do not necessarily vary on a proportional basis with revenue.
 
Emphasis on expense control resulted in a reduction in operating expenses at the broadcasting segment for the first nine months of 2002, compared with the same period of 2001. The largest decline was in salaries and related expenses due to staff reduction; however, many other operating expenses in the segment declined.
 
Operating expenses in the media services segment increased during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2002 as additional costs were incurred in connection with growth, with the largest increase at Fisher Plaza, where certain costs were deferred during 2001. Third quarter operating expenses remained relatively flat, except for a decline in costs associated with the decline in revenue at Fisher Pathways.

13


Table of Contents
The real estate segment experienced increased operating costs in several categories, including repairs and maintenance, energy and utilities, and insurance. In addition, certain operating costs relating to Fisher ITC were capitalized during the first nine months of 2001 as the facility was in lease-up phase. Expense savings relating the Lake Union properties sold in September 2002 amounted to approximately $50,000.
 
Selling expenses

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

 
    
2002

      
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

 
Broadcasting
  
$
16,222,000
 
    
5.9
%
  
$
15,325,000
 
  
$
5,878,000
 
  
15.4
%
  
$
5,094,000
 
Media services
  
 
269,000
 
           
 
64,000
 
  
 
42,000
 
  
5.0
%
  
 
40,000
 
    


           


  


         


Consolidated
  
$
16,491,000
 
    
7.2
%
  
$
15,389,000
 
  
$
5,920,000
 
  
15.3
%
  
$
5,134,000
 
Percentage of revenue
  
 
14.7
%
           
 
12.9
%
  
 
15.7
%
         
 
13.7
%
 
Emphasis on expense control and reduced revenue at the broadcasting segment was offset by costs incurred at Seattle Radio operations in connection with a Joint Sales Agreement that became effective March 2002 and additional sales personnel related to the Rights Agreement to broadcast Seattle Mariners baseball games on KOMO-AM.
 
Selling expenses at the media services segment increased during the first nine months compared with the same period last year, due to efforts to increase revenue growth at Fisher Pathways and at Civia, Inc. Third quarter 2002 selling expenses were unchanged compared with 2001, as selling efforts at Civia, Inc. were curtailed.
 
General and administrative expenses

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

 
    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

 
Broadcasting
  
$
22,329,000
 
  
5.8
%
  
$
21,099,000
 
  
$
8,372,000
 
  
29.9
%
  
$
6,445,000
 
Media services
  
 
2,391,000
 
  
-22.4
%
  
 
3,081,000
 
  
 
455,000
 
  
-70.0
%
  
 
1,517,000
 
Real estate
  
 
1,810,000
 
  
-4.4
%
  
 
1,894,000
 
  
 
613,000
 
  
.8
%
  
 
608,000
 
Corporate, eliminations & other
  
 
6,573,000
 
  
7.2
%
  
 
6,134,000
 
  
 
2,347,000
 
  
38.1
%
  
 
1,699,000
 
    


         


  


         


Consolidated
  
$
33,103,000
 
  
2.8
%
  
$
32,208,000
 
  
$
11,787,000
 
  
14.8
%
  
$
10,269,000
 
Percentage of revenue
  
 
29.5
%
         
 
27.1
%
  
 
31.3
%
         
 
27.4
%
 
Higher costs of medical benefits, increased bad debt expense, and a charge amounting to approximately $600,000 in connection with a change in location of the Seattle Radio operations (See Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) resulted in expense increases in the broadcasting segment during the third quarter and nine month period.
 
In the media services segment, expense reductions resulting from curtailment of activities at Civia, Inc. were partially offset by increased personnel and related costs at Fisher Entertainment and the corporate group.
 
A number of expense reductions at the corporate segment during 2002 were offset by increased insurance expense, charitable contributions, and accruals for severance and outplacement costs resulting from staff reductions.

14


Table of Contents
 
Depreciation and amortization

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

 
    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

 
Broadcasting
  
$
10,609,000
 
  
-24.7
%
  
$
14,094,000
 
  
$
3,882,000
 
  
-18.4
%
  
$
4,759,000
 
Media services
  
 
1,668,000
 
  
45.0
%
  
 
1,150,000
 
  
 
786,000
 
  
106.2
%
  
 
381,000
 
Real estate
  
 
3,264,000
 
  
17.5
%
  
 
2,778,000
 
  
 
1,075,000
 
  
15.2
%
  
 
932,000
 
Corporate, eliminations & other
  
 
182,000
 
  
44.3
%
  
 
126,000
 
  
 
63,000
 
  
44.8
%
  
 
44,000
 
    


         


  


         


Consolidated
  
$
15,723,000
 
  
-13.4
%
  
$
18,148,000
 
  
$
5,806,000
 
  
-5.1
%
  
$
6,116,000
 
Percentage of revenue
  
 
14.0
%
         
 
15.2
%
  
 
15.4
%
         
 
16.3
%
 
The decline in depreciation and amortization at the broadcasting segment is primarily due to a new accounting standard that provides for discontinuation of goodwill amortization beginning January 1, 2002. Goodwill amortization amounted to $3,892,000 during the first nine months of 2001 and $1,292,000 during the third quarter of 2001. Depreciation expense remained relatively constant except for additional depreciation relating to a change in location of the Seattle Radio operations.
 
The increase in depreciation in the media services segment is attributable to operations of Fisher Plaza and Civia, Inc. Depreciation on a portion of Fisher Plaza did not begin in the first half of 2001 as the project was not substantially complete.
 
The increase in depreciation in the real estate segment is primarily attributable to Fisher ITC, which was 72% leased in 2002, but was vacant until May of 2001.
 
Income (Loss) from operations

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

 
    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

 
Broadcasting
  
$
2,421,000
 
  
-57.2
%
  
$
5,661,000
 
  
$
(773,000
)
  
-124.9
%
  
$
(343,000
)
Media services
  
 
(1,950,000
)
  
-27.4
%
  
 
(1,530,000
)
  
 
(532,000
)
  
-51.3
%
  
 
(1,092,000
)
Real estate
  
 
2,797,000
 
  
-12.9
%
  
 
3,212,000
 
  
 
797,000
 
  
-28.1
%
  
 
1,107,000
 
Corporate, eliminations & other
  
 
(6,756,000
)
  
-7.9
%
  
 
(6,260,000
)
  
 
(2,412,000
)
  
-38.3
%
  
 
(1,743,000
)
    


         


  


         


Consolidated
  
$
(3,488,000
)
         
$
1,083,000
 
  
$
(2,920,000
)
  
-40.9
%
  
$
(2,071,000
)
 
Income (loss) from operations by business segment consists of revenue less operating expenses. In computing income from operations by business segment, net gain on derivative instruments and other income, net, have not been included, and interest expense, income taxes and unusual items have not been deducted.
 
Net gain on derivative instruments

 
Nine months ended
September 30

    
Three months ended
September 30

2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

$7,592,000
    
$-0-
    
$1,489,000
    
$-0-
 
Net gain on derivative instruments includes unrealized gain resulting from an increase in fair value of a variable forward sales transaction amounting to $11,682,000 in the first nine months of 2002 and $2,005,000 in the third quarter of 2002, and unrealized loss from a decline in fair value of an interest rate swap agreement amounting to $1,454,000 in the first nine months and $516,000 in the third quarter of 2002 (See Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements). The net gain for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 also includes a realized loss amounting to $2,636,000 from termination, in March, of an interest rate swap agreement.

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Other income, net

 
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

2002

    
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

$7,571,000
           
$2,508,000
    
$6,195,000
           
$629,000
 
Other income, net includes gains from sale of real estate, dividends received on marketable securities and, to a lesser extent, interest and miscellaneous income. In September 2002, certain property used in the Company’s real estate operations located on Lake Union in Seattle was sold. Gain on the sale was $5,511,000 ($3,475,000 after income tax effects).
 
Interest expense

 
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

2002

    
% Change

    
2001

    
2002

    
% Change

    
2001

$15,831,000
    
21.7%
    
$13,008,000
    
$5,408,000
    
30.9%
    
$4,133,000
 
Interest expense includes interest on borrowed funds, amortization of loan fees, and net payments under interest rate swap agreements. The increases in 2002 interest expense, compared with 2001, are attributable to higher amounts borrowed during 2002, partially offset by lower interest rates. Interest incurred in connection with funds borrowed to finance construction of Fisher Plaza and other significant capital projects is capitalized as part of the cost of the related project. Interest capitalized during the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 amounted to $1,701,000 and $1,569,000, respectively. Interest capitalized during the three months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 amounted to $674,000 and $422,000, respectively.
 
Provision for federal and state income taxes (benefit)

 
    
Nine months ended September 30

    
Three months ended September 30

 
    
2002

      
% Change

  
2001

    
2002

      
% Change

  
2001

 
    
$
(1,513,000
)
         
$
(3,252,000
)
  
$
(213,000
)
         
$
(1,919,000
)
Effective tax rate
  
 
36.8
%
         
 
34.5
%
  
 
33.8
%
         
 
34.4
%
 
The provision for federal and state income taxes varies directly with pre-tax income. The tax benefits reflect our ability to utilize net operating loss carrybacks. The effective tax rate varies from the statutory rate primarily due to a deduction for dividends received, offset by the impact of state income taxes.
 
Extraordinary item, net of income tax benefit

 
Nine months ended
September 30

    
Three months ended
September 30

2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

$(2,058,000)
    
$-0-
    
$-0-
    
$-0-
 
We repaid certain loans in March 2002 and, as a result, wrote off deferred loan costs amounting to $3,264,000. Net of income tax benefit this charge amounted to $2,058,000.
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)

 
Nine months ended
September 30

    
Three months ended
September 30

2002

    
2001

    
2002

    
2001

$3,041,000
    
$(7,637,000)
    
$872,000
    
$449,000
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gain or loss on our marketable securities and the effective portion of the change in fair value of an interest rate swap agreement, and is net of income taxes. During the nine- and three-month periods ended September 30, 2002 the value of our marketable securities increased $1,208,000 and $786,000, respectively, net of tax. A significant portion of the marketable securities consists of 3,002,376 shares of SAFECO Corporation common stock. The per share market price of SAFECO Corporation common stock was $32.88 at December 31, 2000, $29.50 at June 30, 2001, $30.33 at September 30, 2001, $31.15 at December 31, 2001, $30.89 at June 30, 2002, and $31.78 at September 30, 2002.

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During the period from January 1 through March 21, 2002 we used an interest rate swap, designated as a cash flow hedge, to manage exposure to interest rate risks. During this period the fair value of the swap increased $543,000, net of tax, which is recorded in other comprehensive income. In connection with the refinancing of our long-term debt, the swap agreement was terminated and the remaining negative fair market value ($1,713,000 net of tax benefit) was reclassified to operations.
 
Unrealized gains and losses are reported as accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
As of September 30, 2002 we had working capital of $50,196,000, including cash and short-term cash investments totaling $8,016,000 and cash restricted for construction of Fisher Plaza amounting to $15,146,000. We intend to finance working capital, debt service, capital expenditures, and dividend requirements primarily through operating activities. However, we will consider using available credit facilities to fund significant real estate project development activities. As of September 30, 2002, approximately $26,000,000 is available under existing credit facilities.
 
On October 25, 2002, the Company’s real estate subsidiary concluded the sale of the subsidiary’s Fisher Commerce Center industrial property. The transaction resulted in a gain of approximately $2,200,000 net of income tax effects. Net proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce debt.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was $17,395,000. Net cash provided by operating activities consists of our net income or loss, increased by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, and adjusted by changes in operating assets and liabilities. Net cash used in investing activities during the period was $30,028,000, primarily for purchase of property, plant and equipment (including for the Fisher Plaza project). Net cash provided by financing activities was $17,102,000, comprised of borrowings under borrowing agreements and mortgage loans of $268,131,000 less payments of $233,039,000 on borrowing agreements and mortgage loans, as two prior credit facilities were repaid from proceeds from new credit facilities, payments on notes payable of $8,474,000, payment of deferred loan costs of $5,090,000 paid in connection with obtaining new credit facilities, and cash dividends paid to stockholders totaling $4,468,000 or $.52 per share. At a meeting held on July 3, 2002, the Company’s board of directors voted to suspend payment of the quarterly dividend.
 
ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND FUTURE RESULTS
 
The following risk factors and other information included in this Quarterly Report should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
 
A continuing economic downturn in the Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon areas could adversely affect our operations, revenue, cash flow and earnings.
 
Our operations are concentrated primarily in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon markets are particularly important for our financial well being. Operating results during 2001 and 2002 were adversely impacted by a soft economy, and a continuing economic downturn in these markets could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. Because our costs of services are relatively fixed, we may be unable to significantly reduce costs if our revenues continue to decline. If our revenues do not increase or if they continue to decline, we could continue to suffer net losses or such net losses could increase.
 
Our debt service consumes a substantial portion of the cash we generate, but our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.
 
We currently use a significant portion of our operating cash flow to service our debt. Our leverage makes us vulnerable to an increase in interest rates or a downturn in the operating performance of our businesses or a decline in general economic conditions. It further limits our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements or other purposes, and may limit our ability to pay dividends. Finally, it inhibits our ability to compete with competitors who are less leveraged than we are, and it constrains our ability to react to changing market conditions, changes in our industry and economic downturns.

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Prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, will affect our ability to satisfy our debt obligations. If in the future we cannot generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our obligations, we may need to refinance our debt, obtain additional financing, forego capital expenditures, or sell assets. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will generate sufficient cash flow or be able to obtain sufficient funding to satisfy our debt service requirements.
 
Foreign hostilities and further terrorist attacks may affect our revenues and results of operations.
 
We may experience a loss of advertising revenue and incur additional broadcasting expenses in the event the United States engages in foreign hostilities or in the event there is a terrorist attack against the United States. A significant news event like a war or terrorist attack will likely result in the preemption of regularly scheduled programming by network news coverage of the event. As a result, advertising may not be aired and the revenue for such advertising may be lost unless the broadcasting station is able to run the advertising at agreed-upon times in the future. There can be no assurance that advertisers will agree to run such advertising in future time periods or that space will be available for such advertising. We cannot predict the duration of such preemption of local programing if it occurs. In addition, our broadcasting stations may incur additional expenses as a result of expanded local news coverage of the local impact of a war or terrorist attack. The loss of revenue and increased expenses could negatively affect our results of operations.
 
Competition in the broadcasting industry and the rise of alternative entertainment and communications media may result in losses of audience share and advertising revenue by our stations.
 
We cannot assure you that any of our stations will maintain or increase its current audience ratings or advertising revenue market share. Fisher Broadcasting’s television and radio stations face intense competition from local network affiliates and independent stations, as well as from cable and alternative methods of broadcasting brought about by technological advances and innovations. The stations compete for audiences on the basis of programming popularity, which has a direct effect on advertising rates. Additional significant factors affecting a station’s competitive position include assigned frequency and signal strength. The possible rise in popularity of competing entertainment and communications media could also have a materially adverse effect on Fisher Broadcasting’s audience share and advertising revenue. We cannot predict either the extent to which such competition will materialize or, if such competition materializes, the extent of its effect on our business.
 
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) is currently considering whether to modify its national and local television ownership limitations, as well as its local radio ownership limitations. We cannot predict what action the FCC will take. If the FCC adopts proposals to allow large broadcast groups to expand further their ownership on a national basis, to permit a single entity to own more than one station in markets with fewer independently owned stations, or to allow radio operators to increase their level of ownership in local markets, our existing operations could face increased competition from entities with significantly greater resources, and greater economies of scale, than Fisher Broadcasting.
 
The performance of the television networks could harm our operating results.
 
The operating results of our broadcasting operations are primarily dependent on advertising revenues. Our Seattle and Portland television stations are affiliated with the ABC Television Network. Popularity of programming on ABC lagged behind other networks during 2001 and 2002 and, contributed to a decline in audience ratings, which negatively impacted revenues for our Seattle and Portland television stations. Continued weak performance by ABC could harm our business and results of operations.
 
Our operating results are dependent on the success of programming aired by our television and radio stations.
 
We make significant commitments to acquire rights to television and radio programs under multi-year agreements. The success of such programs is dependent partly upon unpredictable and volatile factors beyond our control such as audience preferences, competing programming, and the availability of other entertainment activities. Audience preferences could cause our programming not to gain popularity or decline in popularity, which could cause our advertising revenues to decline. In some instances, we may have to replace programs before their costs have been fully-amortized, resulting in write-offs that increase operating costs.

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A write-down of goodwill to comply with new accounting standards would harm our operating results.
 
Approximately $189 million, or 29% of our total assets as of September 30, 2002, consists of unamortized goodwill. On January 1, 2002, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (FAS 142). FAS 142 changes the accounting for goodwill from an amortization method to an impairment-only approach. Goodwill was tested for impairment upon adoption of FAS 142, and will be tested annually or whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. We have determined that indefinite-lived intangible assets resulting from past business combinations are to be accounted for as goodwill. In the second quarter of 2002 we completed the first step of the transitional impairment test for goodwill and found no indication of impairment. The determination of fair value is a critical and complex consideration when assessing impairment under FAS 142 that involves significant assumptions and estimates. These assumptions and estimates were based on our best judgments. In the future, impairment must be assessed at least annually for these assets, or when indications of impairment exist. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators include: our assessment of the impacts of legal factors and market and economic conditions; the results of our operational performance and strategic plans; competition and market share; any potential for the sale or disposal of a significant portion of our business; and availability of sources of funding to conduct our principal operations. In the future, it is possible that such assessments could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that certain assets are impaired which, would harm our operating results.
 
Our restructuring may cause disruption of operations and distraction of management, and may not achieve the desired results.
 
We continue to implement a restructuring of our corporate enterprise with the objective of allowing greater functional integration of core competencies and improving operational efficiencies. This restructuring may disrupt operations and distract management, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. We cannot predict whether this restructuring will achieve the desired benefits, or whether our company will be able to fully integrate our broadcast communications, media services and other operations. We cannot assure you that the restructuring will be completed in a timely manner or that any benefits of the restructuring will justify its costs. We may incur costs in connection with the restructuring in the areas of professional fees, marketing expenses, employment expenses, and administrative expenses. In addition, we may incur additional costs, which we are unable to predict at this time.
 
Our efforts to develop new business opportunities are subject to technological risk and may not be successful, or results may take longer than expected to realize.
 
We are developing new opportunities for creating, aggregating and distributing content through non-broadcast media channels, such as the Internet, cell phones, and web-enabled personal digital assistants. The success of our efforts is subject to technological innovations and risks beyond our control, so that the anticipated benefits may take longer than expected to realize. In addition, we have limited experience in non-broadcast media, which may result in errors in the conception, design or implementation of a strategy to take advantage of the opportunities available in that area. We therefore cannot give any assurance that our efforts will result in successful products or services.
 
The FCC’s extensive regulation of the broadcasting industry limits our ability to own and operate television and radio stations and other media outlets.
 
The broadcasting industry is subject to extensive regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Compliance with and the effects of existing and future regulations could have a material adverse impact on us. Issuance, renewal or transfer of broadcast station operating licenses requires FCC approval, and we cannot operate our stations without FCC licenses. Failure to observe FCC rules and policies can result in the imposition of various sanctions, including monetary forfeitures, the grant of short-term (i.e., less than the full eight years) license renewals or, for particularly egregious violations, the denial of a license renewal application or revocation of a license. While the majority of such licenses are renewed by the FCC, there can be no assurance that Fisher Broadcasting’s licenses will be renewed at their expiration dates, or, if renewed, that the renewal terms will be for eight years. If the FCC decides to include conditions or qualifications in any of our licenses, we may be limited in the manner in which we may operate the affected stations.
 
The Communications Act and FCC rules impose specific limits on the number of stations and other media outlets an entity can own in a single market. The FCC attributes interests held by, among others, an entity’s officers, directors, certain stockholders, and in some circumstances, lenders, to that entity for purposes of applying these ownership limitations. The existing ownership rules or proposed new rules may prevent us from acquiring additional stations in a particular market. We may also be prevented from engaging in a swap transaction if the swap would cause the other company to violate these rules.

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Table of Contents
 
The FCC is currently considering whether to modify its national and local television ownership limitations, as well as its local radio ownership limitations. We cannot predict what action the FCC will take. If the FCC adopts proposals to allow large broadcast groups to expand further their ownership on a national basis, to permit a single entity to own more than one station in markets with fewer independently owned stations, or to allow radio operators to increase their level of ownership in local markets, our existing operations could face increased competition from entities with significantly greater resources, and greater economies of scale, than Fisher Broadcasting.
 
Dependence on key personnel may expose us to additional risks.
 
Our business is dependent on the performance of certain key employees, including our chief executive officer and other executive officers. We also employ several on-air personalities who have significant loyal audiences in their respective markets. We can give no assurance that all such key personnel will remain with us. The loss of any key personnel could harm our operations and financial results.
 
The non-renewal or modification of affiliation agreements with major television networks could harm our operating results.
 
Our television stations’ affiliation with one of the four major television networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) has a significant impact on the composition of the stations’ programming, revenues, expenses and operations. We cannot give any assurance that we will be able to renew our affiliation agreements with the networks at all, or on satisfactory terms. In recent years, the networks have been attempting to change affiliation arrangements in manners that would disadvantage affiliates. The non-renewal or modification of any of the network affiliation agreements could harm our operating results.
 
A network might acquire a television station in one of our markets, which could harm our business and operating results.
 
If a network acquires a television station in a market in which we own a station affiliated with that network, the network will likely decline to renew the affiliation agreement for our station in that market, which could harm our business and results of operations.
 
Our operations may be adversely affected by power outages, increased energy costs or earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest.
 
Our corporate headquarters and a significant portion of our operations are located in the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest has from time-to-time experienced earthquakes and experienced a significant earthquake on February 28, 2001. We do not know the ultimate impact on our operations of being located near major earthquake faults, but an earthquake could harm our operating results. In addition, the Pacific Northwest may experience power shortages or outages and increased energy costs. Power shortages or outages could cause disruptions to our operations, which in turn may result in a material decrease in our revenues and earnings and have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Power shortages or increased energy costs in the Northwest could harm the region’s economy, which could reduce our advertising revenues. Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover the losses and interruptions caused by earthquakes and power outages.
 
Our development, ownership and operation of real property is subject to risks, including those relating to the economic climate, local real estate conditions, potential inability to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance, potential collection problems, reliance on significant tenants, and regulatory risks.
 
Revenue and operating income from our properties and the value of our properties may be adversely affected by the general economic climate, the local economic climate and local real estate conditions, including prospective tenants’ perceptions of attractiveness of the properties and the availability of space in other competing properties. We have developed the second building at Fisher Plaza, which entailed significant investment by us. The softened economy in the Seattle area could adversely affect our ability to lease the space of our properties on attractive terms or at all, which could harm our operating results. Other risks relating to our real estate operations include the potential inability to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance, and the potential inability to collect rent due to bankruptcy or insolvency of tenants or otherwise. Several of our properties are leased to tenants that occupy substantial portions of such properties and the departure of one or more of them or the inability of any of them to pay their rents or other fees could have a significant adverse effect on our real estate revenues. Real estate income and values may also be adversely affected by such factors as applicable laws and regulations, including tax and

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environmental laws, interest rate levels and the availability of financing. We carry comprehensive liability, fire, extended coverage and rent loss insurance with respect to our properties. There are, however, certain losses that may be either uninsurable, not economically insurable or in excess of our current insurance coverage limits. If an uninsured loss occurs with respect to a property, it could harm our operating results.
 
A reduction on the periodic dividend on the common stock of SAFECO may adversely affect our revenue, cash flow and earnings.
 
We are a 2.4% stockholder of the common stock of SAFECO Corporation. If SAFECO reduces its periodic dividends, it will negatively affect our cash flow and earnings. In February 2001, SAFECO reduced its quarterly dividend from $0.37 to $0.185 per share.
 
Antitrust law and other regulatory considerations could prevent or delay expansion of our business or adversely affect our revenues.
 
The completion of any future transactions we may consider may be subject to the notification filing requirements, applicable waiting periods and possible review by the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Any television or radio station acquisitions or dispositions will be subject to the license transfer approval process of the FCC. Review by the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission may cause delays in completing transactions and, in some cases, result in attempts by these agencies to prevent completion of transactions or to negotiate modifications to the proposed terms. Review by the FCC, particularly review of concentration of market revenue share, may also cause delays in completing transactions. Any delay, prohibition or modification could adversely affect the terms of a proposed transaction or could require us to abandon a transaction opportunity. In addition, campaign finance reform laws or regulations could result in a reduction in funds being spent on advertising in certain political races, which would adversely affect our revenues and results of operations in election years.
 
Our investments in HDTV and digital broadcasting may not result in revenue sufficient to justify the investment.
 
The ultimate success of digital television broadcasting will depend on programming being produced and distributed in a digital format, the effect of current or future laws and regulations relating to digital television, including the FCC’s determination with respect to “must-carry” rules for carriage of each station’s digital channel and receiver standards for digital reception, and public acceptance and willingness to buy new digital television sets. Unless consumers embrace digital television and purchase enough units to cause home receiver prices to decline, the general public may not switch to the new technology, delaying or preventing its ultimate economic viability. Our investments in HDTV and digital broadcasting may not generate earnings and revenue sufficient to justify the investments.
 
We periodically engage in new business ventures, which may adversely affect our operating results.
 
While Fisher Broadcasting has created programming in the past, we do not have significant experience in the creation of programming on the scale contemplated by Fisher Entertainment. Factors that could harm the results of Fisher Entertainment include competition from existing and new competitors, as well as related performance and price pressures, potential difficulties in relationships with cable and television networks, failure to obtain air time for the programming produced and the changing tastes and personnel of the acquirers of programming. There are many inherent risks in new business ventures such as Fisher Entertainment and Civia, Inc., including startup costs, performance of certain key personnel, the unpredictability of audience tastes, and product or service acceptance.

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Table of Contents
 
ITEM 3 – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
 
The market risk in our financial instruments represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in financial rates. We are exposed to market risk in the areas of interest rates and securities prices. These exposures are directly related to our normal funding and investing activities.
 
Interest Rate Exposure
 
Our strategy in managing exposure to interest rate changes is to maintain a balance of fixed- and variable-rate instruments. We will also consider entering into interest rate swap agreements at such times as management deems appropriate.
 
As of September 30, 2002, our fixed rate debt totaled $125,325,000. The fair value of our fixed-rate debt is estimated to be approximately $1,506,000 greater than the carrying amount. Market risk is estimated as the potential change in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates and, as of September 30, 2002, amounted to $2,952,000.
 
We also had $189,957,000 in variable-rate debt outstanding as of September 30, 2002. A hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates underlying these borrowings would result in a $1,204,000 annual change in our pre-tax earnings and cash flows.
 
We are a party to an interest rate swap agreement fixing the interest rate at 6.87%, plus a margin based on the broadcasting subsidiary’s ratio of consolidated funded debt to consolidated EBITDA, on a portion of our floating rate debt outstanding under an eight-year credit facility (broadcast facility). The notional amount of the swap reduces as payments are made on principal outstanding under the broadcast facility until termination of the contract on March 22, 2004. As of September 30, 2002, the notional amount of the swap was $65,000,000 and the fair value of the swap agreement was a liability of $4,790,000. A hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates would change the fair value of our swap agreement by approximately $176,000 as of September 30, 2002. We have not designated the swap as a cash flow hedge; accordingly changes in the fair value of the swap are reported in net gain on derivative instruments in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Marketable Securities Exposure
 
The fair value of our investments in marketable securities as of September 30, 2002 was $98,315,000. Marketable securities consist of equity securities traded on a national securities exchange or reported on the NASDAQ securities market. A significant portion of the marketable securities consists of 3,002,376 shares of SAFECO Corporation common stock. As of September 30, 2002, these shares represented 2.4% of the outstanding common stock of SAFECO Corporation. While we currently do not intend to dispose of our investments in marketable securities, we have classified the investments as available-for-sale under applicable accounting standards. Mr. William W. Krippaehne, Jr., President, CEO, and a Director of the Company, is a Director of SAFECO Corporation. A hypothetical 10 percent change in market prices underlying these securities would result in a $9,831,000 change in the fair value of the marketable securities portfolio. Although changes in securities prices would affect the fair value of the marketable securities portfolio and cause unrealized gains or losses, such gains or losses would not be realized unless the investments are sold.
 
As of September 30, 2002, 3,000,000 shares of SAFECO Corporation common stock owned by the company were pledged as collateral under a variable forward sales transaction (“Forward Transaction”) with a financial institution. A portion of the Forward Transaction is considered a derivative and, as such, we periodically measure its fair value and recognize the derivative as an asset or a liability. The change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded in the income statement. As of September 30, 2002 the derivative portion of the Forward Transaction had a fair market value of $11,682,000, which is included in net gain on derivative instruments in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. A hypothetical 10 percent change in the market price of SAFECO Corporation stock would change the market value of the Forward Transaction by approximately $7,000,000. A hypothetical 10 percent change in volatility would change the market value of the Forward Transaction by approximately $350,000, and a hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates would change the market value of the Forward Transaction by approximately $750,000.
 
ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report, and, based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

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Table of Contents
 
PART II
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
 
The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various claims, legal actions and complaints in the ordinary course of their businesses. In the Company’s opinion, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance, are without merit or are of such kind, or involve such amounts, that unfavorable disposition would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company.
 
Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
On September 11, 2002, the board of directors passed a resolution to amend the Company’s Bylaws to reduce the number of members on the Company’s Board of Directors from fourteen to eleven.
 
Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None
 
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
None
 
Item 5.  Other Information
 
Effective October 23, 2002, Robin J. Campbell Knepper resigned from the board of directors of Fisher Communications, Inc. No replacement for Ms. Knepper has been selected at the time of this report. Ms. Knepper resigned for personal reasons.
 
Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
 
(a)  Exhibits:
 
  3.1
  
Bylaws
10.1
  
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2002, by and among Fisher Broadcasting Company, certain subsidiaries of Fisher Broadcasting Company, Wachovia Bank National Association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and the Bank of New York, as co-syndication agents, National City Bank, as documentation agent, and the lenders listed on the signature page thereto.
10.2
  
First Amendment to Loan Agreement and First Amendment to Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2002, among Fisher Media Services Company, Bank of America, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association, Bank of America, N.A., as agent and Fisher Communications, Inc.
99.1
  
Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.2
  
Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
(b)  Reports on Form 8-K:
 
A report on Form 8-K dated July 3, 2002 was filed with the Commission on July 5, 2002 announcing that the Company’s Board of Directors had voted to suspend payment of the Company’s quarterly dividend.

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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.
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                (Registrant)
 
Dated:
 
November 14, 2002

 
/s/  David D. Hillard

       
David D. Hillard
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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Section 302 Certification
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
 
I, William W. Krippaehne, Jr., certify that:
 
1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Fisher Communications, Inc.;
 
2.  Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
4.  The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
 
a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
 
b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
 
c)  presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
 
5.  The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
 
a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
 
b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and
 
6.  The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
 
November 14, 2002
 
/s/  William W. Krippaehne, Jr.

William W. Krippaehne, Jr.
President,
Chief Executive Officer

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Table of Contents
 
Section 302 Certification
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
 
I, David D. Hillard, certify that:
 
1.  I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Fisher Communications, Inc.;
 
2.  Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;
 
3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;
 
4.  The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
 
d) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;
 
e) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
 
f) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
 
5.  The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
 
c) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
 
d) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and
 
6.  The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
 
November 14, 2002
 
/s/ David D. Hillard

David D. Hillard
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer

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EX-3.1 3 dex31.htm BYLAWS Bylaws
Exhibit 3.1
 
BYLAWS
 
OF
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
(Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Washington)
 
As amended September 11, 2002
 
ARTICLE I
 
REGISTERED OFFICE
 
The location and post office address of the registered office of the corporation shall be 1525 One Union Square, Seattle, Washington 98101.
 
ARTICLE II
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
 
1.    Annual Meeting.    The annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation for the election of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held each year at the principal place of business of the corporation (unless a different place within or without the State of Washington is specified in the notice of the meeting), on a day in the last two weeks of April to be set by the Directors, at 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon unless otherwise stated in the notice of meeting. In the event of failure to hold an election of Directors at the annual meeting of the stockholders or in the event the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be omitted by oversight or otherwise, a meeting of the stockholders may be held at a later date for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Any election held or other business transacted at any such later meeting shall be as valid as if done or transacted at the annual meeting of the stockholders. Any such later meeting shall be called in the same manner as a special meeting of the stockholders and notice of the time, place and purpose thereof shall be given in the same manner as notice of a special meeting of the stockholders.
 
2.    Special Meetings.    Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors to be held at such time and place as the Board may prescribe. At any time, upon the request of the Chairman of the Board, the President, or of any three (3) Directors, or of any stockholder or stockholders holding in the aggregate at least twenty percent (20%) of the voting power of all stockholders, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to call a special meeting of the stockholders to be held at such place and at such time as the Secretary may fix, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days after the receipt of said request, and if the Secretary shall neglect or refuse to issue such call, the Directors or stockholders making the request may do so.


 
3.    Notices of Meetings.    Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, unless a purpose of the meeting is to act on an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, a plan of merger or share exchange, a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation, or the dissolution of the corporation, in which case notice will be delivered not less than twenty (20) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any shareholders’ meeting will be delivered either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary, or the person or persons calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears in the stockholder address records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
 
4.    Waiver of Notice.    Notice of any stockholders’ meeting may be waived in writing by any stockholder at any time, either before or after any such meeting, and shall be deemed waived by the presence of such stockholder at the meeting unless such stockholder (a) shall have made his written objection to the transaction of business at such meeting for the reason that it is not lawfully called or convened, and (b) shall, at or prior to the commencement of such meeting, deliver such written objection to the chairman of the meeting or other officer of the corporation present at such meeting.
 
5.    Adjourned Meetings.    An adjournment or adjournments of any stockholders’ meeting may be taken until such time and place as those present may determine without new notice being given, whether by reason of the failure of a quorum to attend or otherwise; but any meeting at which Directors are to be elected shall be adjourned only from day to day until such Directors are elected. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, however, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to persons who are stockholders as of the new record date.
 
6.    Quorum of Stockholders.    A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter under consideration shall be the act of the stockholders, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation.
 
7.    Voting of Shares.    Each outstanding share shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted, except in the case of election of Directors as provided in this section. All voting at stockholders’ meetings shall be by voice vote, unless any qualified voter or voters holding a minimum of one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of voting stock shall demand a vote by ballot. A stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by the stockholder or his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in such proxy. At each election for Directors, every stockholder entitled to vote at such election shall have the right to vote in person or by proxy the number of shares owned by him for as many persons as there are Directors to be elected and for whose election he has a right to vote, or to cumulate his votes by giving one candidate as many votes as the number of such Directors multiplied by the number of his shares shall equal, or by distributing such votes on the same principle among any number of such candidates.

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8.    Business and Nominations at Shareholders’ Meetings.
 
(a)  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (i) pursuant to the corporation’s notice with respect to such meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any shareholder of record of the corporation who was a shareholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice provided for in the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this section.
 
(b)  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of the foregoing paragraph, (1) the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation, (2) such business must be a proper matter for shareholder action under the Washington Business Corporation Act, (3) if the shareholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, has provided the corporation with a Solicitation Notice, as that term is defined in this paragraph, such shareholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a percentage of the corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such shareholder or beneficial holder to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such shareholder, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice and (4) if no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this Section 8 of Article II, the shareholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section 8 of Article II. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary (the “Anniversary”) of the date on which the corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to, or delayed by more than 30 days after, the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to the date of the annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such shareholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such person’s written consent to serve as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf

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the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner, and (iii) whether either such shareholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the corporation’s voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a “Solicitation Notice”).
 
(c)  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of the second paragraph of this Section 8 of Article II to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the corporation at least 100 days prior to the Anniversary, a shareholder’s notice required by this Section 8 of Article II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation.
 
(d)  Only persons nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 of Article II shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 8 of Article II. The chair of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for shareholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
 
(e)  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any shareholder of record of the corporation who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 8 of Article II. Nominations by shareholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of shareholders if the shareholder’s notice required by the second paragraph of this Section 8 of Article II shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting.

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(f)  For purposes of this section, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
 
(g)  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 of Article II, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 8 of Article II. Nothing in this Section 8 of Article II shall be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
 
ARTICLE III
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
1.    Number and Qualifications.    The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by a board of eleven (11) Directors who need not be stockholders of the corporation nor residents of the State of Washington.
 
2.    Election – Term of Office.    The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Each such Class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. In no event shall a Class be comprised of fewer than 3 directors. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of shareholders following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided, however, that each initial director in Class 1 shall hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders in 1997; each initial director in Class 2 shall hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders in 1998; and each initial director in Class 3 shall hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders in 1999; and in each case until their successors are duly elected and have qualified or until their earlier resignation, removal from office or death. In the event of an increase or decrease in the authorized number of directors, (a) each director then serving as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the Class in which he or she is a member until the expiration of his or her current term, or his or her earlier resignation, removal from office or death, and (b) the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three Classes of Directors so as to maintain such classes as nearly equal as possible.
 
3.    Vacancies.    Except as otherwise provided by law, vacancies in the Board of Directors, whether caused by resignation, death or otherwise, may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors attending any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or any special meeting if the notice of such special meeting indicates that filling such vacancy is a purpose of the meeting. A Director thus elected to fill in a vacancy shall hold office during the unexpired term of his predecessor and until his successor is elected and qualified.
 
4.    Annual Meeting.    The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be known as the annual meeting thereof and shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual stockholders’ meeting or any later stockholders’ meeting at which a Board of Directors is elected.

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5.    Chairman of the Board.    At its annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, the Directors, and the Executive Committee, and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board or the Executive Committee.
 
6.    Regular Meetings.    Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such times and places as the Board of Directors by resolution may decide.
 
7.    Special Meetings.    Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or at any place whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or by the Secretary at the request of any three (3) or more Directors.
 
8.    Place of Meetings.    Any meeting of the Board of Directors may be held within or without the State of Washington.
 
9.    Notice of Meetings.    Notice of the annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall not be required. Notice of the time and place of all other meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or any person or persons calling the meeting by mail, radio, telegram or personal communication over the telephone or otherwise, at least three (3) days prior to the day upon which the meeting is to be held; provided, that no notice need be given if the time and place thereof shall have been fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and a copy of such resolution has been mailed to every Director at least three (3) days before the first of any meeting or meetings held in pursuance thereof.
 
10.    Waiver of Notice.    Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any Director if such notice is waived in a writing signed by the Director, whether before or after such meeting is held, and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. Notice of any meeting shall be deemed waived by the presence of a Director at the meeting unless such Director (a) at the beginning of the meeting or promptly upon the Director’s arrival, shall have made his written objection to the holding of the meeting or the transaction of business at the meeting, and (b) does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting. Any meeting of the Board shall be a legal meeting without any notice thereof having been given if all of the Directors are either present, other than for the sole purpose just described, or waive notice thereof.
 
11.    Directors’ Fees.    Each Director shall receive a fee, as set by the Board of Directors from time to time, for services rendered at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or meeting of a committee thereof and, in addition, shall be reimbursed for expenses of travel and lodging reasonably incurred in attending any such meeting. In addition to the foregoing, each outside Director shall receive an annual retainer fee as set by the Directors. An outside Director is a Director who is not a salaried officer or employee of this corporation or any of its subsidiaries. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude a Director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. If there are simultaneous Board Meetings of Fisher companies, and a Director of Fisher Communications, Inc. is a Director of one or more of the other companies involved, he will receive only one fee for the meeting, namely his fee as Director of Fisher Communications, Inc.

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12.    Quorum of Directors.    A majority of the number of Directors fixed by these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn any meeting from time to time and the same may be held without further notice. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority vote of the members in attendance shall decide any question brought before such meeting, except that no sale or exchange of unissued stock shall be made without the affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the entire Board of Directors declaring that the sale or exchange of such stock is necessary for a specific business purpose of the corporation other than the acquisition of additional capital funds in cash. The act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
 
ARTICLE IV
 
COMMITTEES
 
1.    Designation of Committees.    The Board of Directors of this corporation may, by resolution adopted at any regular or special meeting of such Board, designate from among its members one or more committees each of which shall have two or more members and, to the extent provided in this Article IV or in such resolution, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors, but no such committee shall have the authority of the Board of Directors in reference to: amending the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the corporation, adopting a plan of merger or consolidation, recommending to the shareholders, the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all the property and assets of the corporation other than in the usual and regular course of its business, or recommending to the shareholders a voluntary dissolution of the corporation or a revocation thereof. The designation of any such committee by the Board of Directors and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any of its members, of any responsibility imposed by law.
 
2.    Executive Committee.
 
(a)  Membership.    The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Chairman of the Board, the President and three (3) other Directors elected by the Board of the Directors. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, to hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. The Chairman of the Board shall be chairman of the Committee unless the Board designates some other member of the Committee as its chairman. Each member of the Committee shall continue as a member of the Committee at the pleasure of the Board.
 
(b)  Vacancies.    Vacancies on the Committee arising from any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
 
(c)  Powers and Duties.    The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall specifically have the power and duty to vote the stock of fully and partially owned subsidiary companies, which power and duty of the Executive Committee shall include authority to make all determinations and decisions with respect thereto. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be recorded in minutes of its meetings and shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its meeting next succeeding any such action and shall be subject to revision or alteration by the Board, except that existing rights of third parties shall not be affected thereby.

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(d)  Rules of Procedure.    The Executive Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules. Special meetings of the Committee may be called at any time by the President, the chairman of the Committee if not the President, or any two (2) members. At all meetings of the Committee, the presence of at least three (3) members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary and sufficient for the adoption of any resolutions.
 
3.    Compensation Committee.
 
(a)  Membership.    The Compensation Committee shall consist of not less than four (4) Directors of the corporation elected by the Board of Directors, none of whom shall be an employee of the corporation or of any of its subsidiaries. Each member of the Committee shall continue as a member of the Committee at the pleasure of the Board.
 
(b)  Vacancies.    Vacancies on the Committee arising from any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
 
(c)  Powers and Duties.    The Compensation Committee shall:
 
 
(1)
 
Review and establish the salary of officers and selected other key management employees of the corporation and its subsidiaries;
 
 
(2)
 
Review and establish all cash bonuses under and pursuant to the Management Incentive Plans of the corporation and its subsidiaries;
 
 
(3)
 
Review and recommend changes in compensation for members of the corporation’s Board of Directors and its Chairman;
 
 
(4)
 
Administer the Fisher Communications Incentive Plans and review and establish all stock options and stock rights to be granted to officers and selected other key management employees of the corporation and its subsidiaries, pursuant to such Plans;
 
 
(5)
 
Authorize the enrollment of selected management employees of the corporation and its subsidiaries as new participants in the supplemental pension plans;

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(6)
 
Recommend to the Board any additional compensation or employee benefit programs of a substantial nature and changes to existing programs of the corporation or its subsidiaries;
 
 
(7)
 
Record all actions of the Committee in minutes of its meetings; and
 
 
(8)
 
Report to the Board compensation actions of the Committee prior to their effective date.
 
(d)  Rules of Procedure.    The Compensation Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules. Special meetings of the Committee may be called at any time by the chairman of the Committee or any two (2) members. At all meetings of the Committee, the presence of at least three (3) members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary and sufficient for the adoption of any resolution.
 
4.    Audit Committee.
 
(a)  Membership.    The Membership of the Audit Committee shall be determined in accordance with the Audit Committee Charter.
 
(b)  Vacancies.    Vacancies on the Committee arising from any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
 
(c)  Powers and Duties.    The Audit Committee shall have the powers, responsibilities and duties as set forth in the Audit Committee Charter.
 
(d)  Rules of Procedure.    The Audit Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules. Special meetings of the Committee may be called at any time by the chairman of the Committee or any two (2) members. At all meetings of the Committee, the presence of at least three (3) members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary and sufficient for the adoption of any resolution.
 
5.    Nominating Committee.
 
(a)  Membership.    The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than five (5) Directors of the corporation elected by the Board of Directors, none of whom shall be an employee of the corporation or of any of its subsidiaries. Each member of the Committee shall continue as a member of the Committee at the pleasure of the Board.
 
(b)  Vacancies.    Vacancies on the Committee arising from any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.

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(c)  Powers and Duties.    The Nominating Committee shall:
 
 
(1)
 
Review qualifications of candidates for Board membership from whatever source received;
 
 
(2)
 
Recommend to the Board the slate of Director candidates to be proposed for election by stockholders at the annual meeting;
 
 
(3)
 
Recommend to the Board candidates to fill Director vacancies which occur between annual meetings of stockholders;
 
 
(4)
 
Recommend to the Board criteria regarding personal qualifications for nomination as Director, including experience, skills, affiliations and characteristics;
 
 
(5)
 
Recommend to the Board criteria regarding the composition of the Board, including total size and number of employee-Directors;
 
 
(6)
 
Recommend to the Board criteria relating to tenure as a Director, including retirement age and continuation of a Director in an honorary or similar capacity;
 
 
(7)
 
Record all actions of the Committee and minutes of its meeting; and
 
 
(8)
 
Report to the Board all actions and recommendations of the Committee.
 
(d)  Rules of Procedure.    The Nominating Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet where and as provided by such rules. Special meetings of the Committee may be called at any time by the chairman of the Committee or any two (2) members. At all meetings of the Committee, the presence of at least three (3) members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary and sufficient for the adoption of any resolution.
 
ARTICLE V
 
OFFICERS
 
1.    Officers Enumerated – Election.    The officers of the corporation shall be a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and such assistants to such officers as the Board of Directors may determine, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting thereof to hold office for the term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified.
 
2.    Qualification.    None of the officers of the corporation except the President need be a Director. Excluding the President, any two of the other corporate offices may be combined in one person.
 
3.    President.    The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, shall supervise and control the business and affairs of the corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the President shall preside at meetings of the stockholders, the Directors and the Executive Committee.

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4.    Vice Presidents.    Each Vice President shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or the President may from time to time designate or assign. In the absence or disability of the President, one of the Vice Presidents, in the order determined by the order of their election, shall act as President, but a Vice President who is not a Director cannot succeed to or fill the office of President.
 
(a)  One such Vice President shall be designated Chief Financial Officer and be accountable for the corporation’s overall financial plans and policies, consistent with the corporation’s Financial Accounting Charter, and the conduct of the corporation’s relationships with banks and lending institutions, and the financial community. The chief financial officer shall also have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation. He shall deposit all such funds in the name of the corporation in such depositories or invest them in such manner as may be designated or approved by the Board of Directors, and shall authorize disbursement of the funds of the corporation in payment of just demands against the corporation.
 
5.    Secretary.    The Secretary shall issue notices of meetings of stockholders and Directors and shall make and keep minutes of meetings of stockholders and Directors. The Secretary shall keep and, when proper, affix the seal of the corporation. The Secretary shall keep the stock book of the corporation, a record of certificates representing shares of stock issued by the corporation, and a record of transfers of such certificates. The Secretary shall exercise the usual authority pertaining to the office of Secretary, and he shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or the President may from time to time designate.
 
6.    Vacancy.    Vacancies in any office arising from any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
 
7.    Other Officers and Agents.    The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary or expedient. Such other officers shall hold their offices for terms as provided in Section 1 of this Article V and such other agents shall hold their offices for such period as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Such other officers and agents shall exercise such authority and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, Executive Committee or President may prescribe, which authority and duties may include, in the case of the other officers, one or more of the duties of the named officers of the corporation.
 
8.    Removal of Officers.    Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interest of the corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.
 
9.    Salaries.    Salaries of all officers and agents of the corporation appointed by the Board of Directors shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

11


 
ARTICLE VI
 
STOCK
 
1.    Certificate of Stock.    Certificates of stock shall be issued in numerical order and each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by the President or Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and sealed with the corporate seal. Every certificate of stock shall state (1) the name of the corporation and that it is incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington, (2) the name of the registered holder of the shares represented thereby, and (3) the number and class of shares the certificate represents.
 
2.    Transfers.    Shares of stock may be transferred by delivery of the certificates therefor accompanied either by an assignment in writing on the back of the certificate or by a separate written assignment and power of attorney to transfer the same, which in either event is signed by the record holder of the certificate. No transfer shall be valid, except as between the parties thereto, until such transfer shall have been made upon the books of the corporation, as maintained by the transfer agent, if any. Except as otherwise specifically provided in these Bylaws, no shares of stock shall be transferred on the books of the corporation until the outstanding certificate or certificates therefor have been surrendered to the corporation, or to the transfer agent, if any.
 
3.    Stockholders of Record.    The corporation, or the transfer agent, if any, shall be entitled to treat the holder of record on the books of the corporation of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof for all purposes, including the payment of dividends on such stock and the right to vote on such stock.
 
4.    Loss or Destruction of Certificates.    In case of loss or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place upon proof of such loss or destruction and upon the giving of a satisfactory bond of indemnity to the corporation. A new certificate may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, or of the transfer agent, if any, it is proper to do so.
 
5.    Closing of Transfer Books.    The Board of Directors may close, or direct the transfer agent, if any, to close the books of the corporation against transfers of stock of the corporation for such period as the Directors may from time to time determine, in anticipation of stockholders’ meetings, the payment of any dividend or distribution, or any change, conversion or exchange of shares of the corporation.
 
6.    Regulations.    The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, or may delegate to a transfer agent, if any, such power and authority to make such rules and regulations concerning the issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates for shares of the stock of the corporation not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, or the laws of the State of Washington.

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ARTICLE VII
 
BOOKS AND RECORDS
 
1.    Records of Corporate Meetings and Share Register.    The corporation shall keep either at its principal place of business or at its registered office (a) complete records of all of the proceedings of the Board of Directors and stockholders, and (b) a share register giving the names of the stockholders in alphabetical order and showing their respective addresses, the number of shares held by each and the dates upon which they acquired the same; provided, however, such share register may be maintained by the transfer agent of the corporation, if any.
 
2.    Copies of Resolutions.    Any person dealing with the corporation may rely upon a copy of any of the records of the proceedings, resolutions or votes of the Board of Directors or stockholders when certified by the President, a Vice President, the Secretary or an Assistant-Secretary.
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
CORPORATE SEAL
 
The corporate seal of the corporation shall consist of a flat-faced circular die producing in raised form, words, letters and figures, the design of which shall conform to the impression which appears upon this page opposite to this Bylaw.
 
ARTICLE IX
 
INDEMNIFICATION
 
1. Definitions. As used in this Article IX and, if applicable, Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation:
 
(a)  The term “egregious conduct” by a person shall mean acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, conduct violating Section 23B.08.310, as amended, of the Revised Code of Washington, or participation in any transaction from which the person personally received a benefit in money, property, or services to which the person is not legally entitled.
 
(b)  The term “finally adjudged” shall mean stated in a final judgment based on clear and convincing evidence by a court having jurisdiction, from which there is no further right to appeal.
 
(c)  The term “director” shall mean any person who is a director of the corporation or a subsidiary corporation and any person who, while a director of the corporation or a subsidiary corporation, is serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, manager, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, or is a fiduciary or party in interest in relation to any employee benefit plan maintained by the corporation or any subsidiary corporation; and “conduct as a director” shall include conduct while such a person is or was acting in any of such capacities.

13


 
(d)  The term “officer-director” shall mean any person who is simultaneously both an officer and director of the corporation, or an officer and director of a subsidiary corporation, and any person who, while simultaneously both an officer and director of the corporation, or a subsidiary corporation, is serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, manager, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, or is a fiduciary or party in interest in relation to any employee benefit plan maintained by the corporation or any subsidiary corporation; and “conduct as an officer-director” shall include conduct while such a person is or was acting as an officer of the corporation or a subsidiary corporation or in any of such capacities.
 
(e)  The term “subsidiary corporation” shall mean any corporation or limited liability company at least 51 percent of the voting interests of which is held beneficially by the corporation.
 
(f)  No person shall be deemed to be serving at the request of the corporation unless the Board of Directors has expressly stated so in a duly adopted resolution.
 
2.    Indemnification – Generally.    The corporation shall indemnify any person who is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and whether formal or informal, and whether by or in the right of the corporation or its stockholders or by any other party, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer-director against judgments, penalties or penalty taxes, fines, settlements (even if paid or payable to the corporation or its stockholders or to a subsidiary corporation) and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding unless the liability and expenses were on account of conduct finally adjudged to be egregious conduct. The reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, of such person incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the corporation, upon request of such person, in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the corporation of a written, unsecured promise by the person to repay such amount if it shall be finally adjudged that the person is not eligible for indemnification. All expenses incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding shall be considered reasonable.
 
3.    No Determination.    Except as stated in Section 4 of this Article IX, no action by the board of directors, the stockholders, independent counsel, or any other person or persons shall be necessary or appropriate to the determination of the corporation’s indemnification obligation in any specific case, to the determination of the reasonableness of any expenses incurred by a person entitled to indemnification under this Article IX or Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, nor to the authorization of indemnification in any specific case.
 
4.    Limitation on Expenses.    Notwithstanding Section 3 of this Article IX, the corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any person for any expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred to assert any claim against the corporation or a subsidiary corporation (except a claim based on Section 6 of this Article IX) or against any person related to or associated with the corporation or a subsidiary corporation.

14


 
5.    Submission of Claim; Presumption.    If a claim under this Article IX or Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation is not paid in full by the corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation, except in the case of a claim for expenses incurred in defending an action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. The claimant shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and this Article IX upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition, where the required undertaking has been tendered to the corporation), and thereafter the corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant is not so entitled. The claimant is entitled to indemnification even if the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) failed to determine prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses to the claimant is proper in the circumstances or even if the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) actually determined that the claimant is not entitled to indemnification or to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses.
 
6.    Enforcement Expenses.    The corporation shall indemnify any person granted indemnification rights under this Article IX or Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation against any reasonable expenses incurred by the person to enforce such rights.
 
7.    Set-Off.    Any person granted indemnification rights under this Article IX or Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation may directly assert such rights in set-off of any claim raised against the person by or in the right of the corporation and shall be entitled to have the same tribunal that adjudicates the corporation’s claim adjudicate the person’s entitlement to indemnification by the corporation.
 
8.    Rights Not Exclusive.    The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending an action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred by this Article IX and Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
9.    Officers, Employees and Agents.    As provided by the Washington Business Corporation Act, as amended from time to time, the corporation may by action of its Board of Directors provide indemnification and pay expenses in advance of the final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding to officers, employees and agents of the corporation or a subsidiary corporation with the same scope and effect as the provisions of this Article IX and Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officer-directors.
 
10.    Cessation of Service.    The indemnification rights provided in this Article IX and Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer-director and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.

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11.    Interpretation.    The provisions of this Article IX shall be construed to be adopted in furtherance of, and not in limitation of, Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.
 
12.    Amendment and Repeal.    Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, this Article IX may only be amended by the stockholders in accordance with the statutory requirements that would be applicable to such stockholder action if this Article IX were part of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. No amendment or repeal of this Article IX or Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer-director or person formerly serving in any of such capacities existing at the time of such amendment or repeal with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
 
13.    Severability.    Each of the substantive provisions of this Article IX and Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation is separate and independent of the others, so that if any provision of this Article IX or Article V of the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions.
 
ARTICLE X
 
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
 
1.    By the Stockholders.    These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders if notice of the proposed alteration or amendment is contained in the notice of the meeting.
 
2.    By the Board of Directors.    These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed, so long as consistent with the Articles of Incorporation, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board if notice of the proposed alteration or amendment is contained or transmitted in the notice of the meeting. Any action of the Board of Directors with respect to the amendment, alteration or repeal of these Bylaws is hereby made expressly subject to change or repeal by the stockholders.

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EX-10.1 4 dex101.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT First Amendment to Credit Agreement
Exhibit 10.1
 
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
 
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of October 25, 2002, is by and among FISHER BROADCASTING COMPANY (the “Borrower”), certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower (the “Guarantors”), the Lenders that agree to the terms hereof and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (successor to First Union National Bank) (“Wachovia”), in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as co-syndication agents for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the “Co-Syndication Agents”), and NATIONAL CITY BANK, as documentation agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the “Documentation Agent”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in that certain Credit Agreement described below.
 
W I T N E S S E T H
 
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A. and The Bank of New York, as Co-Syndication Agents, and National City Bank, as Documentation Agent, have entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of March 21, 2002 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);
 
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested certain amendments to the Credit Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS, the Required Lenders have agreed to such amendments subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
 
1.1    Amendment to Definition of “Applicable Percentage”. The pricing grid set forth in the definition of “Applicable Percentage” in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

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Level

  
Leverage Ratio

    
Alternate Base Rate Margin for Revolving Loans and Tranche A Term Loans

    
LIBOR Rate Margin
for Revolving Loans, Tranche A Term Loans and Letter of Credit Fee

    
Alternate Base Rate Margin for
Tranche B Term Loans

  
LIBOR Rate Margin
for Tranche B Term Loans

  
Commitment Fee

I
  
³ 5.5 to 1.0
    
2.75%
    
4.00%
    
3.25%
  
4.50%
  
0.625%
II
  
³ 5.0 to 1.0 but < 5.5 to 1.0
    
2.75%
    
4.00%
    
3.25%
  
4.50%
  
0.625%
III
  
³ 4.5 to 1.0 but < 5.0 to 1.0
    
2.00%
    
3.25%
    
3.25%
  
4.50%
  
0.500%
IIII
  
³ 4.0 to 1.0 but < 4.5 to 1.0
    
1.75%
    
3.00%
    
3.25%
  
4.50%
  
0.500%
V
  
³ 3.5 to 1.0 but < 4.0 to 1.0
    
1.50%
    
2.75%
    
3.25%
  
4.50%
  
0.500%
VI
  
³ 3.0 to 1.0 but < 3.5 to 1.0
    
1.25%
    
2.50%
    
3.25%
  
4.50%
  
0.375%
VII
  
³ 2.5 to 1.0 but < 3.0 to 1.0
    
1.00%
    
2.25%
    
2.75%
  
4.00%
  
0.375%
VIII
  
< 2.5 to 1.0
    
0.75%
    
2.00%
    
2.75%
  
4.00%
  
0.375%
 
The Credit Parties and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the foregoing modifications to the pricing grid will become effective on the date this Amendment is effective pursuant to the terms hereof and the amended interest rate levels set forth in such pricing grid shall apply to all Loans outstanding as of such date as well as any Loan made after such date.
 
1.2    Amendment to Asset Disposition Mandatory Prepayment.    Section 2.8(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
 
2.8    Prepayments.
 
************
 
(b)    Mandatory Prepayments.
 
************
 
(iii)    Asset Dispositions.    Promptly following any Asset Disposition, the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds derived from such Asset Disposition (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (vii) below); provided, however, that the Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset Disposition (other than an Asset Disposition made pursuant to Section 6.5(a)(iv)) shall not be required to be so applied if (A) such Asset Disposition occurs on or after January 1, 2003 and (B) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate stating that a Credit Party intends to use such Net Cash Proceeds to acquire fixed or capital assets in

2


replacement of the disposed assets within 270 days of the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, it being expressly agreed that any Net Cash Proceeds not so reinvested shall be applied to repay the Loans immediately thereafter.
 
1.3    Amendment to Financial Covenants.    Sections 5.9(a), (b) and (d) of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:
 
5.9    Financial Covenants.
 
(a)    Leverage Ratio.    At all times, the Leverage Ratio during the following periods shall be less than or equal to the ratios corresponding to such periods:
 
Period

  
Maximum Ratio

Closing Date through September 29, 2002
  
5.75 to 1.0
September 30, 2002 through June 29, 2003
  
6.00 to 1.0
June 30, 2003 through September 29, 2003
  
5.00 to 1.0
September 30, 2003 through June 29, 2004
  
4.75 to 1.0
June 30, 2004 through September 29, 2004
  
4.50 to 1.0
September 30, 2004 through December 30, 2004
  
4.00 to 1.0
December 31, 2004 and thereafter
  
3.00 to 1.0
 
(b)    Interest Coverage Ratio.    At all times, the Interest Coverage Ratio during the following periods shall be greater than or equal to the ratios corresponding to such periods:
 
Period

  
Minimum Ratio

Closing Date through September 29, 2002
  
2.25 to 1.0
September 30, 2002 through March 30, 2004
  
1.75 to 1.0
March 31, 2004 through June 29, 2004
  
2.00 to 1.0
June 30, 2004 through September 29, 2004
  
2.25 to 1.0
September 30, 2004 through December 30, 2004
  
2.75 to 1.0
December 31, 2004 and thereafter
  
3.00 to 1.0
 
************
 
(d)    Consolidated Capital Expenditures.    Consolidated Capital Expenditures made in cash by the Credit Parties shall not exceed (i) $5,500,000 in fiscal year 2002 and (ii) $5,000,000 in any fiscal year thereafter.

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ARTICLE II
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS
 
2.1    Closing Conditions.
 
This Amendment shall become effective as of the date first above written upon satisfaction of the following conditions (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent):
 
(a)    Executed Amendment.    Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a copy of this Amendment duly executed by each of the Credit Parties and the Required Lenders.
 
(b)    Resolutions.    Receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of each of the Credit Parties approving and adopting this Amendment, the transactions contemplated herein and authorizing execution and delivery hereof, certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct and in force and effect as of the date hereof.
 
(c)    Incumbency Certificate.    Receipt by the Administrative Agent of an incumbency certificate with respect to each of the Credit Parties.
 
(d)    Legal Opinion.    Receipt by the Administrative Agent of an opinion from counsel to the Credit Parties relating to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated herein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated as of the date hereof.
 
(e)    Fees.    (i) Receipt by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender that executes this Amendment by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, October 25, 2002, of an amendment fee equal 0.25% of such Lender’s aggregate Commitments; (ii) receipt by Wachovia of all fees due and payable pursuant to that certain fee letter, dated as of October 10, 2002, between the Borrower and Wachovia; and (iii) receipt by the Administrative Agent of all fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of Moore & Van Allen PLLC.
 
ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
 
3.1    Amended Terms.    The term “Credit Agreement” as used in each of the Credit Documents shall hereafter mean the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment. Except as specifically amended hereby or otherwise agreed, the Credit Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect according to its terms.

4


 
3.2    Representations and Warranties of Credit Parties.    Each of the Credit Parties represents and warrants as follows:
 
(a)    It has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment.
 
(b)    This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Person and constitutes such Person’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
 
(c)    No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Person of this Amendment.
 
(d)    The representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof (except for those which expressly relate to an earlier date).
 
3.3    Acknowledgment of Guarantors.    The Guarantors acknowledge and consent to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment and agree that this Amendment and all documents executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge the Guarantors’ obligations under the Credit Documents.
 
3.4    Credit Document.    This Amendment shall constitute a Credit Document under the terms of the Credit Agreement.
 
3.5    Entirety.    This Amendment and the other Credit Documents embody the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof.
 
3.6    Counterparts; Telecopy.    This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Amendment by telecopy shall be effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an original will be delivered.
 
3.7    General Release.    In consideration of the Required Lenders entering into this Amendment, the Credit Parties hereby release the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ respective officers, employees, representatives, agents, counsel and directors from any and all actions, causes of action, claims, demands, damages and liabilities of whatever kind or nature, in law or in equity, now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected to the extent that any of the foregoing arises from any action or failure to act under the Credit Agreement on or prior to the date hereof.

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3.8    GOVERNING LAW.    THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
 
3.9    Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.    The jurisdiction, services of process and waiver of jury trial provisions set forth in Sections 9.14 and 9.17 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.

6


 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Borrower, the Guarantors and the Required Lenders have caused this Amendment to be duly executed on the date first above written.
 
BORROWER:
     
FISHER BROADCASTING COMPANY,
a Washington corporation
           
By:
 
/s/ David D. Hillard

           
Name: David D. Hillard
Title: Assistant Secretary
GUARANTORS:
     
FISHER RADIO REGIONAL GROUP INC.,
a Washington corporation
           
By:
 
/s/ David D. Hillard

           
Name: David D. Hillard
Title: Assistant Secretary
           
FISHER BROADCASTING-PORTLAND RADIO, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-SEATTLE RADIO, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-PORTLAND TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-SEATTLE TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-S.E. IDAHO TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-IDAHO TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-GEORGIA TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
 
FISHER BROADCASTING-OREGON TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
           
FISHER BROADCASTING-WASHINGTON TV, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
           
By:
 
Fisher Broadcasting Company,
its sole member
           
By:
 
/s/ David D. Hillard

           
Name: David D. Hillard
Title: Assistant Secretary


 
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND LENDERS:
     
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Administrative Agent and as a Lender
           
By:
 
/s/ Lawrence P. Sullivan

           
Name: Lawrence P. Sullivan
Title: Vice President


 
LENDERS:
     
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
as a Co-Syndication Agent and as a Lender
           
By:
 
/s/ Mark N. Crawford

           
Name: Mark N. Crawford
Title: Senior Vice President
           
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
           
By:
 
/s/ Stephen M. Nettler

           
Name: Stephen M. Nettler
Title: Vice President
           
NATIONAL CITY BANK
           
By:
 
/s/ Timothy J. Ambrose

           
Name: Timothy J. Ambrose
Title: Vice President
           
WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK
           
By:
 
/s/ Vance Gledhill

           
Name: Vance Gledhill
Title: Vice President
           
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP
           
By:
 
/s/ Susun Timmerman

               
Name: Susun Timmerman
Title: Sr. Risk Manager
           
LANDMARK CDO LTD.
LANDMARK II CDO LTD.
           
By:
 
Aladdin Asset Management LLC
as Manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Gilles Marchand

           
Name: Gilles Marchand
Title: Authorized Signatory


 
       
NEW ALLIANCE GLOBAL CDO, LIMITED
           
By:
 
Alliance Capital Management L.P.,
as Sub-advisor
           
By:
 
Alliance Capital Management Corporation
as General Partner
           
By:
 
/s/ Robert Bayer

           
Name: Robert Bayer
Title: Vice President
           
BANK OF MONTREAL
           
By:
 
/s/ S. Valia

           
Name: S. Valia
Title: MD
           
BLACK DIAMOND CLO 2000-1 LTD.
           
By:
 
/s/ David Dyer

           
Name: David Dyer
Title: Director
           
BLACK DIAMOND INTERNATIONAL FUNDING, LTD.
           
By:
 
/s/ David Dyer

           
Name: David Dyer
Title:
           
TRS1 LLC
           
By:
 
/s/ Rosemary F. Dunne

           
Name: Rosemary F. Dunne
Title: Attorney-in-Fact
           
STANWICH LOAN FUNDING LLC
           
By:
 
/s/ Diana L. Mushill

           
Name: Diana L. Mushill
Title: Asst. Vice President


 
       
Sierra CLO I
           
By:
 
/s/ John M. Casparian

           
Name: John M. Casparian
Title: Chief Operating Officer
          Centre Pacific, Manager
           
BRYN MAWR CLO, Ltd.
           
By:
 
Deerfield Capital Management LLC as its Collateral Manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Dale Burrow

           
Name: Dale Burrow
Title: Senior Vice President
           
OLYMPIC FUNDING TRUST, SERIES 1999-1
           
By:
 
/s/ Diana L. Mushill

           
Name: Diana L. Mushill
Title: Authorized Agent
           
ROSEMONT CLO, Ltd.
           
By:
 
Deerfield Capital Management LLC as its Collateral Manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Dale Burrow

           
Name: Dale Burrow
Title: Senior Vice President
           
APEX (IDM) CDO I, Ltd.
           
By:
 
David L. Babson & Company Inc. as Collateral Manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Adrienne Musgnug

           
Name: Adrienne Musgnug
Title: Managing Director
           
FLAGSHIP CLO 2001-1
           
By:
 
/s/ Eric S. Meyer

           
Name: Eric S Meyer
Title: Director


 
       
FLAGSHIP CLO II
           
By:
 
/s/ Eric S. Meyer

           
Name: Eric S. Meyer
Title: Attorney-in-fact
           
PILGRIM CLO 1999-1 LTD
           
By:
 
ING Investments, LLC as its investment manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Jeffrey A. Bakalar

           
Name: Jeffrey A. Bakalar
Title: Senior Vice President
           
ING SENIOR INCOME FUND
           
By:
 
ING Investments, LLC as its investment manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Jeffrey A. Bakalar

           
Name: Jeffrey A. Bakalar
Title: Senior Vice President
           
ING PRIME RATE TRUST
           
By:
 
ING Investments, LLC as its investment manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Jeffrey A. Bakalar

           
Name: Jeffrey A. Bakalar
Title: Senior Vice President
           
OCTAGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS III, LTD.
           
By:
 
Octagon Credit Investors, LLC as Portfolio Manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Andrew D. Gordon

           
Name: Andrew D. Gordon
Title: Portfolio Manager


 
       
OCTAGON INVESTMENT PARTNERS IV, LTD.
           
By:
 
Octagon Credit Investors, LLC as Portfolio Manager
           
By:
 
/s/ Andrew D. Gordon

           
Name: Andrew D. Gordon
Title: Portfolio Manager
           
HARBOUR VIEW CLO IV, LTD.
           
By:
 
/s/ Bill Campbell

           
Name: Bill Campbell
Title: Manager
           
OPPENHEIMER SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND
           
By:
 
/s/ Bill Campbell

           
Name: Bill Campbell
Title: Manager

EX-10.2 5 dex102.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT First Amendment to Loan Agreement
 
Exhibit 10.2
 
FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT
AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO GUARANTY AGREEMENT
 
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO GUARANTY AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) is made as of the 8th day of August, 2002, among FISHER MEDIA SERVICES COMPANY, a Washington corporation (the “Borrower”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association, as agent (the “Agent”) and FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Washington corporation (“Fisher Communications”).
 
RECITALS
 
A.    The Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent are parties to that certain Loan Agreement dated as of March 21, 2002 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make loans to the Borrower in the maximum principal amount of $60,000,000.
 
B.    Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, Fisher Communications entered in to that certain Guaranty Agreement dated as of March 21, 2002 made by Fisher Communications in favor of the Lenders and the Agent (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guaranty Agreement”), pursuant to which Fisher Communications guaranteed, among other things, the obligations of the Borrower arising under the Loan Agreement.
 
C.    Prior to June 30, 2002 the Borrower and the Guarantor requested that the Lenders modify certain of covenants set forth in the Loan Agreement and the Guaranty Agreement, which the Lenders agreed to do, subject to the preparation and negotiation of a definitive written agreement.
 
D.    The parties hereto now wish to modify certain covenants contained in and schedules attached to the Loan Agreement and the Guaranty Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment.
 
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
 
AGREEMENT
 
1.    Definitions; Interpretation.    All capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the Loan Agreement. The rules of construction and interpretation specified in Sections 1.02 and 1.05 of the Loan Agreement also apply to this Amendment and are incorporated herein by this reference.


 
2.    Amendments to Loan Agreement.    The Loan Agreement is amended as follows:
 
(a)    Amendment to Section 1.01.    In Section 1.01, the definition of “As-Completed Appraisal” is amended by deleting the phrase “or other qualified independent commercial real estate appraisal firm selected by the Borrower and acceptable to the Lenders” and substituting in its stead the following phrase “or any successor thereto acceptable to the Lenders.”
 
(b)    Amendment to Section 2.04.    Subsection (a) of Section 2.04 is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(a)    (i) If, as of the date of the Agent’s receipt of the As-Completed Appraisal required to be delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(f) (the “Required Appraisal”), the Outstanding Amount of all Loans exceeds 65% of the “as-is” leased fee market value of Fisher Plaza based solely on the income capitalization approach of appraisal as set forth in the Required Appraisal, then the Borrower shall promptly, and in no event later than 15 days after the Agent’s receipt of the Required Appraisal, prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, and (ii) if as of May 31, 2004 the Outstanding Amount of all Loans exceeds 60% of the “as-is” leased fee market value of Fisher Plaza based solely on the income capitalization approach of appraisal as set forth in the Required Appraisal, or, at the option of the Borrower, another As-Completed Appraisal made as of a later date than the Required Appraisal (the “Optional Appraisal”), then the Borrower shall on such date, prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all Loans exceeds 60% of the “as-is” leased fee market value of Fisher Plaza based solely on the income capitalization approach of appraisal as set forth in the Required Appraisal, or, at the option of the Borrower, the Optional Appraisal.
 
(c)    Amendment to Section 7.02.    Subsections (a), (g) and (h) of Section 7.02 are amended and restated and subsection (i) is added to read as follows:
 
(a)    Investments other than those permitted by subsections (b) through (i) that are existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.02;
 
(g)    Investments made by the Borrower in Civia during the period commencing July 1, 2002 and ending December 31, 2002 in an amount not to exceed $1,700,000;
 
(h)    Guaranty Obligations permitted by Section 7.03; and
 
(i)    Investments permitted by Section 7.04.

2


 
(d)    Amendment to Section 7.11.    Section 7.11 is hereby amended and restated as follows:
 
7.11    Capital Expenditures.    Make or become legally obligated to make any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset (excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations), except:
 
(a)    capital expenditures made by the Borrower related to the completion of, or tenant improvements in or maintenance of Fisher Plaza not to exceed $45,000,000 in the aggregate;
 
(b)    capital expenditures made by the Borrower for the joint development and marketing of a media management system based on Ingeniux XPower software during the period commencing July 1, 2002 and ending December 31, 2002 in an amount not to exceed $1,100,000;
 
(c)    capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business made by the Subsidiaries not exceeding, in the aggregate during each fiscal year set forth below, the amount set forth opposite such fiscal year:
 
Fiscal Year

    
Amount

2002
    
$1,000,000
2003
    
$1,000,000
2004
    
$1,250,000
 
(e)    Amendments to Schedules.    Amendments are made to the Schedules, as follows:
 
(i)    Schedule 5.14.    Schedule 5.14 is hereby amended and restated as set forth in Schedule 5.14 attached hereto; and
 
(ii)    Schedule 7.02.    Schedule 7.02 is hereby amended and restated as set forth in Schedule 7.02 attached hereto.
 
(f)    Amendment to Exhibit C.    Schedule 2 to Exhibit C is hereby amended and restated as set forth in Schedule 2 to Exhibit C attached hereto.
 
3.    Amendments to Guaranty Agreement.    The Guaranty Agreement is amended as follows:
 
(a)    Amendments to Article 1.    In Article 1, Section 1, amendments are made to the definitions, as follows:
 
(i)    Interest Charges.    The definition of “Interest Charges” is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
Interest Charges” means, for any period, for the Guarantor and the Non-Broadcasting Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, fees, charges and related expenses of the Guarantor and the Non-Broadcasting Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including, without limitation, capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) the portion of rent expense of the Guarantor and the Non-Broadcasting Subsidiaries with respect to such period under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, less (c) to the extent

3


included in clause (a) and not paid or payable during such period, all interest, premium payments, fees, charges and related expenses of the Guarantor in connection with the Forward Sale Documents.
 
(ii)    Restricted Payment.    The definition of “Restricted Payment” is added to read as follows:
 
Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock of the Guarantor, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or of any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such capital stock; and (b) any payment made in respect of any Indebtedness of the Guarantor payable to any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
 
(b)    Amendment to Article 3.    Section 5(c) is added to Article 3 to read as follows:
 
(c)    Except as set forth in Part (a) of Schedule 2, the Guarantor is not obligated (direct, contingent or otherwise) in respect of Indebtedness payable to any Affiliate of the Guarantor and except as set forth in Part (b) of Schedule 2, the Guarantor is not obligated (direct, contingent or otherwise) in respect of Indebtedness in excess of $100,000 payable to any Person other than an Affiliate of the Guarantor.
 
(c)    Amendment to Article 4.    Section 4 of Article 4 is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
4.    Fisher Broadcasting Dividends.    Cause Fisher Broadcasting to declare and make cash dividend payments to the Guarantor of not less than $10,000,000 on or before May 15, 2004.
 
(d)    Amendments to Article 5.    Article 5 is amended as follows:
 
(i)    Amendment to Section 3.    Section 3(h) of Article 5 is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(h)    other Investments not otherwise permitted by subsections (a) through (g) above in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Guarantor the amount of $1,000,000 less the amount by which the aggregate amount of capital expenditures made by the Guarantor during such fiscal year exceeds $100,000.

4


 
(ii)    Amendment to Section 8.    Section 8 of Article 5 is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
8.    Transactions with Affiliates.    Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Guarantor, other than arm’s-length transactions with Affiliates in the ordinary course of business, except:
 
(a)    the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries may lease office space in Fisher Plaza from the Borrower under terms that the Guarantor or such Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;
 
(b)    the Guarantor may provide reasonable services to Fisher Broadcasting, any Subsidiary of Fisher Broadcasting or Civia under terms that the Guarantor deems reasonable under the circumstances; provided that the aggregate difference between (i) the actual compensation received by the Guarantor in such transactions and (ii) the compensation that it would receive in comparable arm’s-length transactions with a Person not an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not exceed $50,000 any fiscal year; and
 
(c)    the Guarantor may purchase reasonable services from Fisher Broadcasting, any Subsidiary of Fisher Broadcasting or Civia under terms that the Guarantor deems reasonable under the circumstances; provided that the aggregate difference between (i) the actual compensation paid by the Guarantor in such transactions and (ii) the compensation that it would pay in comparable arm’s-length transactions with a Person not an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not exceed $50,000 any fiscal year.
 
For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the purchase by the Guarantor of advertising from Fisher Broadcasting or any of its Subsidiaries shall, for purposes of this Guaranty, shall be deemed outside the ordinary course of business and (b) the allocation of insurance premiums by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries among the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries and the providing by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries of technical and engineering services to the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries without mark-up or premium shall be deemed arm’s-length transactions in the ordinary course of business.
 
(iii)    Amendment to Section 9.    Section 9(a) of Article 5 is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(a)    capital expenditures made by the Guarantor in the ordinary course of business not exceeding, in the aggregate during each fiscal year the amount of $100,000 plus the amount by which the aggregate amount of Investments made by the Guarantor during such fiscal year not otherwise permitted by subsections 3(a) through (g) of Article 3 is less than $1,000,000.
 
(iv)    Amendment to Section 10.    Section 10(a) of Article 5 is amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(a)    Interest Coverage Ratio.    Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Guarantor ending on or after September 30, 2002 to be less than 2.0 to 1. As used herein, “Interest Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) the sum of (A) EBITDA for the period of the four prior fiscal quarters ending on such date, (B) Fisher Broadcasting Dividends received or deemed received by the Guarantor during

5


such period, (C) the sum of (1) Net Proceeds of Dispositions received by any of the Loan Parties during such period and (2) non-cash charges arising from the write-off of unamortized issuance costs of Indebtedness of such Loan Party secured by a Lien on the asset which is the subject of such Disposition and repaid by the proceeds of such Disposition and (D) for each period of four fiscal quarters that includes the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2002, the sum of (1) losses associated with the termination of Swap Contracts by the Guarantor and (2) non-cash charges arising from the write-off of unamortized issuance costs of Indebtedness of the Guarantor arising under the Existing Credit Facilities, in each case during such period to (ii) Interest Charges for such period; provided, however, that (A) for the period of four fiscal quarters ended on September 30, 2002, Interest Charges shall be mean Interest Charges for the period of two consecutive fiscal quarters then ended multiplied by two and (B) for the period of four fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2002, Interest Charges shall be mean Interest Charges for the period of three consecutive fiscal quarters then ended multiplied by four and then divided by three.
 
(e)    Amendment to Exhibit A.    Schedule 2 to Exhibit A is hereby amended and restated as set forth in Schedule 2 to Exhibit A attached hereto.
 
6.    Conditions to Effectiveness.    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Amendment shall become effective as of June 30, 2002; provided that each of the following conditions is fully and simultaneously satisfied not later than 5:00 p.m., Seattle time, on August 12, 2002:
 
(a)    Delivery of Amendment.    The Borrower, the Agent, each Lender and Fisher Communications shall have executed and delivered counterparts of this Amendment to the Agent;
 
(b)    InterNAP Note.    The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the Agent the Pledge and Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Pledge Agreement”) and shall have endorsed and delivered to the Agent the promissory note of InterNAP Network Services Corporation (“InterNAP”) in the manner described in the Pledge Agreement;
 
(c)    Reimbursement for Expenses.    The Borrower shall have reimbursed the Agent for all expenses actually incurred by Agent in connection with the preparation of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall have paid all other amounts due and owing under the Loan Documents.
 
(d)    Corporate Authority.    Agent shall have received in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it (i) a copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Borrower authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the Pledge Agreement (together, the “Amendment Documents”) certified by the Secretary of the Borrower; (ii) evidence of the authority and specimen signatures of the persons who have signed the Amendment Documents on behalf of the Borrower; and (iii) such other evidence of corporate authority as the Agent or any Lender shall request;

6


 
(e)    Consent of Guarantors.    Each of the Guarantors shall have executed the subjoined Consent of Guarantors;
 
(f)    Representations True; No Default.    The representations of the Borrower as set forth in Section 5 of the Loan Agreement (as amended hereby) shall be true on and as of the date of this Amendment and the representations of Fisher Communications as set forth in Article 3 of the Guaranty Agreement(as amended hereby) shall, except as disclosed in that certain letter from Fisher Communications to the Lenders dated as of August 7, 2002, be true on and as of the date of this Amendment, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on and as of this date or, if any such representation or warranty is stated to have been made as of or with respect to a specific date, as of or with respect to such specific date. After giving effect to this Amendment, no Event of Default and no event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing or will occur as a result of the execution of the Amendment Documents; and
 
(g)    Other Documents.    The Agent and the Lenders shall have received such other documents, instruments, and undertakings as the Agent and such Lender may reasonably request.
 
7.    Guarantor Authority.    The Guarantor agrees to deliver to the Agent within 14 days after the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board of directors of the Guarantor (a) a copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Guarantor authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment certified by the Secretary of the Guarantor; and (b) evidence of the authority and specimen signatures of the persons who have signed this Amendment on behalf of the Guarantor.
 
8.    Representations and Warranties.    The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Agent that, except as disclosed in that certain letter from Fisher Communications to the Lenders dated as of August 7, 2002, each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Loan Agreement (as amended hereby) is true and correct and Fisher Communications hereby represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Agent that each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article 3 of the Guaranty Agreement (as amended hereby) is true and correct, in each case as if made on and as of the date of this Amendment or, if any such representation or warranty is stated to have been made as of or with respect to a specific date, as of or with respect to such specific date. The Borrower expressly agrees that it shall be an additional Event of Default under the Loan Agreement if any representation or warranty made by the Borrower or Fisher Communications hereunder shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made.
 
9.    No Further Amendment.    Except as expressly modified by this Amendment, the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect and the parties hereby ratify their respective obligations thereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower expressly reaffirms and ratifies its obligation to pay or reimburse Agent and Lenders on request for all reasonable expenses, including legal fees, actually incurred by Agent or such Lender in connection with the preparation of this Amendment, and the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

7


 
10.    Reservation of Rights.    The Borrower and Fisher Communications acknowledge and agree that the execution and delivery by the Agent and the Lenders of this Amendment shall not be deemed to create a course of dealing or otherwise obligate the Agent or any Lender to forbear or execute similar amendments under the same or similar circumstances in the future.
 
11.    Notices.    All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 10.02 of the Loan Agreement.
 
12.    Successor and Assigns.    The provisions of this Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Agent (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower or Fisher Communications without such consent shall be null and void).
 
13.    Governing Law.    THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON; PROVIDED THAT THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
 
14.    Amendments, Etc.    No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Amendment, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or Fisher Communications therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Agent and the Borrower or Fisher Communications, as applicable, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Loan Agreement, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
 
15.    Counterparts.    This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
 
16.    Integration.    This Amendment, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete, final and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter.
 
17.    Severability.    Any provision of this Amendment that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions thereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
 
18.    Incorporation of Provisions of the Loan Agreement.    To the extent the Loan Agreement contains provisions of general applicability to the Loan Documents, including any such provisions contained in Article 10 thereof, such provisions are incorporated herein by this reference.

8


 
19.    No Inconsistent Requirements.    The Borrower acknowledges that this Amendment and the other Loan Documents may contain covenants and other terms and provisions variously stated regarding the same or similar matters, and agrees that all such covenants, terms and provisions are cumulative and all shall be performed and satisfied in accordance with their respective terms.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
 
FISHER MEDIA SERVICES COMPANY
By:
 
/s/    KIRK G. ANDERSON        

Name:
 
Kirk G. Anderson        

Title:
 
President        

 
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
 
/s/    DAVID D. HILLARD        

Name:
 
David D. Hillard        

Title:
 
Assistant Secretary        

 
 
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent
By:
 
/s/    DORA A. BROWN        

Name:
 
Dora A. Brown        

Title:
 
Vice President        

 
 
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender
By:
 
/s/    MARK N. CRAWFORD        

Name:
 
Mark N. Crawford        

Title:
 
Senior Vice President        

9


 
 
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
By:
 
/s/    THOMAS G. GUNDER        

Name:
 
Thomas G. Gunder        

Title:
 
V.P.        

10


CONSENT OF GUARANTORS
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Washington corporation, FISHER PROPERTIES INC., a Washington corporation, FISHER PATHWAYS, INC., a Washington corporation, and FISHER ENTERTAINMENT, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (each individually a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”) are each a guarantor of the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of FISHER MEDIA SERVICES COMPANY, a Washington corporation (the “Borrower”) under the Loan Agreement referred to in the within and foregoing First Amendment to Loan Agreement and Guaranty Agreement (the “Amendment”) and the other Loan Documents described in the that certain Loan Agreement dated as of March 21, 2002 among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Amendment and hereby consents to its contents (notwithstanding that such consent is not required). Each Guarantor hereby confirms that its guarantee of the obligations of the Borrower remains in full force and effect.
 
Dated this 8th day of August, 2002.
 
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
 
/s/    DAVID D. HILLARD        

Name:
 
David D. Hillard        

Title:
 
Assistant Secretary        

 
 
FISHER PROPERTIES INC.
By:
 
/s/    DAVID D. HILLARD        

Name:
 
David D. Hillard        

Title:
 
Assistant Secretary        

 
 
FISHER PATHWAYS, INC.
By:
 
/s/    DAVID D. HILLARD        

Name:
 
David D. Hillard        

Title:
 
Assistant Secretary        


 
FISHER ENTERTAINMENT, L.L.C.
By:
 
/s/    DAVID D. HILLARD        

Name:
 
David D. Hillard        

Title:
 
Assistant Secretary        


SCHEDULE 2
(to Exhibit C to Credit Agreement)
 
For the Quarter/Year ended                                                   (“Statement Date”)
 
($ in 000’s)
 
I.
  
Section 7.02(e) — Investments.
      
    
A.
  
Investments made during fiscal year to date:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum permitted Investments:
  
$
 
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line IB – I.A):
  
$
 
II.
  
Section 7.02(g) — Investments in Civia.
      
    
A.
  
Investments made subsequent to July 1, 2002:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum permitted Investments:
  
$
1,700,000
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line IIB – II.A):
  
$
 
III.
  
Section 7.11(a) — Capital Expenditures (Fisher Plaza).
      
    
A.
  
Capital expenditures related to the completion of, or tenant improvements in or maintenance of Fisher Plaza since March 21, 2002:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum permitted capital expenditures:
  
$
45,000,000
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line III.B – III.A):
  
$
 
IV.
  
Section 7.11(b) — Capital Expenditures (Ingeniux).
      
    
A.
  
Capital expenditures for the joint development and marketing of a media management system based on Ingeniux XPower software during the period commencing July 1, 2002 and ending December 31, 2002:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum permitted capital expenditures:
  
$
1,100,000
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line IV.B – IV.A):
  
$
 
V.
  
Section 7.11(b) — Capital Expenditures (Subsidiaries).
      
    
A.
  
Capital expenditures made during fiscal year to date:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum permitted capital expenditures:
  
$
 
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line V.B – V.A):
  
$
 


SCHEDULE 2
(to Exhibit A to Guaranty Agreement)
 
For the Quarter/Year ended                                                       (“Statement Date”)
 
($ in 000’s)
 
[Use following for Guarantor Partial Consolidated year-end financial statements]
 
I.
  
Section 9(a) — Capital Expenditures (Guarantor).
      
    
A.
  
Capital expenditures made during fiscal year to date:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum Permitted
      
         
1.
  
The amount of $100,000:
  
$
100,000
         
2.
  
The amount by which the aggregate amount of Investments made by the Guarantor during such fiscal year not otherwise permitted by subsections 3(a) through (g) of Article 3 is less than $1,000,000:
  
$
 
         
3.
  
Maximum (Lines B.1 + B.2):
  
$
 
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line I.B – I.A):
  
$
 
II.
  
Section 9(b) — Capital Expenditures (Fisher Properties).
      
    
A.
  
Capital expenditures made during fiscal year to date:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Maximum permitted capital expenditures:
  
$
 
    
C.
  
Excess (deficient) for covenant compliance (Line II.B – II.A):
  
$
 
III.
  
Section 10(a) — Interest Coverage Ratio.
      
    
A.
  
EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on above date (“Subject Period”):
      
         
1.
  
Consolidated net income for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
2.
  
Interest Charges for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
3.
  
Provision for income taxes for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
4.
  
Depreciation expenses for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
5.
  
Amortization expenses for intangibles for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
6.
  
EBITDA (Lines IIIA.1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5):
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Fisher Broadcasting Dividends for Subject Period:
  
$
 
 

14


 
                  
    
C.
  
Net Proceeds from Dispositions for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
1.
  
Net Proceeds from Dispositions:
  
$
 
         
2.
  
Non-cash charges arising from the write-off of unamortized issuance costs of Indebtedness repaid by the proceeds of such Disposition:
  
$
 
         
3.
  
Net Proceeds (Lines IIIC.1 + 2):
  
$
 
    
D.
  
Non-cash Adjustments (quarter ended March 31, 2002 only):
  
$
 
         
1.
  
Losses associated with the termination of Swap Contracts:
  
$
 
         
2.
  
Non-cash charges arising from the write-off of unamortized issuance costs of certain Indebtedness:
  
$
 
         
3.
  
Non-cash Adjustments (Lines IIID.1 + 2):
  
$
 
    
E.
  
Interest Charges for Subject Period:
  
$
 
         
(for the period of four fiscal quarters ended on September 30, 2002, Interest Charges shall be mean Interest Charges for the period of two consecutive fiscal quarters then ended multiplied by 2 and for the period of four fiscal quarters ended on December 31, 2002, Interest Charges shall be mean Interest Charges for the period of three consecutive fiscal quarters then ended multiplied by 4 and then divided by 3)
  
$
 
    
F.
  
Interest Coverage Ratio ((Lines IIIA.6 +B + C + D) ÷ (Line E)):
  
 
_______ to 1
    
Minimum required:    2.0 to 1  
      
[Use following for Guarantor Full Consolidated financial statements]
IV.
  
Section 10(b) — Debt to Capitalization Ratio.
      
    
A.
  
Total Debt at Statement Date:
  
$
 
    
B.
  
Total Capitalization at Statement Date:
  
$
 
    
C.
  
Debt to Capitalization Ratio (Line IVA ÷ Line B):
  
$
 
    
Maximum permitted:    70%  
      
EX-99.1 6 dex991.htm CERTIFICATION OF CEO Certification of CEO
 
Exhibit 99.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Fisher Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Form 10-Q”), I William W. Krippaehne Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
 
(1)
 
The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
 
 
(2)
 
The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Dated: November 14, 2002
 
    /s/    William W. Krippaehne Jr.         

William W. Krippaehne Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
EX-99.2 7 dex992.htm CERTIFICATION OF CFO Certification of CFO
 
Exhibit 99.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Fisher Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Form 10-Q”), I David D. Hillard, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
 
(1)
 
The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
 
 
(2)
 
The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Dated: November 14, 2002
 
    /s/    David D. Hillard         

David D. Hillard
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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